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Falkland Islands
Quick Overview:
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 and after fierce fighting forced Argentine surrender on 14 June 1982.
Geography:
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Location:
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Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of southern Argentina |
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Area:
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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 |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m |
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Geography - note:
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deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season |
Population:
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2,967 (July 2002 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.44% (2002 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA% |
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Ethnic groups:
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British |
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Religions:
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primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, Evangelist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day Adventist |
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Languages:
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English |
The islands are administered as a British crown colony with the capital at Stanley. There are two large islands (East Falkland and West Falkland) and some 200 small ones. From 1908 to 1985 South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands were dependencies of the colony. The Falklands are rather bleak, rocky moorlands, swept by wind and drenched by chill rain. The population is almost entirely British, Christian, and English-speaking. The islands are flourishing sheep-raising centers. The economy is dependent on the export of wool and the sale of Falkland Islands postage stamps and coins. Whales and seals abound in the littoral waters, but the hunting of them has decreased in recent years. There are rich fishing grounds surrounding the islands and the government began selling licenses to foreign commercial fishing operations in 1987. Oil exploration around the islands began in the early 1990s. The British have long claimed the islands, based on probable discovery by the navigator John Davis in 1592; but they have been claimed and occupied at various times by Spain, France, and Argentina. When the seizure of an American sealing vessel in 1832 led to a U.S. punitive expedition, the British, claiming sovereignty, occupied the islands. Near the Falklands, in one of the most stirring naval engagements of World War I, the British under Sir Frederick Sturdee destroyed (Dec. 8, 1914) a German squadron under Graf von Spee . Argentina invaded the islands in 1982 over a sovereignty dispute with Great Britain, but British forces responded quickly, forcing a surrender by the Argentines within six weeks. Since the invasion Falkland Islanders have repeatedly elected legislators who oppose closer links with Argentina.
Related Links:
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News Falkland Islands News Project |
Offical Sites Offical Government Site |
Country Guides - |
Education - |