Freeway - Exotic islands in northern Europe

Exotic islands in northern Europe

In Europe there are many islands and the culture, the climate, the people, the tourism and the nationality and are different on every one of them. But the ones we have heard the most about is the ones with the worm climate that appeals us tourists. We have chosen to focus on two islands in the northern Europe that are exotic in their own way. They aren’t so well known but they really should d be.

The Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands is a group of islands in the Atlantic north of Greate Britain. These rocky and green islands are known for their magnificent and slightly wild exotic nature. The Faroes is a group of 18 islands witch are linked together by ferries and bridges. But the Faroes hasn’t always been Danish. The faroeses is of a Norwegian descents from the immigrants that came to the islands in the 8 century. But the Faroes became Norwegian first in 1035. In 1380 Norway and Denmark entered a union and that made the Faroes both Norwegian and Danish.

Facts about the Faroes Islands
Nationality - Danish
Language - Faraoese
Currency - Dkr
Capital - Tórshavn
Area - 1 400 km2
Population - 43 700

At the time Bergen in Norway was the Faroes connection with the rest of the world. In the 16 and 17 century this city was changed to Copenhagen in Denmark and because of that The Faroes lost the connection with Norway. In 1814 the union was broken and The Faroes, together with Iceland and Greenland, was made Danish. The Danish government decided that the faroeses language was forbidden and that made the faroeses scared that their language and culture would disappears and that the islands would be Danish all through.

But in 1888 it was decided in Torshavn that their language was allowed in schools, churches and in court houses. After the second World War the Faroes were declared a self-governing people in the Danish state. So they are still Danish, but the Faroes isn’t like Denmark members in the EU.

Young on the islands
As all young people in the west the biggest complain of the youths of the Faroes is on the lack of things to do. In Torshavn you can go to the cinema and sometimes to a concert. But outside the city there is almost nothing to do. It sometimes happens that some orchestra arranges a dance. School is attended for 7 years but most people go at least 10 and 40% graduate. After school it is common to go to Denmark to study but then they often return home to the Faroes Islands.

The unemployment rate is big but despite that it’s not difficult to get a small job. Youths are often employed in a fish factory, in a café or as a baby-sitter. To afford living many young people shares houses with each other. Way they don’t live in apartments is because of the simple reason that there is only houses on the Faroes Islands.
When you study and are over 18 years old you get 2 200 kr a month (220 euro) in student grant.
Many youngsters are interested in sports such as handball and football. And if you aren’t interested in sports you can join an orchestra.

Today the people on the Faroes Islands are fighting to keep the Danish, Swedish and some English words out of their language. They are changing the names on things that have an international sound. And when new things with foreign words, such as helicopter and CD, seeks their way into the faroeses language they simply make up new words for them. So the small language isn’t influenced and taken over by other bigger languages.
The 30 of April 2002 there is a referendum on the Faroe Island whether they are to remain a part of Denmark or be an independent and self-governing country free from Denmark.

Svalbard
Svalbard, the name, means "the island with the cold coast" maybe it’s because 60% of Svalbard is covered by snow and ice. Svalbard is a Norwegian island which got it’s name Svalbard from the Netherlander Willem Barens, the man who discovered Svalbard in June 1596. Willem Barens himself died during a trip, and never made it home but some of his crew came back from the voyage.

Facts:
Nationality - Norwegian
Language - Norwegian, Russian
Currency - Norwegian currency
Capital - Longyearbyen
Area - 61 229 kvkm
Population - 3500
Ethnic groups - Russian, Ukrainian 62% Norwegian 38%
Climate - Arctic;
Average temperature -11, -12 Jan.- Mars Average temperature +4 July- august

After his discover people came to exploit Svalbard from both England and the Netherlands. But it wasn’t until this last century as people begun to colonise Svalbard. In 1925 Svalbard finally became Norwegian territory and since then Norway had governed over the island.
The capital Longyearbyen is the centre for Svalbard administration and communication, there you can find a church, hospital, hotel, restaurant, travel agency and other stores.

But Longyearbyen hasn’t always been this, formerly this was only a mining village which nowadays has become a modern city with 1200 inhabitants. On Svalbard the children can go to school without leaving Svalbard, and there is also good working possibilities. They also have an educationsystem from pre-school to studies at university level. In your spare time you can always hang out with your friends at some café or restaurant, and if you are older than 18 there are some bars or other places where they have alcohol.

There is also some activities that the whole family can be a part of; like visits to the cinema and the bathhouse. There is something for everyone in Longyearbyen, but there is also the only place on Svalbard where you can find such attractions. So for full-time living Longyearbyen is the place to be!

Have you visited any exotic or interesting island?
If you haven’t we think that these two would be something special to visit?