Falkland Islands Tourism - Travel to Falkland Islands
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| Quick Facts | |
| Capital | Stanley |
| Government | NA |
| Currency | Falkland pound (FKP) |
| 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 |
| Population | 2,967 (July 2002 est.) |
| Language | English |
| Religion | primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, Evangelist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day Adventist |
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.
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Regions in Falkland Islands
There are 2 main islands:Cities in Falkland Islands
Map of Falkland Islands
- Stanley - Capital and port.
Other destinations - Travel to Falkland Islands
Understand Falkland Islands Tourism
Climate in Falkland Islands
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 of Falkland Islands
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 into Falkland Islands
Travel to Falkland Islands By Plane
Travel to Falkland Islands By Boat
Get around in Falkland Islands
Falkland Islands Talk
- Languages
- English
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Geography in Falkland Islands
- 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 in Falkland Islands
- 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 in Falkland Islands
- 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 in Falkland Islands
- 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 in Falkland Islands
- 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
