Shaul Schwarz

Photography: Faroe Islands

Vikings settled the islands more than a thousand years ago, and almost 50,000 of their descendants now live here, sharing space with 75,000 more or less freely roaming sheep. Although the Danes took formal possession of the Faroes in 1380 and have never fully relinquished it, “We are not Danish” is a common refrain here. No, the Faroese are nothing if not Faroese. They speak their own language, recite their own sagas, dance their own raucous chain-formation dance.

The Faroe Islands are unique place with amazing landscapes of heavenly covered green mountains with sharp cliffs dropping in to a deep blue Atlantic Ocean.

Helicopter pilots of Atlantic airways fly over the a beautiful landscape in the northern islands.
   
A road stretches high in the green mountains as waterfalls flow down towards the sea on Streymoy Island of the Faroe Islands. The Faore islands have hundreds of creeks flowing from the top of its green mountains creating hundreds of waterfalls and a unique and beautiful landscape.
   
Horses eat grass in the Southern part of Streymoy Island of the Fare Islands. Icelandic horses are the common breed of horses in the Faroe Islands.
     
  
Young girls play in their back yard jumping on a trampoline in the Southern part of Streymoy Island of the Fare Islands.
   
A woman puts hay in to a barn on Streymoy Island just outside of Torshavn the biggest city in the Faroe Islands.
   
A young girl holds on tightly as her horse gets up on his back feet before racing out of the starting position in a horse race during St. Olav’s Day - The National Festival in Torshavn the capital of the Faore Islands.
     
  
Young men wear Viking horns as they receive medals after the rowing competitions during St. Olav’s Day - The National Festival in Torshavn the capital of the Faore Islands.
   
Men and Women dance a famous important heritage chain dance during St. Olav’s Day - The National Festival in Torshavn the capital of the Faore Islands.
  
Young women wear plastic rain coats as they make their way to a bar to celebrate a bachelorette party in Torshavn the capital of the Faore Islands.
     
  
A young man has a drink as night falls on Torshavn during St. Olav’s Day - The National Festival in Torshavn the capital of the Faore Islands.
   
The view as seen from a helicopter flying over the a beautiful landscape in the northern islands of the Faroe Islands.
  
A fishing boat unloads it's catch at the dock of Maru Seafood fish factories in Klaksvik the second largest city in the Faroe Islands. The economy of the Faroe Islands is overwhelmingly dependent upon fisheries.
     
  
Seagulls hover over a fishing boat at the dock of Maru Seafood fish factories in Klaksvik the second largest city in the Faroe Islands. The economy of the Faroe Islands is overwhelmingly dependent upon fisheries.
   
Workers spread salt on large fish fillet at Maru Seafood fish factories in Klaksvik the second largest city in the Faroe Islands. Fishing, fish farming and fish processing account for a quarter of the gross factor income and Fish account for 94% of exports from the Faroe Islands.
   
Workers carry boxes of freshly frozen fish in freezer's on board the "Enniberg" one of the largest fishing vessel in the Faroe Islands. The staff works four hours shifts in the freezer that holds the temperature of -20 degree Celsius.
     
  
A young man accumulates ice on his face as he works caring boxes of freshly frozen fish in freezer's on board the "Enniberg" one of the largest fishing vessel in the Faroe Islands.The staff works four hours shifts in the freezer that holds the temperature of -20 degree Celsius.
  
Alcoholic men continue to drink in a small shack in Torshavn the capital of the Faore Islands after one of them passed out on the floor and urinated on himself.
   
The captain of a small ferry boat connecting between Torshvan and the Island of Nolsoy looks out the window before heading out to sea. Many of the 18 Islands in the Faroe Islands can be reached only by sea making it hard to get around when the weather dose not permit.
     
  
Teenage girls sit on the ground near a campfire in a religious summer school in the Faore Islands. Although being of Viking descents the Faroe Island has become a very religious Catholic country with 98% of the people belonging to the local church.
   
The choir leader conducts his group during the second day of celebration of the St. Olva's festival in Torshvan the capitol of the Faroe Islands.
   
A man wearing traditional clothing stands for a portrait during St. Olav’s Day - The National Festival in Torshavn the capital of the Faore Islands.
     
  
Ducks take a break next to a fishing boat at the dock of just outside of Tortshvan the largest city in the Faroe Islands.
   
A beautiful landscape over looking the small island of Koltur as seen from the Island of Streymoy. Atlantic Airways the local company in the Faore Islands has cheap daily subsidized flights commuting passengers to remote islands that at many times could be reached only by sea. The island of Koltur seen in the picture is only populated by 2 people.
   
The view of the town of Gjogv at the Island Eysturoy. Even in the summer it rains heavily in the Faroe Island and at times the sun is not visible for days.
     
  
A sheep stands in the rain in the town of Vioareioi at the Island Vidoy. Even in the summer it rains heavily in the Faroe Island and at times the sun is not visible for days.