Falkland Islands
The
Falkland Islands, also called the
Malvinas, are an
archipelago in the
South Atlantic Ocean, located 300 miles (483 kilometres) from the coast of
South America. They consist of two main islands,
East Falkland and
West Falkland, together with about 700 smaller islands.
Stanley, on East Falkland, is the capital and largest city. The islands are a self-governing
Overseas Territory of the
United Kingdom, but have been the subject of a
claim to sovereignty by
Argentina since the early years of Argentina's independence.
In
1982 the islands were invaded by Argentina, precipitating the two-month-long undeclared
Falklands War between Argentina and the United Kingdom, which resulted in the defeat and withdrawal of Argentine forces. Since the war there has been strong economic growth in both fisheries and tourism. The inhabitants of the islands, who are of mainly Scottish descent and consider themselves British citizens, generally support the current state of sovereignty.
The islands are referred to in the
English language as "[The] Falkland Islands". This name dates from an expedition led by John Strong in
1690, who named the islands after his patron,
Anthony Cary, 5th Viscount Falkland. The
Spanish name for the islands,
"Islas Malvinas", is derived from the
French name
"Îles Malouines", bestowed in
1764 by
Louis Antoine de Bougainville, after the mariners and fishermen from the
Breton port of
Saint-Malo who became the island's first known human settlers.
The Falklanders, as well as many British citizens, tend to consider as offensive the use of the name
Malvinas, as it has a strong association with Argentina's continued claim to sovereignty over the islands. Some English-language media sources use the
ISO designation of "Falkland Islands (Malvinas)".
The Falkland Islands have had a complex history since their discovery, with
France,
Britain,
Spain and
Argentina all claiming possession and establishing as well as abandoning settlements on the islands. The Spanish government's claim was continued by Argentina after the latter's independence in
1816 and the independence war in
1817, until
1833 when the United Kingdom took by force control of the islands, following the destruction of the Argentine settlement at
Puerto Soledad by the American sloop
USS Lexington (
December 28,
1831). Argentina has continued to claim sovereignty over the islands, and the dispute was used by the military
junta dictatorship as an excuse to invade and briefly occupy the islands before being defeated in the two-month-long undeclared
Falklands War in 1982 by a United Kingdom task force which returned the islands to British control.
The islands were uninhabited when they were first discovered by
European explorers. There is disputed evidence of prior settlement by humans, based on the existence of the
Falkland Island fox, or Warrah, on the islands, as well as a scattering of undated artifacts including arrowheads and the remains of a canoe. It is thought this
canid was brought to the island by humans, although it may have reached the islands by itself via a land bridge during the last
ice age.
The first European explorer widely 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 de Weert. However, the islands appear on numerous Spanish and other maps beginning in the
1520s.
In January
1690, English sailor
John Strong, captain of the
Welfare, was heading for
Puerto Deseado (in Argentina), but 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 (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 English name.
The first settlement on the Falkland Islands, called Port Saint Louis, was founded by the
French navigator and military commander Louis Antoine de Bougainville in
1764 on Berkeley Sound, in present-day
Port Louis,
East Falkland.
Unaware of the French presence, in January
1765, English captain
John Byron explored and claimed
Saunders Island, at the western end of the group, where he named the harbour of
Port Egmont, and sailed near other islands, which he also claimed for King
George III of Great Britain. 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
Buenos Aires. Spain attacked Port Egmont, ending the British presence there in
1770, but Britain returned in
1771 and remained until
1774. Upon her withdrawal in
1774 Britain left behind a
plaque asserting her claims, and in 1790, Britain officially ceded control of the islands to Spain, and renounced any and all colonial ambitions in South America, and its adjacent islands, as part of the
Nootka Convention. In addition, the
Nootka Convention provided for equal British, Spanish, and US rights to fish the surrounding waters of, as well as land on and erect temporary buildings to aid in such fishing operations, in any territory south of parts already occupied by Spain - the Falkland Islands being one of them since
1770 [
1]. From then on Spain ruled the islands unchallenged under the name "Islas Malvinas", maintaining a settlement ruled from
Buenos Aires under the control of the
Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata until
1811. On leaving in
1811, Spain, too, left behind a plaque asserting her claims.
When Argentina declared its
independence from Spain in
1816, it laid claim to the islands according to the
uti possidetis principle, as they had been under the administrative jurisdiction of the
Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata. Following a proclamation of annexation in
1820, actual occupation began in
1826 with the foundation of a settlement and a penal colony. The settlement was destroyed by
United States warship in
1831 after the Argentinian governor of the islands
Luis Vernet seized U.S.
seal hunting ships during a dispute over fishing rights. They left behind escaped prisoners and pirates. In November
1832, Argentina sent another governor who was killed in a mutiny. In January
1833, British forces returned,
took control, repatriated the remainder of the Argentine settlement, and began to repopulate the islands with British citizens.
The
Royal Navy built a base at
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, Stanley served as a Royal Navy station and serviced ships which 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 had never renounced its claim to the islands, saw the creation of the
United Nations as an opportunity to present its case before the rest of the world. In
1945, upon signing the
UN Charter, Argentina stated that it reserved its right to sovereignty of the islands, as well as its right to recover them. The United Kingdom responded in turn by stating that, as an essential precondition for the fulfilment of
UN Resolution 1514, regarding the de-colonization of all territories still under foreign occupation, the Falklanders first had to vote for the British withdrawal at a referendum to be held on the issue.
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 the 2,000 inhabitants of mainly British descent who preferred that the islands remained British territory.
On
April 2,
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. The invasion was condemned by the United Nations Security Council, although world reaction ranged from support in the
Latin American countries (with the exception of
Chile), to opposition in Europe, the Commonwealth, and eventually the United States. The British sent a large expeditionary 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.
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 Geoffrey Lionel 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. (See also
Sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.)
Falkland Islanders were granted full British citizenship from
1 January 1983 under the
British Nationality (Falkland Islands) Act 1983.
|
Map of the Falkland Islands |
The Falkland 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 4,700
square miles (12 173 km²), approximately the same area as
Connecticut or
Northern Ireland, and a
coastline estimated at 800 miles (1288 km).
Much of the land is part of the two main islands separated by the
Falkland Sound:
East Falkland, home to the capital of
Stanley and the majority of the population, and
West Falkland. Both islands have
mountain ranges, rising to 2,313
feet (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. Speedwell Island and George Island are split from East Falkland by
Engle Passage.
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 disagreement 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 Stanley and the rest, which they call "the Camp", from the Spanish
campo ("countryside").
 |
A Falkland Pound Note |
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, but efforts to diversify introduced in 1984 have made
fishing the largest part of the economy and brought increasing income from
tourism.The government sale of fishing licences to foreign countries has brought in more than £40 million a year in revenues, and local fishing boats are also in operation. More than 75% of the fish taken are
squid, and most exports are to
Spain. Tourism has shown rapid growth, with more than 30,000 visitors in
2001. The islands have become a regular port of call for the growing market of
cruise ships. Attractions include the scenery and wildlife conservation with
penguins, seabirds,
seals and
sealions, and visits to battlefields, golf, fishing and wreck diving.
An agreement with Argentina has set the terms for exploitation of offshore resources including large oil reserves, but climatic conditions of the southern seas mean that exploitation will be difficult task, though economically viable, and the continuing sovereignty dispute with Argentina is hampering progress. Defence is provided by the UK and British military expenditure makes a significant contribution to the economy.The islands are self sufficient except for defence, exports account for more than £125 million a year.
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, though its farms were sold in 1991 to the Falkland Islands Government.
The currency in use is the
Falkland Pound, which remains in parity with
Pounds Sterling. The Falkland Islands also mint their own coins, and issue stamps which forms a source of revenue from overseas collectors.
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, became 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
Saint Helena have also come to work in the Islands. The Falkland Islands have been a centre 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 no longer used in the Islands.
The main religion is
Christianity. The main denominations 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. The Falklands Islands form an
Apostolic Prefecture of the Catholic Church.
The Falkland Islands has two airports with paved runways.
RAF Mount Pleasant, 30 miles west of Stanley acts as the main international airport, with flights operated by the
Royal Air Force to
RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire,
United Kingdom with a refueling stop at
RAF Ascension Island. RAF flights are on Tri-Stars although it is common for charter aircraft to be used if the Tri-Stars are required for operational flights. Flights are also available to
Chile operated by
LAN.
Port Stanley Airport is a smaller airport outside the city, and is used for internal flights. Most settlements have grass air strips which are served by Islander aircraft. The internal flight schedule is decided a day in advance according to passenger needs and an announcement made on the radio detailing arrival and departure times the night before. Some flights also operate to British bases in the
British Antarctic Territory.
The road network has been improved in recent years, however, few paved roads exist outside Stanley and the RAF base.
Thousands of land mines remain from the 1982 war which are securely and clearly fenced off with free maps available from the EOD (Explosive
Ordnance Disposal) office in Stanley. Care should still be taken as some beaches were mined and there have been concerns the tides could have moved some mines. The same applies where mine fields are close to rivers. Care should be taken in case mines have been washed out of the marked area by flooding. There is also ordnance left over from the war, although finds of this type are becoming rarer with the passage of time.
*
Battle of the Falkland Islands - naval engagement of the
First World War*
British Nationality (Falkland Islands) Act 1983*
Communications in the Falkland Islands*
Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey*
Falklands War - conflict between
Argentina and
United Kingdom*
Geology of the Falkland Islands*
List of settlements in the Falkland Islands*
Major Samuel Stransham*
Military of the Falkland Islands*
Sovereignty of the Falkland Islands*
Stamps and postal history of the Falkland Islands*
Transport in the Falkland Islands*
Falkland Islands Government official site
*
Falkland Islands Tourism official site
*
Falkland Islands Development Corporation official site
*
Falkland Islands News Network official site
*
Falkland Islands Information Portal*
Open Directory Project - Falkland Islands*
Falkland Islands Photos Collection*
A Visitor's View of the Falkland Islands*
United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association* L.L. Ivanov et al,
The Future of the Falkland Islands and Its People, Double T Publishers, Sofia, 2003, 96 pp. (
Complete text) ISBN 9549150313
* Carlos Escudé and Andrés Cisneros, eds.,
Historia de las Relaciones Exteriores Argentinas, Work developed and published under the auspices of the Argentine Council for International Relations (CARI), GEL/Nuevohacer (Buenos Aires), 2000. (
Complete text in Spanish) ISBN 9506945462
