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The Falkland Islands

Flag of the Falkland Islands Falkland Islands coat of arms (In Detail) (In Detail)
Motto: Desire the right
Official language	English
Capital	Port Stanley
Governor	Howard Pearce
Chief Executive	Chris Simpkins
Area  - Total  - % water	not ranked 12,173 km² -
Population  - Total (2003 E)  - Density	not ranked 2,967 0.24/km²
Currency	Falkland pound (FKP; fixed to GBP)
Time zone	UTC -4 (DST -3)
National anthem	God Save the Queen
Internet TLD	.fk
Calling code	500

The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic continental shelf consisting of two main islands, East Falkland and West Falkland, and a number of smaller islands. They are a largely self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom but are claimed by Argentina to part of its national territory. Port Stanley, also known as Stanley, is the capital and largest city, on East Falkland.

The sovereignty of the Falkland Islands has been disputed since their discovery, with France, Spain, Argentina and the United Kingdom all claiming possession after establishing settlements on the islands. Argentina is the only country to still maintain a claim over the islands, which they call Islas Malvinas and other territories, in the South Atlantic currently under British dominion. The sovereignty dispute was the source of the 1982 Falklands War when the islands were invaded by Argentina, only to see them retaken by the British after a short land war. The sovereignty of the islands remains disputed, but the islanders themselves wish to remain British.

History

Main article: History of the Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands were uninhabited when they were first discovered by European explorers. Disputed evidence exists of prior settlement by humans based on the existence of the Falkland Island fox, or Warrah on the islands. It is thought this fox was brought to the island by humans, although it may have reached the islands itself via a land bridge during the last ice age.

The first European explorer credited with sighting the islands is Sebald de Weert, a Dutch sailor in 1600. Although several English and Spanish historians maintain their own explorers discovered the islands earlier, some older maps, particularly Dutch ones, used the name 'Sebald Islands' after the first credited explorer. A British sailor sailed between the two principal islands in 1690, and called the passage "Falkland Channel" (now Falkland Sound), after Anthony Cary, 5th Viscount Falkland (1659-1694), who as Commissioner of the Admiralty had financed the expedition, and who later became First Lord of the Admiralty. From this body of water the island group later took its collective name.

The first settlement on the Falkland Islands was by France in 1763. The French colony was at Port Louis on Berkely Sound. The French name Îles Malouines was given to the islands — malouin being the adjective for the Breton port of Saint-Malo. The Spanish name Malvinas is derived from the French adjective.

The United Kingdom first established a colony on the islands in 1765 unaware of the French colony in existence. After confrontation with Spain over sovereignty, an agreement was reached which yielded the islands to the UK. The French colony was ceded to Spain and abandoned previously, and the British abandoned their own colony in 1774, leaving a plaque behind to assert their continuing sovereignty.

The first Argentine claim to islands was in 1820, following independence from Spain in 1817. A settlement and penal colony was established by the Argentines on the islands in 1820. The settlements were later destroyed by the United States following a dispute over fishing rights. The United Kingdom invaded the islands in 1833, and expelled the remainder of the Argentine settlement, and began to populate the island with its own citizens.

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

Sovereignty over the islands became an issue again in the latter half of the 20th century. Argentina, which never renounced its claim to the islands, used the newly formed United Nations as an avenue for pursuing its claims, and talks between the British and Argentine foreign missions took place in the 1960s. However the talks never came to any meaningful conclusion, and a major sticking point in any negotiations was the 2,000 inhabitants of mainly British descent who prefer that the islands remain a British colony.

On April 30 1982, Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands and other British territories in the South Atlantic (South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands), encouraged in part by the United Kingdom's reduction in military capacity in the South Atlantic, and as a diversion from poor economic performance at home. World reaction to the invasion ranged from support in the Latin American countries, to opposition in Europe, the Commonwealth, and eventually the United States. The British sent a large expedition force to retake the islands leading to the Falklands War. After a short but fierce naval and air war, the British landed at San Carlos Water on May 21 and a land war followed until the Argentinean forces surrendered on June 14.

Following the war, the British increased their military presence on the islands, constructing RAF Mount Pleasant and increasing the military garrison. Falkland Islanders were also granted full British citizenship. Although the UK and Argentina since resumed diplomatic relations in 1989, no further negotiations on sovereignty have taken place.

Politics

Executive authority comes from 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. Defence and Foreign Affairs are the responsibility of the United Kingdom.

Under the constitution, the latest version of which came into force in 1985, there is an Executive Council and a Legislative Council. The Executive Council, which advises the Governor, is also chaired by the Governor. It consists of the Chief Executive, Financial Secretary and three Legislative Councillors, who are elected by the other Legislative Councillors. The Legislative Council consists of the Chief Executive, Financial Secretary and the eight Legislative Councillors, of whom five are elected from Stanley and three from Camp, for four year terms. It is presided over by the Speaker, currently Mr L.G. Blake.

The loss of the war against Britain over control of the islands led to the collapse of the Argentine military dictatorship in 1983. Disputes over control of the islands continue. In 2001, British Prime Minister Tony Blair became the first to visit Argentina since the war. On the 22nd anniversary of the war, Argentina's President Néstor Kirchner gave a speech insisting that the islands would once again be part of Argentina. Kirchner, campaigning for president in 2003, regarded the islands a top priority. In June 2003 the issue was brought before a United Nations committee, and attempts have been made to open talks with Britain to resolve the issue of the islands. As far as the Falkland Islands Government and people are concerned there is no issue to resolve. The Falkland Islanders themselves are almost entirely British and maintain their allegiance to the United Kingdom.

Falkland Islanders were granted full British citizenship from 1 January 1983 under the British Nationality (Falkland Islands) Act 1983.

Geography

The islands are 300 miles (483 km) from the South American mainland. There are two main islands, East Falkland and West Falkland and about 700 small islands. The total land area is 12,173 km², approximately the same area as Connecticut or Northern Ireland, and a coastline estimated at 1,288 km.

Much of the land is part of the two main islands separated by the Falkland Sound: East Falkland, home to the capital of Port Stanley and the majority of the population, and West Falkland. Both islands have mountain ranges, rises to 705 m at Mount Usborne on East Falkland. There are also some boggy plains, most notably Lafonia, 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, West Point Island. The Jason Islands lie to the north west of the main archipelago, and Beauchene Island some distance to its south.

The islands claim a territorial sea of 12 nautical miles (22 km) and an exclusive fishing zone of 200 nautical miles (370 km), which has been a source of conflict with Argentina.

The Falkland Islands have a cold marine climate with strong westerly winds. It is generally cloudy and humid; rain occurs on more than half the days in a typical year. Snow is rare, but can occur at almost any time of year Islanders themselves talk about two main areas of the islands, namely Port Stanley and the rest, which they call "the Camp", from the Spanish campo ("countryside").

Economy

Main article: Economy of the Falkland Islands

The largest industries are fishing and agriculture. The islands have oil reserves that are believed to be quite substantial, but have yet to be exploited. The climatic conditions of the southern seas mean that the economic viability of any exploitation is poor. The continuing sovereignty dispute with Argentina also hampers exploration possibilities. Since the 1982 war, expenditure by the British military forms a major part of the island's economy.

The largest company in the islands is the Falkland Islands Company, a publicly quoted company on the London Stock Exchange and responsible for the majority of the economic activity on the islands.

The currency in use is the Falkland Pound, which remain in parity with Pound Sterling. The Falkland Islands also mint their own coins, and issue stamps which forms a source of revenue from overseas collectors.

Demographics

The population is 2,967 (July 2003 estimate), the majority of which are of British descent (approximately 70%). Those people from the United Kingdom who have obtained Falkland Island status, becoming what are known locally as 'belongers'. However a few are of Scandinavian descent. Some are the descendants of whalers who reached the Islands during the last two centuries. Furthermore there is a small minority of South American, mainly Chilean origin, and in more recent times many people from St Helena have also come to work in the Islands. Falkland Islands has been a center of English-language learning for South Americans

Islanders call themselves "Islanders". Outsiders often call Islanders "Kelpers", from the kelp which grows profusely around the islands, but the name is not used in the Islands any more. The word kelper is used in Argentina with the meaning of second-class citizens as a reflection on the legal status of the islanders within the UK prior to the passing of the Nationality Act of 1983.

The main religion is Christainity. The main churches are demoninations are Church of England, Roman Catholicism, United Free Church, Evangelist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheranism and Seventh-day Adventism. The extra-provincial Anglican parish of the Falkland Islands is under the direct jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Transport

The Falkland Islands has two airports with paved runways. RAF Mount Pleasant, 30 miles west of Port Stanley acts as the main international airport, with flights operated by the Royal Air Force to RAF Northolt in the United Kingdom and RAF Ascension Island. Flights are also avaliable to Chile operated by LAN. Port Stanley Airport is a smaller airport outside the city, and is used for internal flights. There are 3 airports with grass runways at Goose Green, West Falkland and San Carlos Bay. Some flights also operate to British bases in the British Antarctic Territory.

The road network has been improved by the British military since 1982, however, few paved roads exist outside Port Stanley and the RAF base. Thousands of land mines remain from the 1982 war which also hamper transport.

See also

• Sovereignty of the Falkland Islands
• Communications in the Falkland Islands
• Military of the Falkland Islands
• Stamps and postal history of the Falkland Islands
• Transport in the Falkland Islands
• Battle of the Falkland Islands - naval engagement of the First World War
• British Nationality (Falkland Islands) Act 1983
• Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey
• Falklands War - conflict between Argentina and United Kingdom
• List of settlements in the Falkland Islands
• Major Samuel Stransham

Reference

• "Non-Self-Governing Territories listed by General Assembly in 2002". United Nations Special Committee of 24 on Decolonisation. March 10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)

External links

• Template:Wikitravel
• Falkland Islands Government's official website, including a detailed map
• Battles of the Falkland Islands War 1982 at Naval History Net
• Official Falkland Islands portal by the Falkland Islands Development Corporation
• BBC News: Country profiles: Falkland Islands
• Falkland Islands News Network, privately maintained
• Falkland Islands Tourism, from a company by that name
• BBC Weather for Port Stanley
• The Mad-Sheep Falkland Islands Pages
• Malvinas History (Spanish)

Template:South America

• Current British colonies
• Disputed territories
• Falkland Islands
• Archipelagoes
• Special territories of the EU
• Argentina