Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

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Country Info

Country Details
Land Area 12,173 sq km Population 2826
Capital City Stanley People British
Language English Religion primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, Evangelist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day Adventist
Government Type NA Life Expectancy
HIV/AIDS Rate NA% GNP per Capita $19,000
Currency Falkland pound (FKP) Major Exports wool, hides, meat
National Holiday Liberation Day, 14 June (1982) Dialing Code
Electricity Malaria Risk
Water Quality Inoculations Typhoid, Polio, Tetanus, Hepatitis A
Crime Driving License
Photography Equipment and film reasonably priced Entry Regs
Time Zone GMT-4    

Background

Although first sighted by an English navigator in 1592, the first landing (English) did not occur until almost a century later in 1690, and the first settlement (French) was not established until 1764. The colony was turned over to Spain two years later and 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.

Embassy & Tourism Information

Embassy and Tourism table of information
Falkland Islands Government Office Falkland House, 14 Broadway, LONDON, SW1H 0BH
Falkland Islands Tourist Information

Map of Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

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