Faroe Islands History Gael hermits and monks from a Hiberno-Scottish mission are believed to have settled in the 6th century They introduced sheep, goats, and early Irish language Around 650 C Norsemen settled on the islands and brought with them the Old Norse language that has evolved into the modern language Started whaling around 1584 Geography 18 major islands Between Norwegian Sea and North Atlantic Ocean Rugged and rocky Some low peaks Coats are mostly cliffs Dominated by tholeiitic basalt lava

Faroe Islands cont. Culture Roots in Nordic culture They have maintained a great part of their traditional culture due to their isolation Poems and stories handed down orally Ólavsøka on July 29 celebrates the death of Saint Olaf Celebrations start on the evening of the 28 th and carry on until the 31 st Places to visit Gjogv Mykines Tórshavn Fámjin Fuglafjordur Hestur Island Kirkjubour Klaksvik Koltur Island Nolsoy Island Saksun

Greenland History Home to several successive Paleo-Eskimo cultures starting around 2500 BC Southern and western Greenland was inhabited by Saqqaq culture from 2500 BC to 800 BC Saqqaq culture replaced by Dorset culture around 800 BC Thule culture arrived in 1500 BC when the Dorset culture died out Beginning in 986 AD, the west coast was being colonized by Icelanders and Norwegians Geography Atlantic Ocean to southeast Greenland Sea to the east Arctic Ocean in the north Baffin Bay to the west Ice flows from center of the island to the coast Towns settled on the ice-free coast Extreme north is not covered by ice because the air is too dry to produce snow

Greenland cont. Culture Inuit tradition Hunt for food and to provide skins for their clothing and kayaks Northwest corner known as Thule region Places to visit Ilulissat (Jakobshavn) South Greenland Disko Bay Nuuk

Bermuda History Discovered in 1505 by Juan de Bermudez Island used as a spot to replenish food and water Called Isles of Devils because of the noise the hogs made at night Settled by English in 1612 Geography Divided into various parishes Within there are some localities called villages Consists of 181 islands

Bermuda cont. Culture Anglo-Saxon is the dominant culture, but the overall culture derives from mixed cultures Portuguese and English are the dominant languages spoken Strong British influences Places to visit Chaplin Beach Horseshoe Bay Stonehole Warwick Long Bay Bermuda Aquarium and Zoo St. George Crystal Cave

Iceland History Norsemen settled there between 870 and 930 AD First known permanent settlement built in 874 by Ingólfur Arnarson in Reykjavík Christianity adopted circa 999–1000 Geography Generally included in Europe for cultural reasons 30 minor islands 14.3% is lakes and glaciers Part of the Mid-Atlantic ridge Many fjords along coastline

Iceland cont. Culture Roots in Norse traditions Popular sagas and eddas Importance on independence and self- sufficiency Progressive in LGBT rights Places to visit Asbyrgi Glaciers of Iceland Glacier fjords – Jokulfirdir Glacier lagoon – Jokulsarlon Gullfoss and Geysir Myvatn Skaftafell