Falkland Islands

From Imakoopedia

The Falkland Islands are a group of about 200 sub-antarctic islands in the South Atlantic Ocean that lie off the east coast of southern South America but are a dependent territory of the United Kingdom. The islands are also clamed by nearby Argentina under their Argentinian name of Islas Malvinas.

Table of contents

1 Regions 2 Cities 3 Other destinations 4 Understand 4.1 Climate 4.2 Terrain 4.3 History 5 Get in 5.1 By plane 5.2 By boat 6 Get around 7 Talk 8 Buy 9 Eat 10 Drink 11 Sleep 12 Learn 13 Work 14 Stay safe 15 Stay healthy 16 Respect 17 Contact 18 External links 19 Geography 20 People 21 Government 22 Economy 23 Communications 24 Transportation 25 Military

Regions

There are 2 main islands:

• East Falkland
• West Falkland

Cities

• Stanley - Capital and port.

Other destinations

• Goose Green
• Port Howard
• Weddell

Understand

Climate

Cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more than half of days in year; occasional snow all year, except in January and February, but does not accumulate; short growing season

Natural hazards 

strong winds persist throughout the year

Terrain

Rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains. The deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors.

Highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m

History

Although first sighted by an English navigator in 1592, the first landing (English) did not occur until almost a century later in 1690, and the first settlement (French) was not established until 1764. The colony was turned over to Spain two years later and the islands have since been the subject of a territorial dispute, first between Britain and Spain, then between Britain and Argentina. The UK asserted its claim to the islands by establishing a naval garrison there in 1833.

Argentina invaded the islands on 2 April 1982. The British responded with an expeditionary force that landed seven weeks later. After fierce fighting in what is often known as the Falklands War, the Argentine occupation force was overrun and forced an Argentine surrender on 14 June 1982.

National holiday 

Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)

Get in

By plane

By boat

Get around

Talk

Languages 

English

Buy

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Learn

Work

Stay safe

Stay healthy

Respect

Contact

External links

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Geography

Geographic coordinates 

51 45 S, 59 00 W

Area 

total: 12,173 sq km
note: includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and about 200 small islands
water: 0 sq km
land: 12,173 sq km

Area - comparative 

slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries 

0 km

Coastline 

1,288 km

Maritime claims 

continental shelf: 200 NM
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM

Natural resources 

fish, wildlife

Land use 

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (99% permanent pastures, 1% other) (1998 est.)

Environment - current issues 

overfishing by unlicensed vessels is a problem; reindeer were introduced to the islands in 2001 for commercial reasons; this is the only commercial reindeer herd in the world unaffected by the Chornobyl disaster

People

Population 

2,967 (July 2002 est.)

Nationality 

noun: Falkland Islander(s)
adjective: Falkland Island

Ethnic groups 

British

Religions 

primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, Evangelist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day Adventist

Government

Constitution 

3 October 1985; amended 1997 and 1998

Legal system 

English common law

Judicial branch 

Supreme Court (chief justice is a nonresident); Magistrates Court (senior magistrate presides over civil and criminal divisions); Court of Summary Jurisdiction

Flag description 

blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Falkland Island coat of arms in a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a white ram (sheep raising is the major economic activity) above the sailing ship Desire (whose crew discovered the islands) with a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto DESIRE THE RIGHT

Economy

Economy - overview 

The economy was formerly based on agriculture, mainly sheep farming, but today fishing contributes the bulk of economic activity. In 1987 the government began selling fishing licenses to foreign trawlers operating within the Falklands exclusive fishing zone. These license fees total more than $40 million per year, which goes to support the island's health, education, and welfare system. Squid accounts for 75% of the fish taken. Dairy farming supports domestic consumption; crops furnish winter fodder. Exports feature shipments of high-grade wool to the UK and the sale of postage stamps and coins. The islands are now self-financing except for defense. The British Geological Survey announced a 200-mile oil exploration zone around the islands in 1993, and early seismic surveys suggest substantial reserves capable of producing 500,000 barrels per day; to date no exploitable site has been identified. An agreement between Argentina and the UK in 1995 seeks to defuse licensing and sovereignty conflicts that would dampen foreign interest in exploiting potential oil reserves. Tourism is increasing rapidly, with about 30,000 visitors in 2001. The second largest source of income is interest paid on money the government has in the bank. The British military presence also provides a sizeable economic boost.

Industries 

wool and fish processing; sale of stamps and coins; tourism

Agriculture - products 

fodder and vegetable crops; sheep, dairy products

Exports - commodities 

wool, hides, meat

Imports - commodities 

fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing

Currency 

Falkland pound (FKP)

Currency code 

FKP

Exchange rates 

Falkland pounds per US dollar - 0.6981 (January 2002), 0.6944 (2001), 0.6596 (2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997); note - the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use 

NA

Telephones - mobile cellular 

NA

Telephone system 

general assessment: NA
domestic: government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB radiotelephone networks provide effective service to almost all points on both islands
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) with links through London to other countries

Radio broadcast stations 

AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios 

1,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations 

2 (operated by the British Forces Broadcasting Service)
note: cable television is available in Stanley (2002)

Televisions 

1,000 (1997)

Internet country code 

.fk

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 

1 (2004)

Internet users 

NA; however one-half of all households are reported to have internet access (2002)

Transportation

Highways 

total: 550 km
paved: at least 50 km
unpaved: NA (2002)

Airports 

5 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways 

total: 2 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways 

total: 3 3
under 914 m: 3 (2002)

Military

Military branches 

British Forces Falkland Islands no regular indigenous military forces; (includes Army, Royal Air Force, and Royal Navy), Police Force

Military - note 

defense is the responsibility of the UK