The Faroe Islands are of ancient volcanic origin, formed more than 54 million years ago and composed primarily of basalt. There has been no volcanic activity in the Faroes for the past 50 million years, and in that time glacial activity and the turbulent wind and waves have eroded and sculpted the islands into the dramatic, crumbling landscapes that we see today. Many people come from around the world to walk the coastlines and photograph the striking cliffs and formations. The arched sea stack of Drangarnir and the half-shell islet of Tindhólmur pictured here are two of the most iconic natural sculptures in the Faroes.

Tourism is a new but rapidly growing industry in the Faroes, and at the time of my visit, many people were discussing the difficulty of managing and accommodating the growing number of visitors coming each year. The rising number of visitors has made the protection of both natural areas and native birds particularly urgent problems. Groups like Visit Faroe Islands are committed to promoting a sustainable tourism industry, partly by providing visitors with the information they need to enjoy the islands without damaging them, and partly by working with other tourism groups from around the world to develop and implement systems that can accommodate the new influx of people.