Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom in the South Atlantic consisting of two main islands known as East Falkland and West Falkland and a number of smaller islands. Sovereignty of the islands is also claimed by Argentina where the islands are known as Islas Malvinas. The capital Port Stanley is on East Falkland.
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| Motto: Desire the right | |||||
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| 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 | ||||
History
Main article: History of the Falkland Islands
Several claims have been made that numerous navigators have sighted the Falkland Islands for the first time but the Dutch sailor Sebald de Weert has been credited with the first sighting in 1600, though the British and Spanish maintain their own respective explorers discovered the islands earlier. Some older maps, particularly Dutch ones, used the name 'Sebald Islands' for a while. They remained practically unsettled until the 19th century. Argentina set up a penal colony in the islands in 1820, and in 1829 named Luis Vernet as the islands' governor, in order to colonise them. The United Kingdom took the islands in 1833, but Argentina maintained its claim. Various tensions led to an Argentine invasion in 1982. The island was later retaken by the UK. See: Falklands War.
The islands contained no natives when the Europeans arrived, although there is some disputed evidence for earlier human visits. The most convincing of these is the Warrah (Canis antarcticus/Dusicyon australis), possibly descended from South American culpeo (used as hunting dogs by Yaghan people of Tierra del Fuego). Now extinct, the warrah was a great nuisance towards early livestock. It is very unlikely that it reached the islands by itself.
Politics
Main article: Politics of the Falkland Islands
Executive authority comes from the Queen and is exercised by the governor on her behalf. Defence is the responsibility of the UK. There is a constitution, which was put into force in 1985. Under the constitution, eight Legislative Councillors, five from Stanley and three from Camp, are elected every four years.
The Executive Council, which advises the governor, consists of the Chief Executive, Financial Secretary and three Legislative Councillors, which are elected by the other Legislative Councillors. The Legislative Council consists of Chief Executive, Financial Secretary and the eight Legislative Councillors. The Governor is ex officio the presiding officer or speaker of the Council.
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 still continue. In 2001, British Prime Minister Tony Blair was 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, since becoming president in 2003, has made 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. Falkland Islanders themselves continue to view themselves as British.
Geography
Main article: Geography of the Falkland Islands
The islands are 300 miles (483 km) from the South American mainland.There are two main islands, East Falkland (Soledad) and West Falkland (Gran Malvina) and 200 small islands. The total land area is 12,173 km².
Islanders themselves talk about two main areas of the islands, namely Port Stanley and the rest which they nickname "the Camp", from the Spanish "campo" meaning "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 yet to be exploited
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of the Falkland Islands
The population is 2,967 (July 2003 estimated).
Islanders nickname themselves "Kelpers", from a kind of seaweed predominant round the islands.
Culture
Main article: Culture of the Falkland Islands
Miscellaneous topics
- Communications in the Falkland Islands
- Transportation in the Falkland Islands
- Military of the Falkland Islands
- Stamps and postal history of the Falkland Islands
See also
- Battle of the Falkland Islands - naval engagement of the First World War
- British Nationality (Falkland Islands) Act 1983
- Falklands War - conflict between Argentina and United Kingdom
- Major Samuel Stransham
External links
- Falkland Islands Government (http://www.falklands.gov.fk/)
- Penguin News (weekly newspaper) (http://www.penguin-news.com/)
- Falkland Islands News Network (http://www.falklandnews.com/)
- Falkland Islands Portal (http://www.falklandislands.com/)
- Falkland Islands Tourism (http://www.tourism.org.fk/)
- Jason Islands Banknotes (http://www.numismondo.com/pm/jas/)
- Falkland Islands detailed map (http://www.falklands.gov.fk/coastal-shipping/falkland-islands-map.jpg)
- Falkland Islands Information Portal (http://www.falklands.info/)
| Countries in South America |
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| Argentina | Bolivia | Brazil | Chile | Colombia | Ecuador | Guyana | Paraguay | Peru | Suriname | Uruguay | Venezuela |
| Dependencies: Falkland Islands | French Guiana |
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