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"Malvinas" redirects here. For other uses, see Malvinas (disambiguation).
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Falkland Islands
Motto: "Desire the right"
Anthem: "God Save the Queen"
Location of Falkland Islands
Capital
and largest city
Stanley
Official languagesEnglish
Ethnic groups
61.3% Falkland Islander[a]
29.0% British
2.6% Spaniard
0.6% Japanese
6.5% Chilean & Other[1]
Demonym(s)Falkland Islander
GovernmentBritish Overseas Territory (constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democratic dependency)
• Monarch
Queen Elizabeth II
• Governor
Nigel Haywood[2]
Tim Thorogood[3]
Establishment
5 January 1833
2 April 1982
14 June 1982
18 April 1985
1 January 2009
Area
• Total
12,173 km2 (4,700 sq mi) (162nd)
• Water (%)
0
Population
• July 2008 estimate
3,140[4] (220th)
• Density
0.26/km2 (0.7/sq mi) (240th)
GDP (PPP)2005 estimate
• Total
$75 million (223rd)
• Per capita
$25,000 (2002 estimate) (not ranked)
HDIn/a
Error: Invalid HDI value
CurrencyFalkland Islands pound[b] (FKP)
Time zoneUTC-4
• Summer (DST)
UTC-3
Drives onleft
Calling code500
ISO 3166 codeFK
Internet TLD.fk
a. ^ The majority are of British origin.
b. ^ Fixed to the Pound sterling (GBP).

The Falkland Islands (Template:Pron-en; Spanish: Islas Malvinas)[5] are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about 250 nautical miles (460 km; 290 mi) from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago, consisting of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands, is a self-governing British Overseas Territory.[6] The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland.

Ever since the re-establishment of British rule in 1833, Argentina has claimed sovereignty.[7] In pursuit of this claim, which is rejected by the islanders,[8] Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands in 1982. This precipitated the two-month-long undeclared Falklands War between Argentina and the United Kingdom and resulted in the defeat and withdrawal of the Argentine forces.

Since the war, there has been strong economic growth in both fisheries and tourism.

Name

See also: List of Falkland Islands placenames

The Falkland Islands took their English name from "Falkland Sound", the channel between the two main islands, which was in turn named after Anthony Cary, 5th Viscount Falkland by Captain John Strong, who landed on the islands in 1690.[9] The Spanish name, Islas Malvinas, is derived from the French name,[10] Îles Malouines, named by Louis Antoine de Bougainville in 1764 after the first known settlers, mariners and fishermen from the Breton port of Saint-Malo in France.[10] The ISO designation is Falkland Islands (Malvinas) and its ISO country code is FK.[11]

As a result of the continuing sovereignty dispute, the use of many Spanish names is considered offensive in the Falkland Islands, particularly those associated with the 1982 invasion of the Falkland Islands.[12] General Sir Jeremy Moore would not allow the use of Islas Malvinas in the surrender document, dismissing it as a propaganda term.[13]

History to 1982

Main articles: History of the Falkland Islands and Timeline of the history of the Falkland Islands

The islands were uninhabited when they were first discovered by European explorers, but there is evidence that Patagonian Indians may have reached the Falklands in canoes.[14] Artefacts including arrowheads and the remains of a canoe have been found on the islands.[15] There was also the presence of the Falkland Island fox, or Warrah (now extinct), but warrahs may have reached the islands via a land bridge when the sea level was much lower during the last ice age. A group of islands appeared on maps in the Falkland Island region from the early 16th century, so either Ferdinand Magellan or another early expedition may have sighted them. In 1519 or 1520, Esteban Gómez, a captain in Magellan’s expedition, encountered several islands that members of his crew called "Islas de Sansón y de los Patos" ("Islands of Samson and the Ducks"). These were probably the Jason Islands, northwest of West Falkland, and the names "Islas de Sansón" (or "San Antón," "San Son," and "Ascensión") were used for the Falklands on Spanish maps during this period.[14] Piri Reis, a Turkish admiral of the time who drew reasonably accurate maps, showed islands that may well have been the Falkland Islands.[16]

The extinct warrah was the only native land mammal found on the islands upon discovery by Europeans

Early explorers

There is some dispute about which European explorer first set foot on the islands. The islands appear on numerous Spanish and other maps beginning in the 1520s.[15] The English explorer John Davis, commander of the Desire, one of the ships belonging to Thomas Cavendish's second expedition to the New World, is recorded as having visited the islands in 1592.[17] He was separated from Cavendish off the coast of what is now southern Argentina by a severe storm and discovered the islands. For a time the islands were known as "Davis Land".[14] In 1594, the English commander Richard Hawkins visited the islands. Combining his own name with that of Queen Elizabeth I, the "Virgin Queen", he gave them the name of "Hawkins' Maidenland." Many give the credit to Sebald de Weert, a Dutchman, who discovered the islands in 1600.[15]

In January 1690, Captain John Strong of the Welfare was heading for Puerto Deseado (now in Argentina). Driven off course by contrary winds, he reached the Sebald Islands instead and landed at Bold Cove. He sailed between the two principal islands and called the passage "Falkland Channel" (now Falkland Sound), after Anthony Cary, 5th Viscount Falkland, who as Commissioner of the Admiralty had financed the expedition (Cary later became First Lord of the Admiralty). The island group later took its English name from this body of water.

First settlers

The first settlement on the Falkland Islands, named Port St. Louis, was founded by the French navigator and military commander Louis Antoine de Bougainville on Berkeley Sound, in present-day Port Louis, East Falkland in 1764.

John Byron, by Joshua Reynolds, 1759.

In January 1765, the British captain John Byron, unaware of the French presence, explored and claimed Saunders Island, at the western end of the group, where he named the harbour of Port Egmont. He sailed near other islands, which he also claimed for King George III. A British settlement was built at Port Egmont in 1766. Also in 1766, Spain acquired the French colony, and after assuming effective control in 1767, placed the islands under a governor subordinate to the Buenos Aires colonial administration. Spain attacked Port Egmont, ending the British presence there in 1770. The expulsion of the British settlement brought the two countries to the brink of war, but a peace treaty allowed the British to return to Port Egmont in 1771 with neither side relinquishing sovereignty.[18]

In 1774, as a result of economic pressures leading up to the American Revolutionary War, Great Britain withdrew unilaterally from many of her overseas settlements, including Port Egmont.[19][20] Upon her withdrawal in 1776 the British left behind a plaque asserting her claims. From 1776 until 1811 Spain maintained a settlement administered from Buenos Aires as part of the Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata. On leaving in 1811, Spain also left behind a plaque asserting her claims.

On 6 November 1820, Colonel David Jewett raised the flag of the United Provinces of the River Plate (Argentina) at Port Louis. Jewett was a privateer from the United States in the employment of Buenos Aires businessman Patrick Lynch to captain his ship, the frigate Heroína (Lynch had obtained a corsair licence from the Buenos Aires Supreme Director José Rondeau). Jewett had put into the islands the previous month, following a disastrous eight month voyage with most of his crew disabled by scurvy and disease. After resting in the islands and repairing his ship he was relieved of command and returned to South America.[citation needed]

In 1828 Luis Vernet founded a settlement seeking authorisation from both the British and Argentine authorities. Modern Argentina claims the United States warships destroyed this settlement in 1831 after Vernet seized US seal hunting ships during a dispute over fishing rights (the Captain of the Lexington reports destroying a powder store and spiking the settlement guns). In November 1832, Argentina sent Commander Mestivier as an interim commander to found a penal settlement. Mestivier was killed in a mutiny after 4 days.[21]

British settlement

In January 1833, British forces returned and informed the Argentine commander that they intended to reassert British sovereignty. The existing settlers were allowed to remain, with an Irish member of Vernet's settlement, William Dickson, appointed as the Islands' governor. Vernet's deputy, Matthew Brisbane, returned later that year and was informed that the British had no objections to the continuation of Vernet's business ventures provided there was no interference with British control.[22][23][24][25]

Road sign to the capital.

The Royal Navy built a base at Stanley, and the islands became a strategic point for navigation around Cape Horn. A World War I naval battle, the Battle of the Falkland Islands, took place in December 1914, with a British victory over the smaller Imperial German Asiatic Fleet. During World War II, Stanley served as a Royal Navy station and serviced ships which took part in the 1939 Battle of the River Plate.

Sovereignty over the islands again became an issue in the second half of the 20th century. Argentina saw the creation of the United Nations as an opportunity to present its claim to the islands to the rest of the world. When signing the UN Charter in 1945, Argentina stated that it reserved its right to sovereignty of the islands, and its right to recover them. The United Kingdom's response was to state that the Falklanders first had to vote for the British withdrawal in a referendum and that this was an essential precondition for the fulfilment of UN Resolution 1514 (XV) on de-colonising all territories still under foreign occupation.

Talks between British and Argentine foreign missions took place in the 1960s, but failed to come to any meaningful conclusion. A major sticking point in all the negotiations was that the two thousand inhabitants of mainly British descent preferred that the islands remain British territory.

One result of the these talks, however, was the creation of the islands' first air link. In 1971, the Argentine Air Force (FAA), which operates the state airline LADE, began amphibious flights between Comodoro Rivadavia and Stanley using Grumman HU-16 Albatross aircraft.[26] The following year, Britain agreed to allow Argentina to build a temporary air strip, which was completed that November. Flights between Stanley and Comodoro Rivadavia continued twice a week using Fokker F27 and later Fokker F28 aircraft following the construction of the permanent air strip until 1982.[27][28][29] During the same period, YPF, the Argentine national oil and gas company, now part of Repsol YPF, supplied the islands' energy needs.

Falklands War and its aftermath

Main article: Falklands War
British paratroopers guard Argentine prisoners of war

On 2 April 1982, Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands and other British territories in the South Atlantic (South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands). The military junta which had ruled Argentina since 1976 sought to maintain power by diverting public attention from the nation's poor economic performance and exploiting the long-standing feelings of the Argentines towards the islands.[30] Several British writers hold that the United Kingdom's reduction in military capacity in the South Atlantic also encouraged the invasion.[31][32][33]

The United Nations Security Council issued Resolution 502, calling on Argentina to withdraw forces from the Islands and for both parties to seek a diplomatic solution.[34] International reaction ranged from support for Argentina in Latin American countries (except Chile and Colombia), to opposition in the Commonwealth and Europe (apart from Spain), and eventually the United States.

The British sent an expeditionary force to retake the islands, leading to the Falklands War. After short but fierce naval and air battles, the British landed at San Carlos Water on 21 May, and a land campaign followed until the Argentine forces surrendered on 14 June 1982.

The war resulted in the deaths of 255 British and 649 Argentine soldiers, sailors and airmen, as well as of three civilian Falklanders.

After the war, the British increased their military presence on the islands, constructing RAF Mount Pleasant and increasing the military garrison. Although the United Kingdom and Argentina resumed diplomatic relations in 1992, no further negotiations on sovereignty have taken place.

Landmines and ordnance

Depending on the source, between 18,000 and 25,000 land mines remain from the 1982 war. One source says that Argentina placed 18,000 landmines.[35] The British Government stated that all but one of their anti-personnel mine were accounted for.[36] The land mines are located in either 101 or 117 mine fields, that are dispersed over an area of 7.7 sq mi (20 km2) in the areas of Port Stanley, Port Howard, Fox Bay and Goose Green (these areas are now well marked).[37] Information is available from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) Operation Centre in Stanley.[37]

Some beaches were mined, and there have been concerns the tides could have moved some mines. Mines near rivers may also have been washed out of the marked area by flooding. As well, there is ordnance from the war. The first attempts to remove the mines in 1983 were abandoned because of heavy casualties in the demining units.[37] However, between 1997 and 2002, 248 antipersonnel mines were destroyed in the Falklands, 16 were destroyed in 2003, one in 2005 and six antipersonnel mines were destroyed in 2006.[38]

In February 2005, the charity Landmine Action proposed a Kyoto-style credit scheme, which would see a commitment by the British government to clear an equivalent area of mined land to that currently existing in the Falklands in more seriously mine-affected countries by March 2009. This proposal was supported by Falkland Islanders, for whom landmines do not pose a serious threat in everyday life.[39] The British government has yet to declare its support or opposition to the idea.

In November 2008, Landmine Action opposed Britain's request for a ten year extension on the deadline for clearing the landmines. It accused the British Government of not demonstrating "any evidence of serious plans to complete, or even begin, this work" and stated "Allowing a well-resourced, technically capable State such as the United Kingdom to effectively ignore its responsibilities would set a dangerous and ethically unacceptable precedent."[40][41] However, in 2008, the UK Government argued that in stark contrast to minefields elsewhere, "There have never been any civilian injuries in almost 26 years" in the Falklands.[42]

On 30 November 2009 the Falkland Islands Government announced that mine clearance was due to begin at Surf Bay on 2 December 2009, and further clearances were to take place at Sapper Hill, Goose Green and Fox Bay. The British company BACTEC International was chosen to carry out the project,[43] "The work began on 4 December 2009 and is expected to be completed in the middle of 2010." (Hansard 5 January 2010).[44] The workers are using Argentine and UK records to help determine the location of mines.[45]

Sovereignty dispute

Main article: Sovereignty of the Falkland Islands

The United Nations Committee on Decolonization includes the Falkland Islands on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories.[46] The dispute over control of the islands has continued since the Falklands War, although diplomatic relations between Argentina and the UK were resumed in 1990.[47] In 1994, Argentina added its claim to the islands to the Argentine constitution, stating that this claim must be pursued in a manner "respectful of the way of life of their inhabitants and according to the principles of international law"[48] Since the war, successive Argentine governments have stated their intention to pursue their claim to the islands by peaceful means. Kirchner, campaigning for president in 2003, regarded the islands as a top priority, taking actions such as banning flights to the Falklands from Argentinian airspace. In June 2003 the issue was brought before a United Nations committee, and attempts have been made to open talks with the United Kingdom to resolve the issue of the islands.[47]

In 1998, in retaliation for the arrest in London of the former Chilean president Augusto Pinochet, the Chilean government banned flights between Punta Arenas and Port Stanley, thus isolating the islands from the rest of the world. Uruguay and Brazil refused to authorise direct flights between their territories and Port Stanley. This forced the Islands' government to enter negotiations with the Argentine government and led to Argentina authorising direct flights between its territory and Stanley, on condition that Argentine citizens be allowed on the islands.[49]

Cristina Fernandez with Gordon Brown

In 2007, 25 years after the war, Argentina reasserted its claim over the Falkland Islands, asking for the UK to resume talks on sovereignty.[50] In March 2009, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown stated in a meeting with Argentine President Cristina Fernández that there would be no talks over the future sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.[51] As far as the governments of the UK and of the Falkland Islands are concerned, there is no issue to resolve. The Falkland Islanders themselves are almost entirely British and maintain their allegiance to the United Kingdom.[52][53]

In October 2007 a British spokeswoman confirmed that Britain intended to submit a claim[54] to the UN to extend seabed territory around the Falklands and South Georgia, in advance of the expiry of the deadline[55] for territorial claims following Britain's ratification of the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention.[56] This claim would enable Britain to control activities such as fishing within the zone, in areas not conflicting with the Antarctic Treaty.[57] Argentina has indicated it will challenge any British claim to Antarctic territory and the area around the Falkland Islands and South Georgia.[58] Argentina made a similar claim in 2009,[59] and the United Kingdom quickly protested against these claims.[60]

In 2009, when delegates from the Falkland Islands were invited to the World Summit on Fishing Sustainability, the Argentinian delegation protested and walked out of the conference.[47] In February 2010, the Argentine government announced that ships traversing Argentine territorial waters en route to the Falklands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands would require a permit, as part of a dispute over British oil exploration near the Falklands. The British and Falkland governments stated that Falklands-controlled waters were unaffected.[61]

Politics and government

Main article: Politics of the Falkland Islands

The islands are a British Overseas Territory which, under the 2009 Constitution enjoys a large degree of internal self government the United Kingdom guaranteeing good government and taking responsibility for defence, foreign affairs.[62][63]

Arms of Government

Executive authority is vested in the Queen and is exercised by the Governor on her behalf. The Governor is also responsible for the administration of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, as these islands have no native inhabitants. The governor acts on the advice of the Executive Council, composed of himself as chairman, the Chief Executive, Financial Secretary and three elected Legislative Assembly Members.[63] The current Governor Nigel Haywood took office in October 2010.[2]

The Legislative Assembly consists of the Chief Executive, Financial Secretary and the eight members elected for four-year terms by universal suffrage, of whom five are from Stanley and three from Camp.[63] It is presided over by the Speaker, currently Keith Biles.

Justice is administered by a resident senior magistrate and a non-resident Chief Justice of the Islands who visits the islands at least once a year. The senior magistrate handles petty criminal cases, civil, commercial, admiralty and family cases and is also the island's coroner. The chief justice handles serious criminal cases and hears appeals.[64] The constitution bind the judiciary to comply with decision of the European Court of Human Rights.[63]

Military

Badge of the Falkland Islands Defence Force
Main article: Military of the Falkland Islands

Although the British military garrison stationed on the Falkland Islands, the islands have a company sized light infantry unit (FIDF) that is completely funded by the Falklands government (£400,000 in 2009).[65] The unit is trained under a secondment arrangement with MOD - as of 2010 the FIDF employed a Royal Marine WO2 as a permanent staff instructor and a major as commanding officer; the rest of the force are part-timers. It is equipped with quad bikes, inflatable boats and Land Rovers and is armed with heavy machineguns, grenade launchers and sniper rifles. In addition to defence duties, force provides a mountain rescue service and has been trained by the Royal Navy in mounting armed deterrence against illegal fishing activity.[66][65]

Education

Main article: Education in the Falkland Islands

There are approximately 380 children between the ages of 5 and 16 on the islands (excluding families of military personel).[67] Their education, which follows the English system, is free and compulsory. Primary education is available at Stanley where there are boarding facilities, at RAF Mount Pleasant for children of service personnel and at a number of rural settlements where remote learning is supported by the Stanley based Camp Education Unit. The Islands' only secondary school is in Stanley and offers boarding facilities and 12 subjects to GCSE level. After 16, suitably qualified students may study at two colleges in England for their A-levels or for vocational qualifications. The government pays for older students to attend higher education, usually in the UK.[68]

Medical care

The Falkland Islands Government Health and Social Services Department provides medical and dental care for the islands.[69] The King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH), completed in 1987, is Stanley's only hospital. It is run jointly by the Falkland Islands Government and the UK Ministry of Defence.[70] Specialist medical care is provided by visiting ophthalmologists, gynaecologists, ENT surgeons, orthopaedic surgeons, oral surgeons and psychiatrists from the United Kingdom. Patients needing emergency treatment are air-lifted to the United Kingdom or to Santiago (Chile).[69][71]

Geography and ecology

Main article: Geography of the Falkland Islands
Map of the Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands are located in the South Atlantic Ocean on a projection of the Patagonian continental shelf about 250 nautical miles (463 km; 288 mi) from the Patagonia coastline and slightly to the north of the southerly tip of Cape Horn. In ancient geological time this shelf was part of Gondwana, which around 400 million years ago broke from what is now Africa and drifted westwards relative to Africa.[72] Both West Falkland and the northern part of East Falkland have mountain ranges that are underlaid with Palaeozoic rock, which, as a result of secondary forces associated with continental drift are at 120° to each other.[73] The highest point of the islands is Mount Usborne, 705 metres (2,313 ft) on East Falkland, while Mount Adam on West Falkland is only 5 metres (16 ft) lower.[74] The southern part of East Falkland, the Lafonia peninsular which is connected to the rest of the island by a 4 km narrow isthmus, is dissimilar to the rest of the island. Most of Lafonia is a flat plain underlain by younger Mesozoic rock, but in the north west is Permian rock which similar to that of parts of Ecca Pass in South Africa.[73][75]

The Falklands, which has a total land area is 4,700 square miles (12,173 km2) and a coastline estimated at 800 miles (1288 km),[4] comprise two main islands, West Falkland and East Falkland (in Spanish Isla Gran Malvina and Isla Soledad respectively) that are separated by the Falkland Sound and about 776 small islands. The islands are heavily indented by sounds and fjords and have many natural harbours.[76]

San Carlos Water, one of many inlets on East Falkland

East Falkland, which contains the capital Stanley and the British military base at Mount Pleasant, is the more populous of the two main islands.[74]

The two islands are separated by the Falkand Sound which is approximately 3000 metres at its narrowest point (which is also its northerly entrance). It provides a natural shelter to shipping with a 20 metre clearance at its northern entrance. Much of the northern part of the sound which is clear water, is 30 metres in depth, but the southern part, choked with an archipeligo has a number of passages that are much deeper. [77][78]

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.

Flora and fauna

See also: Fauna of the Falkland Islands

Biogeographically, the Falkland Islands are classified as part of the Antarctic ecozone[79] and Antarctic Floristic Kingdom.[80] The soil types in the island vary, due to the relative dryness of the west compared to the east and differences in altitude. Lowlands having acidic peaty soils who's low fertility supports only shrubs and grassland. The mountains usually have clay or stony soils. Tussac grass, which averages 2 m (6.6 ft) in height but can reach up to 4 m (13.1 ft), is an important habitat for native fauna, growing close to the coast. Inland habitats are often heath, either grass or shrubs, or Feldmark made of cushion plants. There are no native tree species, although there are two species of bushes, fachine and native box.[73]

Penguins at Gypsy Cove

The islands provide a habitat for more than 220 bird species, including 5 penguin species[81] such as the Magellanic Penguin.[82] Over 60% of the global black-browed albatross population lives on the islands, and 14 species of marine mammals including Killer whales, Peale's dolphins, Southern elephant seals and Southern sea lions frequent the surrounding waters. There are 350 species of plants that have been recorded on the island, 173 of which are native. 13 plant species are endemic to the falklands.[81]

Vegetation such as tussac grass, fachine, and native box have been heavily impacted by introduced grazing animals. Tussac grass now exists in only 20% of its former range, mostly offshore islands. Many breeding birds similarly only live on offshore islands, where introduced animals such as cats and rats are not found.[73] The only native terrestrial mammal, the Warrah, was wiped out in the mid-19th;nbsp&century.[74] Virtually the entire area of the islands is used as pasture for sheep. There is also an introduced reindeer population, which was brought to the islands in 2001 for commercial purposes.[4]

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 inches) but East Falkland is generally wetter than West Falkland.[81] 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.[83] 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.[83]

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)
Mean daily maximum °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) 		9
(48)
Mean daily minimum °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
(36)
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)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 71
(2.8) 		58
(2.3) 		64
(2.5) 		66
(2.6) 		66
(2.6) 		53
(2.1) 		51
(2.0) 		51
(2.0) 		38
(1.5) 		41
(1.6) 		51
(2.0) 		71
(2.8) 		681
(26.8)
Average relative humidity (%) 78 79 82 86 88 89 89 87 84 80 75 77 83
Source: BBC Weather[84]

Economy

Main article: Economy of the Falkland Islands
Reverse of a one-pound coin from the Falkland Islands

Except for defence, the islands are self sufficient with annaul exports of $125 million and imports of $90 million (2004 estimate).[4]

The Falkland Islands use the Falkland pound which circulate interchangeably with the pound sterling. Falkland notes and coins are produced in the United Kingdom;[85] coins are identical in size to the United Kingdom currency but with local designs on the reverse. The Falkland Islands also issue their own stamps. Both the coins and stamps are a source of revenue from overseas collectors.

Falkland stamp commemorating the coronation of King George VI of the United Kingdom and his consort Queen Elizabeth

Farmland accounts for 4,339.73 sq mi (1,123,985 hectares), more than 90% of the Falklands land area.[86] Since 1984, efforts to diversify the economy have made fishing the largest part of the economy and brought increasing income from tourism.[87] Sheep farming was formerly the main source of income for the islands and still plays an important part with high quality wool exports going to the UK. According to the Falklands Government Statistics there are over 500,000 sheep on the islands with roughly 60% on East Falkland and 40% on West Falkland.[86]

Map of the Falkland Islands economic zone in relation to her neighbours

The government has operated a fishing zone policy since 1986 with the sale of fishing licences to foreign countries. These licences have recently raised only £12 to 15 million a year in revenue, as opposed to £20m to £25m annually during the 1990s. Locally registered fishing boats are also in operation. More than 75% of the annual catch of 200,000 tonnes (220,000 short tons) are squid.[88]

Tourism has grown rapidly. The islands have become a regular port of call for the growing market of cruise ships with more than 36,000 visitors in 2004.[89] Attractions include the scenery and wildlife conservation with penguins, seabirds, seals and sealions, as well as visits to battlefields, golf, fishing and wreck diving. British military expenditures add to the islands' "tourism" income.

A 1995 agreement between the UK and Argentina had set the terms for exploitation of offshore resources including oil reserves[90] as geological surveys had shown there might be up to 60 billion barrels (9.5 billion cubic metres) of oil under the sea bed surrounding the islands.[91] However, in 2007 Argentina unilaterally withdrew from the agreement.[92] In response, Falklands Oil and Gas Limited has signed an agreement with BHP Billiton to investigate the potential exploitation of oil reserves.[93] Climatic conditions of the southern seas mean that exploitation will be a difficult task, though economically viable, and the continuing sovereignty dispute with Argentina is hampering progress.[94] In February 2010, exploratory drilling for oil was begun by Desire Petroleum,[95] but the results from the first test well were disappointing.[96] Two months later, on 6 May 2010, Rockhopper Exploration announced that "it may have struck oil".[97] On Friday 17 September 2010 Rockhopper Exploration released news that a flow test of the Sea-Lion 1 discovery was a commercially viable find.[98]

Demographics

See also: Falkland Islanders and Origins of Falkland Islanders
Christ Church Cathedral with the Whale bone arch, Stanley

Census figures show that the population rose from an estimate of 287 in 1851 to 2272 in 1911. It was 2094 in 1921 and 2392 in 1931 but then it declined and in 1980 the population was 1813. The population then rose and was 2955 in 2006. The 2006 census recorded 2115 people in Stanley and 477 in Mount Pleasant, 194 in the rest of East Falkland, 127 in West Falkland and 42 people in all the other islands. These figures exclude all military personnel and their families, but includes 477 people who were present in the Falkland Islands in connection with the military garrison.[99] The American CIA stated that in July 2008, the population was estimated to be 3,140.[100]

The age distribution of the islands residents is skewed towards people of working age (20 - 60) - 65% as opposed to 21% aged below 20 and 14% aged above 60. Males outnumber females by 53% to 47% with the deviation being most prominent in the age group 20 - 60.[99]

About 70 per cent are of British descent, primarily as a result of Scottish and Welsh immigration to the islands.[101] The most predominant religion is Christianity, of which the primary denominations are Church of England, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, and Lutheran. The native-born inhabitants call themselves "Islanders"; the term "Kelpers", from the kelp which grows profusely around the islands, is no longer used in the Islands. People from the United Kingdom who have obtained Falkland Island status are known locally as 'belongers'.

With retrospective effect from 1 January 1983, as provided in the British Nationality (Falkland Islands) Act 1983, the islanders have been full British citizens. For the Argentine position on Falklanders’ citizenship, see Current claims.

Communications

Broadcasting

Radio services are operated by the Falkland Islands Radio Service, formerly the Falkland Islands Broadcasting Service, and the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS). FM stereo broadcasting using the UK allocation is standard. Medium Wave broadcasting using 10 kHz steps (standard in ITU Region II).

The only terrestrial channel available is BFBS1 broadcast in the PAL standard, using the UK UHF allocation. There is also a cable television service in Stanley operated by KTV Ltd.

Telephone

The Falkland Islands has a modern telecommunications network providing fixed line telephone, ADSL and dial-up internet services in Stanley. Telephones to outlying settlements use microwave radio. A GSM 900[102] mobile network was installed in 2005[103] providing coverage to Stanley, Mount Pleasant and surrounding areas. It is operated under the Touch Mobile brand.

Cable & Wireless Worldwide is the sole telecommunications provider in the Falkland Islands.[104]

Transport

Main article: Transport in the Falkland Islands
The Dash-7 of the British Antarctic Survey at Stanley

The Falkland Islands have two airports with paved runways. The main international airport is RAF Mount Pleasant, 27 miles (43 km) west of Stanley.[105] There are weekly flights, operated by LAN Airlines, to Santiago, Chile, via Punta Arenas. Once a month, this flight also stops in Río Gallegos, Argentina.[106]

The Royal Air Force operates flights from RAF Mount Pleasant to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, England, with a refuelling stop at RAF Ascension Island. RAF flights are on TriStars although charter aircraft are often used if the TriStars are required for operational flights. At present Air Seychelles operates the RAF air link, using a Boeing 767s[107]. British International (BRINTEL) also operate two Sikorsky S61N helicopters, based at RAF Mount Pleasant, under contract to the United Kingdom Ministry Of Defence, primarily for moving military personnel, equipment and supplies around the islands.

The British Antarctic Survey operates a transcontinental air link between the Falkland Islands and the Rothera Research Station on the Antarctic Peninsula and servicing also other British bases in the British Antarctic Territory using a de Havilland Canada Dash 7.

The smaller Port Stanley Airport, outside the city, is used for internal flights. The Falkland Islands Government Air Service (FIGAS) operates Islander aircraft that can use the grass airstrips that most settlements have. Flight schedules are decided a day in advance according to passenger needs. The night before, the arrival and departure times are announced on the radio.

The road network has been improved in recent years. However, not many paved roads exist outside Stanley and RAF Mount Pleasant. Speed limits are 25 mph (40 km/h) in built-up areas and 40 mph (64 km/h) elsewhere.[108]

See also

Main article: Outline of the Falkland Islands

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Further reading

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