Faroe Islands

1. Welcome aboard! I am your host during this getaway flight to the majestic Faroe Islands. They are two hours and fifteen minutes from here in Copenhagen.

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2. And here we are! Let’s board the minibuses.

3. Okay, now that you are all seated…

4. The Faroes are Danish islands in the North Sea, between Denmark and Iceland. These 18 islands are known for their splendid landscapes. To get from one island to another you used to need a boat. But you also can go by car, across bridges and through tunnels. Of the 20 tunnels in the Faroe Islands, two go under the sea.

5. The islands’ first tunnel we’re coming to takes us to Tórshavn, the capital. The tunnel is 11 kilometers long and goes down to 187 meters under the ocean. It includes the world’s first underwater roundabout. Yes, you heard right!    

6. The roundabout looks like a giant jellyfish illuminated with blue and green lights. As you can see, it has a large central pillar. The steel sculpture represents people holding hands and dancing in a circle. That’s because the national dance of the Faroes is called “chain.” Like a chain of islands.

7. The Faroes have no zoos or amusement parks. Entertainment here is  all about nature. The islands are full of birds. At least 300 species nest here. The most common is the Atlantic puffin. It looks like a miniature penguin.

8. Then there is the oystercatcher, with its long reddish beak. It’s the national bird. And we mustn’t forget the Faroese goose, a breed closest in form to the original European domestic geese.

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9. Now onward we go to the island of Vágar, with the magnificent Múlafossur Waterfall, near the isolated, traditional village of Gásadalur.

10. The Múlafossur cascades for over 100 feet (30 meters) into the ocean. Flowing over the rocks, it looks like a white veil. It’s one of the most famous waterfalls in the world.