Falkland Islands flag

Falkland Islands Overview

The Falkland Islands are a British archipelago in the southwest Atlantic, located 483 kilometers from the South American mainland. They consist of two main islands, Eastern Falkland and Western Falkland, and about 700 small islands.

Capital: Stanley
Biggest city: Stanley
State: British territory
Language: English
Religion: Protestantism
Surface: 12 173 km²
Population: 2,600 (2013)
Population density: 0.26 residents per km²
Currency: falkland pound (FKP)
1 falkland pound = 11.17 kr
Time difference: -5 hours
Electricity: 240 V AC, 50Hz
National Day: June 14
Country area code: 500
Country area code: FK (See more abbreviations on Abbreviationfinder)
Business: agriculture 95%, service sector and industry 5%
Climate: cold, rainy and windy

Falkland Islands flag

The Falkland Islands also claim a territorial sea of ​​12 nautical miles (22 kilometers) and an exclusive fishing zone of 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers), which has given rise to conflicts with Argentina which is of the opinion that the Falkland Islands belong to them.

According to Countryaah, the Falkland Islands are a self-governing British Overseas Territory. The head of state is the British monarch, represented by a governor. Self-government covers all areas of society except foreign policy and defense, which remain the responsibility of the British Government. However, residents do not have the right to vote in the British Parliament in London.

The fact that Argentina also counts the archipelago as part of its territory means, in combination with the small population, that the conditions for total independence are small. There is also no opinion in favor of a change in the current relationship with the United Kingdom.

Despite the archipelago’s relative insignificance and remote location, it has been the subject of a bitter territorial conflict for centuries. As late as the 1980s, this led to a full-scale war between Argentina and Britain. Most of the land area is located on the two main islands separated by the Falkland Sound. In the Eastern Falkland lies the capital Stanley with the majority of the population. In principle, all land on both islands is used as pasture for sheep.

Due to the cold climate, there are no natural stands of trees on the islands. Only grass and smaller shrubs grow there. The only known land mammal that existed on the islands before human arrival, the Falkland fox, became extinct during the 19th century. Those who settled in the area brought sheep, rabbits and cats. In addition, today there are both mice and rats on the islands. When it comes to sea mammals, sea lions and sea elephants live there. The bird world of the Falkland Islands comprises 63 species.

The experiences from the Falklands War in 1982 and above all the fact that Argentina has not yet given up its claims on the archipelago means that the defense is of great importance to the Falkland Islands. In relation to the population, the archipelago probably has the strongest defense in the world. The number of British soldiers has sometimes exceeded the civilian population.

ELECTRICAL OUTLET

Electricity and electrical outlets in the Falkland Islands

Voltage: 240 V

Frequency: 50 Hz

Type of plug: G, K

Need an adapter: No, you do not need an adapter.

CLIMATE AND WEATHER

Weather in Stanley

Climate Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Christmas Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Average temperature °C 9 9 8 6 3 2 2 2 3 5 7 8
Rain (mm) 72 56 58 59 60 52 48 47 39 38 47 67

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