Faroe Islands Uses Sheep to Put Country on the Google Map

Previously, Google Street View had overlooked the Faroe Islands, even though other remote places like Mt. Blanc have a presence on the site. Taking matters into her own hands, Durita Andreassen spent the last few months mapping out her beautiful country using sheep equipped with solar-powered cameras, creating her very own SheepView360.

Following the launch of her project, thousands of people around the world urged Google to make the Faroe Islands a part of Google Street View.  Their efforts have been wildly successful and Google is now heeding their call.  Representatives from Google have now arrived in the Faroe Islands with one mission: to help the remote islands create their own version of Google Street View. The result is the creation of a new kind of Street View, created entirely by the sheep and the Faroese people. Google is supporting the Faroese Street View fleet through their Street View Camera Loan Program offering cameras, guidance and a Google Trekker.

"When we started this project, we wanted Google Street View to represent the Faroe Islands so we could share our beautiful country with the world, and with all the people who do not have the means to visit. During the process, we fell in love with our own woolly version of Street View, so we are absolutely delighted that Google has decided to help us continue on this path," says Durita Andreassen.

It is now up to the Faroese people and tourists visiting the Faroe Islands to create Street View using sheep, bikes, backpacks, cars, kayaks, and even wheelbarrows. Furthermore, the Visit Faroe Islands office in Tórshavn and Atlantic Airways at the airport will be lending out Google cameras, and anyone is welcome to lend a hand in the exciting project.

"We are delighted that we now have all the equipment, knowledge and support from Google that we need to continue to develop our own unique version of Google Street View." says Guðrið Højgaard, director at Visit Faroe Islands.

For images and videos please visit: http://visitfaroeislands.com/press-professionals/press-material/

The Faroe Islands are an archipelago of 18 mountainous islands located halfway between Iceland and Scotland in the North Atlantic Ocean.  The islands are comprised of 50,000 inhabitants and 80,000 sheep.  With more sheep than people, it's not surprising that the name Faroe Islands first appeared as Faereyjar (in approximately 1225), which means "Sheep Islands." This name was given by the Viking settlers from Norway in the ninth century.  The Faroe Islands have been awarded the best islands in the world by National Geographic and ranked as one of the world's top ten destinations by Lonely Planet and been lauded by the New York Times. The country boasts fantastic scenery, a unique culture, a rich music heritage and gourmet culinary scene, one that brings foreign chefs and foodies flocking to the Faroe Islands to experience the local cuisine. 

Video - http://origin-qps.onstreammedia.com/origin/multivu_archive/PRNA/ENR/Googlehelpssheepview.mp4

SOURCE Visit Faroe Islands

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http://visitfaroeislands.com