Geography of the Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands comprise two main islands, West Falkland and East Falkland (in Spanish Isla Gran Malvina and Isla Soledad respectively), and about 776 small islands.[1] The islands are located 185 nautical miles (343 km; 213 mi)[2] from the Isla de los Estados in Argentina (and 250 nautical miles (463 km; 288 mi)[3] from the Argentine mainland); 264 nautical miles (489 km; 304 mi)[4] from Chile; 582 nautical miles (1,078 km; 670 mi)[5] west of the Shag Rocks (South Georgia) and 501 nautical miles (928 km; 577 mi)[6] north of the British Antarctic Territory (which overlaps with the Argentine and Chilean claims to Antarctica in that region).
The total land area is 4,700 square miles (12,000 km2), slightly smaller than Connecticut or Northern Ireland, with a coastline estimated at 800 miles (1,300 km).[7]
The two main islands on either side of Falkland Sound make up most of the land. These are East Falkland, which contains the capital, Stanley, and most of the population; and West Falkland. Both islands have mountain ranges, the highest point being Mount Usborne, 705 metres (2,313 ft)[7] on East Falkland. There are also some boggy plains, most notably in Lafonia, on the southern half of East Falkland. Virtually the entire area of the islands is used as pasture for sheep.
Smaller islands surround the main two. They include Barren Island, Beaver Island, Bleaker Island, Carcass Island, George Island, Keppel Island, Lively Island, New Island, Pebble Island, Saunders Island, Sealion Island, Speedwell Island, Staats Island, Weddell Island, and West Point Island. The Jason Islands lie to the north west of the main archipelago, and Beauchene Island some distance to its south. Speedwell Island and George Island are split from East Falkland by Eagle Passage.
Numerous flora and fauna are found on the Falkland Islands. Notable native fauna include colonies of the Magellanic Penguin.[8] For more details see Fauna of the Falkland Islands.
The islands claim a territorial sea of 12 nautical miles (22.2 km; 13.8 mi) and an exclusive fishing zone of 200 nautical miles (370.4 km; 230.2 mi), which has been a source of disagreement with Argentina. Biogeographically, the Falkland Islands are classified as part of the Neotropical realm, together with South America. It is also classified as part of the Antarctic Floristic Kingdom.
[edit] Climate
Surrounded by cool South Atlantic waters, the Falkland Islands have a Maritime Subarctic climate (Koppen Cfc) that is very much influenced by the ocean in that it has a narrow annual temperature range. The January average maximum temperature is about 13°C (55°F), and the July maximum average temperature is about 4°C (39°F). The average annual rainfall is 573.6 millimetres (22.58 in) but East Falkland is generally wetter than West Falkland.[9] Humidity and winds, however, are constantly high. Snow is rare but can occur at almost any time of year. Gales are very frequent, particularly in winter.[10] The climate is similar to that of the Shetland islands in the United Kingdom, but with less rainfall and longer and slightly more severe winters.[10]
| Climate data for Stanley, Falkland Islands | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 24 (75) |
23 (73) |
21 (70) |
17 (63) |
14 (57) |
11 (52) |
10 (50) |
11 (52) |
15 (59) |
18 (64) |
22 (72) |
22 (72) |
24 (75) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 13 (55) |
13 (55) |
12 (54) |
9 (48) |
7 (45) |
5 (41) |
4 (39) |
5 (41) |
7 (45) |
9 (48) |
11 (52) |
12 (54) |
8.9 (48.1) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 6 (43) |
5 (41) |
4 (39) |
3 (37) |
1 (34) |
−1 (30) |
−1 (30) |
−1 (30) |
1 (34) |
2 (36) |
3 (37) |
4 (39) |
2.2 (35.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −1 (30) |
−1 (30) |
−3 (27) |
−6 (21) |
−7 (19) |
−11 (12) |
−9 (16) |
−11 (12) |
−11 (12) |
−6 (21) |
−3 (27) |
−2 (28) |
−11 (12) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 71 (2.8) |
58 (2.28) |
64 (2.52) |
66 (2.6) |
66 (2.6) |
53 (2.09) |
51 (2.01) |
51 (2.01) |
38 (1.5) |
41 (1.61) |
51 (2.01) |
71 (2.8) |
681 (26.81) |
| % humidity | 78 | 79 | 82 | 86 | 88 | 89 | 89 | 87 | 84 | 80 | 75 | 77 | 82.8 |
| Source: BBC Weather[11] | |||||||||||||
[edit] References
- ^ "The Islands: Location". Falkland Islands Government web site. 2007. http://www.falklands.gov.fk/location.php. Retrieved 8 April 2007.
- ^ Distance between Bird Island 52°10′11″S 60°56′22″W / 52.16972°S 60.93944°W and Isla de los Estados 54°43′10″S 63°48′31″W / 54.71944°S 63.80861°W measured using Google Earth and a Great Circle Calculator
- ^ Distance between Jason Island 51°00′03″S 61°18′45″W / 51.00083°S 61.3125°W and Punta Buque 48°06′35″S 65°54′51″W / 48.10972°S 65.91417°W measured using Google Earth and a Great Circle Calculator
- ^ Distance between Beaver Island 51°50′07″S 61°20′52″W / 51.83528°S 61.34778°W and Punta Dungeness 52°23′51″S 68°26′02″W / 52.3975°S 68.43389°W measured using Google Earth and a Great Circle Calculator
- ^ Distance between a rock off Cape Pembroke 51°40′33″S 57°41′17″W / 51.67583°S 57.68806°W and Shag Rocks 53°33′00″S 42°02′00″W / 53.55°S 42.0333333°W measured using Google Earth and a Great Circle Calculator
- ^ Distance between Beauchêne Island 52°54′50″S 59°11′30″W / 52.91389°S 59.19167°W and Seal Island 60°59′10.5″S 55°23′00.7″W / 60.98625°S 55.383528°W measured using Google Earth and a Great Circle Calculator
- ^ a b CIA - The World Factbook - Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas). The source uses metric units.
- ^ C. Michael Hogan. 2008. Magellanic Penguin, GlobalTwitcher.com, ed. N. Stromberg
- ^ http://www.visitorfalklands.com/assets/documents/falklands-factsheet.pdf
- ^ a b "Weather Centre - World Weather - Country Guides - Falkland Islands". BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/country_guides/results.shtml?tt=TT004760. Retrieved 2010-03-15.
- ^ "BBC Weather: Stanley, Falkland Islands". BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/city_guides/results.shtml?tt=TT004760. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
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