30 



forming a large belt of land. As no terraces of marine erosion 

 are found on the islands and the caves invariable occur at sea-level 

 it may be regarded as certain that the land is not rising ; further 

 as no platform occurs a little below sea-level, as might have been ex- 

 pected if the land had remained for a longer time at its present 

 level, \ve may suppose that the land is sinking slowly. This sinking 

 taken in connexion with the rapid destruction shows that, if the 



Fig. 18. \olsn. Talus of tumhleci down blocks and débris (»Ur«) at Ijase of clitl' on the caslern side. 

 (After a photograph by Warming). 



present geological conditions hold, it is only a question of time 

 when the Færoes will disappear, but a question which, humanly 

 speaking, is so far ofF that it can have no great actual interest 

 for us. 



Peat. Lastly the peat, the latest geologicai formation of the 

 Færoes, must be mentioned. Wherever there are small hollows in 

 the ground mosses are found, but of no considerable size or depth, 

 the greatest depth being about 1 — 1,5 metres. The peat consists 

 of bog-plants, chiefly sedge and bog-cotton, but true Sphagnum-peat 

 hardly occurs. As peat is the only fuel the inhabitants have except 

 for the coal on Sydero it is of great economic valne and fortunately 

 it is found on almost all the islands, only some smaller islands, 

 e. g. Fuglo being obliged to fetch it from other piaces. 



