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 Stanley
Airport, Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Location: Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic
Ocean, east of southern Argentina
Geographic coordinates: 51 45 S, 59 00 W
Map references: South America
Area:
total: 12,173 sq km
land: 12,173 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland
and about 200 small islands
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,288 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid;
rain occurs on more than half of days in year; occasional snow all
year, except in January and February, but does not accumulate
Terrain: rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating
plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m
Natural resources: fish, wildlife
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 99%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 1% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: strong winds persist throughout the year
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: deeply indented coast provides good natural
harbors; short growing season
Background: Discovered in the 16th century and settled in
the mid-18th century, 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.
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