Falkland Islands
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Desire the right"
Anthem: "God Save the Queen"
Capital (and largest city)		Stanley 51°42′S, 57°51′W
Official languages		English
Demonym		Falkland Islander
Government		British Overseas Territory
-	Head of state	Queen Elizabeth II
-	Governor	Alan Huckle
-	Chief Executive	Tim Thorogood[1]
British overseas territory
-	Liberation Day	14 June 1982
Area
-	Total	12,173 km² (162nd) 4,700 sq mi
-	Water (%)	0
Population
-	July 2005 estimate	3,060 (226th)
-	Density	0. The first flag of the Falkland Islands was adopted on September 29, 1948. The coat of arms of the Falkland Islands was granted to the Falkland Islands on September 29 1948. A motto (from the Italian word motto, meaning witticism sentence is a phrase meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history traditions and struggles of its people recognized either by a nation's "God Save the Queen", or "God Save the King", is an anthem used in a number of Commonwealth realms It is the National "Port Stanley" redirects here For the town in Canada see Port Stanley Ontario. An official language is a Language that is given a special legal status in a particular Country, State, or other territory English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a People or the inhabitants of a place For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. The British Overseas Territories are fourteen territories that are under the Sovereignty of the United Kingdom, but which do not form part of the United Kingdom For the ship see RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Context States headed by Elizabeth II Nowadays the Governor of the Falkland Islands is the local representative of the British Crown in the Falkland Islands. Alan Edden Huckle (born June 15 1948 is a British colonial administrator The British Overseas Territories are fourteen territories that are under the Sovereignty of the United Kingdom, but which do not form part of the United Kingdom Events 1276 - While taking exile in Fuzhou in southern China, away from the advancing Mongol invaders, the remnants of the Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. To help compare Orders of magnitude of different geographical regions  Areas between 10000 km² and 100000 km² are listed here This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by total area. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. In Mathematics, a percentage is a way of expressing a number as a Fraction of 100 ( per cent meaning "per hundred" In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology List of countries by population in 2005|List of countries by population in 1907This is a list of countries ordered according to Population. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume 25/km² (240th) 0. List of countries and dependencies by Population density in inhabitants/km² 65/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2005 estimate
-	Total	$75 million (223th)
-	Per capita	$25,000 (2002 estimate) (not ranked)
HDI (n/a)		n/a (n/a) (n/a)
Currency		Falkland pound1 (FKP)
Time zone		(UTC-4)
-	Summer (DST)	(UTC-3)
Internet TLD		.fk
Calling code		+500
1 Fixed to the Pound sterling (GBP). The purchasing power parity ( PPP) theory uses the long-term equilibrium Exchange rate of two currencies to equalize their Purchasing power. There are three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head with Per meaning 'through' or 'by' This article includes three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP at Purchasing power parity (PPP Per capita The Human Development Index ( HDI) is an index combining normalized measures of Life expectancy, Literacy, Educational attainment, and GDP This is a list of countries by Human Development Index as included in the United Nations Development Program 's Human Development Report 2007 A currency is a unit of exchange, facilitating the transfer of Goods and/or services It is one form of Money, where money is The pound is the currency of the Falkland Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic Ocean. ISO 4217 is the International standard describing three-letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established Daylight saving time ( DST A country This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E The Pound Sterling ( symbol £; ISO code: GBP) subdivided into 100 pence (singular penny) is the Currency

The Falkland Islands (Spanish: Islas Malvinas^[2]) are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located 300 miles (483 km) from the coast of Argentina, 671 miles (1,080 km) west of the Shag Rocks (South Georgia), and 584 miles (940 km) north of the British Antarctic Territory (which overlaps with the Argentine and Chilean claims to Antarctica in that region). An archipelago (ɑrkəˈpɛləgoʊ is a chain or cluster of Islands The word archipelago literally means "chief Sea " from Italian For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics. The Shag Rocks ( Spanish: Islas Aurora) are six small Islands in the westernmost extreme of South Georgia, 240 km (150 mi west of the main South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ( SGSSI) is a British overseas territory in the southern Atlantic Ocean. The British Antarctic Territory is a sector of Antarctica claimed by the United Kingdom. Argentine bases Esperanza and Marambio are the biggest Argentine bases holding together 70 buildings an average of 110 persons during the winter and over Permanent Chilean stations and settlements The largest population center is located on King George Island and consists of Frei Montalva Station, which has an They consist of two main islands, East Falkland and West Falkland, together with 776 smaller islands. East Falkland (Isla Soledad the largest of the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic, has an area of 6605 square kilometres (2550 sq mi. West Falkland is the second largest of the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic, with an area of approximately 4532 km² (5413 km² including the adjacent ^[3] Stanley, on East Falkland, is the capital. "Port Stanley" redirects here For the town in Canada see Port Stanley Ontario. 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 re-establishment of British rule in 1833. The British Overseas Territories are fourteen territories that are under the Sovereignty of the United Kingdom, but which do not form part of the United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located History of the claims See also History of the Falkland Islands See also Timeline of the history of the Falkland Islands See also Falkland ^[4]

In pursuit of this claim 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. On 2 April 1982 Argentine forces mounted amphibious landings of the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas following the civilian occupation of South Georgia on The Falklands War (Guerra de las Malvinas/Guerra del Atlántico Sur also called the Falklands Conflict/Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the Since the war there has been strong economic growth in both fisheries and tourism. For the fishing industry and the practice of fishing see Fishing. The inhabitants of the islands are full British citizens (since a 1983 Act) and under Argentine Law are eligible for Argentine citizenship. British nationality law is the law of the United Kingdom concerning Citizenship and other categories of British Nationality. The British Nationality (Falkland Islands Act 1983 (1983 c 6 was an Act of Parliament passed by the British Parliament, which came into force on January Nationality law is the branch of a country's legal system wherein legislation custom and court precedent combine to define the ways in which that country's Nationality and ^[5] Many trace their origins on the islands to early 19th-century Scottish immigration. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. The islands' residents reject the Argentine sovereignty claim. Sovereignty is the exclusive Right to control a Government, a country, a people or oneself ^[6]

Contents 1 Name 2 History 2.1 Argentine links 2.2 Falklands War 3 Politics 4 Geography 5 Economy 6 Demographics 7 Medical care 8 Broadcasting and telecommunications 8.1 Broadcasting 8.2 Telephone 9 Transport 10 Landmines and ordnance 11 Military 12 See also 13 External links 14 References

Name

See also: List of Falkland Islands placenames

The islands are referred to in the English language as "[The] Falkland Islands". This is a list of English and Spanish language placenames in the Falkland Islands. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States This name dates from an expedition led by John Strong in 1690, who named the islands after his patron, Anthony Cary, 5th Viscount Falkland. Anthony Cary 5th Viscount of Falkland PC ( 16 February 1656 &ndash 24 May 1694; the surname is spelt Carey in some sources 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 settlers. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people Louis-Antoine comte de Bougainville ( November 12 1729 Paris - August 31 1811 Paris) was a French navigator and military Brittany (Breizh bʁejs Bretagne; Gallo: Bertaèyn) is a former independent Celtic kingdom and Duchy, now incorporated into Saint-Malo ( Breton: Sant-Maloù; Gallo: Saent-Malô) is a walled port city in Brittany in northwestern The ISO designation is "Falkland Islands (Malvinas)". ISO 3166 is a three-part Geographic coding standard for coding the names of countries and Dependent areas and the principal subdivisions

As a result of the continuing sovereignty dispute, the use of many Spanish names is considered offensive in the Falkland Islands, particularly those associated with the 1982 invasion of the Falkland Islands. The Falklands War (Guerra de las Malvinas/Guerra del Atlántico Sur also called the Falklands Conflict/Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the ^[7] General Sir Jeremy Moore would not allow the use of Islas Malvinas in the surrender document, dismissing it as a propaganda term. Major General Sir John Jeremy Moore KCB, OBE, MC & Bar ( 5 July 1928 &ndash 15 September 2007 The last stage of the Falklands War was the liberation of Port Stanley. Propaganda is a concerted set of messages aimed at influencing the opinions or behaviors of large numbers of people ^[8]

History

Main articles: History of the Falkland Islands and Timeline of the history of the Falkland Islands

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 history of the Falkland Islands goes back at least five hundred years with active exploration and colonisation only taking place in the 18th century See also History of the Falkland Islands The Falkland Islands have a complex history stretching over five hundred years France was a dominant empire in the world from the 1600s to the late 1960s possessing many colonies in various locations around the world The British Empire was the largest empire in history and for over a century was the foremost global power. The Spanish Empire (Imperio Español was one of the largest Empires in history and one of the first Global empires In the 15th and 16th centuries For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics. The Falklands Crisis of 1770 was nearly the cause of a war between a Franco-Spanish Alliance and Britain. The Falkland Crisis of 1770 was a diplomatic standoff between Britain and Spain over possession of the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic The Spanish government's claim was continued by Argentina after the latter's independence in 1816 and the independence war in 1817. The Independence of Argentina was declared on July 9 1816 by the Congress of Tucumán. The Argentine War of Independence was fought from 1810 to 1818 by Argentine forces under Manuel Belgrano and José de San Martín against royalist forces loyal The United Kingdom returned to the islands in 1833 following the destruction of the Argentine settlement at Puerto Luis by the American sloop USS Lexington (28 December 1831). Port Louis is a settlement on northeastern East Falkland. It was established by Louis de Bougainville in 1764 as the first French settlement on the The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Events 1065 - Westminster Abbey is Consecrated. 1308 - The reign of Emperor Hanazono, Emperor of Year 1831 ( MDCCCXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Argentina has continued to claim sovereignty over the islands, and the dispute was used by the military junta as a pretext to invade and briefly occupy the islands before being defeated in the two-month-long Falklands War in 1982 by a United Kingdom task force which returned the islands to British control. The National Reorganization Process (in Spanish, Proceso de Reorganización Nacional, often simply El Proceso) was the name used by its leaders The Falklands War (Guerra de las Malvinas/Guerra del Atlántico Sur also called the Falklands Conflict/Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the

The islands were uninhabited when they were first discovered by European explorers. The Age of Discovery or Age of Exploration was a period from the early 15th century and continuing into the early 17th century during which Europeans explored There is disputed evidence of prior settlement, based on:

• The existence of the Falkland Island fox, or Warrah (now extinct). The Falkland Islands Wolf ( Dusicyon australis) also known as the Warrah and occasionally as the Falkland Islands Dog, Falkland Islands Fox It is thought that humans brought it to the islands, but it may have reached the islands via a land bridge when the sea level was much lower during the last ice age. A land bridge, in Biogeography, is an Isthmus or other land connection between otherwise separate areas which allows Animals and Plants Mean sea level (MSL is the average (mean height of the Sea, with reference to a suitable reference surface An ice age is a period of long-term reduction in the Temperature of the Earth 's surface and atmosphere resulting in an expansion of continental Ice sheets
• A scattering of undated artefacts including arrowheads and the remains of a canoe. An arrowhead is point of an Arrow, or a shape resembling such a point as Archaeological artifacts arrowheads are a subclass of Projectile points A canoe is a small narrow Boat, typically human-powered though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors

The first European explorer to sight the islands is widely thought to be Sebald de Weert, a Dutch sailor, in 1600. Sebald or Sebalt de Weert ( May 2 1567, Antwerp - May 30 or June 1603 Batticaloa) was a Dutch captain and The Dutch Empire was the territories controlled by The Netherlands from the 17th to the 20th century Although several British 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.

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. The Kingdom of England was a State (927-1707 located in Western Europe dating from the ninth or tenth century to the early eighteenth century when it was legally Puerto Deseado, originally called Port Desire, is a city of about 10000 inhabitants and a fishing Port in Patagonia in the Santa Cruz Province 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, later becoming First Lord of the Admiralty. The Falkland Sound (Estrecho de San Carlos is a sea Strait in the Falkland Islands. The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the United Kingdom responsible for the command of the Royal Navy. From this body of water the island group later took its collective English name.

The first settlement on the Falkland Islands, called Port St. 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. Puerto Soledad ( Puerto de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad, Port Solitude was a Spanish military outpost and Penal colony on the Falkland Islands Port Louis is a settlement on northeastern East Falkland. It was established by Louis de Bougainville in 1764 as the first French settlement on the East Falkland (Isla Soledad the largest of the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic, has an area of 6605 square kilometres (2550 sq mi.

Unaware of the French presence, in January 1765 British 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. Vice-Admiral John Byron, RN ( November 8, 1723 – April 10, 1786) was an English Vice-admiral. Saunders Island ( Spanish: Isla Trinidad) is the 4th largest Island of the Falkland Islands, lying north west of West Falkland Port Egmont was the first British settlement in the Falkland Islands, on Saunders Island. George III (George William Frederick 4 June 1738 George III's long reign was marked by a series of military conflicts involving his kingdom much of the rest of Europe and places 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 the Buenos Aires colonial administration. Spain attacked Port Egmont, ending the British presence there in 1770. The expulsion of the British settlement brought the two countries to the brink of war, but a peace treaty allowed the British to return to Port Egmont in 1771 with neither side relinquishing sovereignty. The Falkland Crisis of 1770 was a diplomatic standoff between Britain and Spain over possession of the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic ^[9]

As a result of economic pressures resulting from the forthcoming American War of Independence, the United Kingdom unilaterally chose to withdraw from many of her overseas settlements in 1774. In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots" ^[10][11] Upon her withdrawal in 1776 the UK left behind a plaque asserting her claims. A commemorative plaque, or simply plaque, is a plate of metal ceramic stone wood or other material typically attached to a wall stone or other vertical surface and bearing From then on, Spain alone maintained a settlement ruled from Buenos Aires under the control of the Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata until 1811. Buenos Aires is the Capital and largest city of Argentina. It is geographically located on the southern shore of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern The Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata was the last and most shortlived Viceroyalty created by Spain in 1776 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, since they had been under the administrative jurisdiction of the Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata. Uti possidetis ( Latin for "as you possess" is a principle in International law that territory and other property remains with its possessor at On 6 November 1820, Colonel David Jewett raised the flag of the United Provinces of the River Plate (Argentina) at Port Louis. Events 355 - Roman Emperor Constantius II promotes his cousin Julian to the rank of Caesar, entrusting him with Year 1820 ( MDCCCXX) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Colonel David Jewett is notable figure in the history of the sovereignty dispute between Great Britain and Argentina as he commanded the The United Provinces of South America (Spanish Provincias Unidas de Sud América) was the original name of a state that would become the United Provinces of the Río de Jewett was an American sailor and privateer in the employment of businessman Patrick Lynch to captain his ship, the frigate Heroína (Lynch had obtained a corsair licence from the Buenos Aires Supreme Director Jose Rondeau). Colonel David Jewett is notable figure in the history of the sovereignty dispute between Great Britain and Argentina as he commanded the A privateer was a private Warship authorized by a country's Government by Letters of marque to attack foreign shipping Heroína was a privately owned Frigate that was operated as a Privateer under a license issued by the United Provinces of the River Plate (later Argentina Jewett had put into the islands the previous month, following a disastrous eight month voyage with most of his crew disabled by scurvy and disease. Colonel David Jewett is notable figure in the history of the sovereignty dispute between Great Britain and Argentina as he commanded the After resting in the islands and repairing his ship he returned to Buenos Aires.

Occupation began in 1828 with the foundation of a settlement and a penal colony. The settlement was destroyed by United States warships 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 and informed the Argentine commander that they intended to reassert British sovereignty. The existing settlers were allowed to remain, with an Irish member of Vernet's settlement, William Dickson, appointed as the Islands' governor. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Vernet's deputy, Matthew Brisbane, returned later that year and was informed that the British had no objections to the continuation of Vernet's business ventures provided there was no interference with British control. ^{[12][13][14][15]}

The Royal Navy built a base at Stanley, and the islands became a strategic point for navigation around Cape Horn. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) "Port Stanley" redirects here For the town in Canada see Port Stanley Ontario. Cabo de Hornos redirects here for the Chilean commune see Cabo de Hornos Chile. A World War I naval battle, the Battle of Falkland Islands, took place in December 1914, with a British victory over the Germans. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All The Battle of the Falkland Islands was a British naval victory over the Imperial German Navy on 8 December 1914 during the First World War The German Empire is the name commonly used in English to describe Germany from 1871 to 1918 when it was a semi- Constitutional monarchy: beginning with the Unification During World War II, Stanley served as a Royal Navy station and serviced ships which took part in the Battle of the River Plate. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The Battle of the River Plate ( December 13, 1939) was the first major naval battle in World War II.

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. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security 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 Nations Charter is the Treaty that forms and establishes the International organization called the United Nations. The United Kingdom responded in turn by stating that, as an essential precondition for the fulfilment of UN Resolution 1514,^[16] regarding the de-colonisation 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. Falkland Islanders (also called Kelpers, Falklanders; Malvinenses Malvineros/as are the People of the British overseas territory A referendum (plural referendums or referenda) ballot question, or plebiscite (from Latin plebiscita

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 that the two thousand inhabitants of mainly British descent preferred that the islands remain British territory.

Argentine links

There were no air links to the islands until 1971, when the Argentine Air Force (FAA), which operates the state airline LADE, began amphibious flights between Comodoro Rivadavia and Stanley using Grumman HU-16 Albatross aircraft. The Argentine Air Force ( Fuerza Aérea Argentina or FAA) is the national aviation branch of the Armed forces of Argentina. LADE - Líneas Aéreas del Estado is an Airline based in Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina. An amphibious or amphibian aircraft is an Aircraft that can take off and land on either land or water Comodoro Rivadavia is a city in the Patagonian province of Chubut in southern Argentina, located WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout ^[17] Following a FAA request, the UK and Argentina reached an agreement for the FAA to construct the first runway. Flights began using Fokker F27 and continued with Fokker F28 aircraft twice a week until 1982. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout This was the only air link to the islands. YPF, the Argentine national oil and gas company, now part of Repsol YPF, supplied the islands' energy needs. Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales ( YPF -means Fiscal Petroleum Fields - was an Argentine state-owned oil company Repsol YPF SA, ( is an integrated Spanish oil and gas company with operations in 29 countries

Falklands War

Main article: Falklands War

On 2 April 1982, Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands and other British territories in the South Atlantic (South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands). The Falklands War (Guerra de las Malvinas/Guerra del Atlántico Sur also called the Falklands Conflict/Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the Events 68 - Galba, Governor of Hispania, names himself legatus senatus populique Romani, breaking the line of Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) On 2 April 1982 Argentine forces mounted amphibious landings of the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas following the civilian occupation of South Georgia on South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ( SGSSI) is a British overseas territory in the southern Atlantic Ocean. The military junta which had ruled Argentina since 1976 sought to maintain power by diverting public attention from the nation's poor economic performance. The National Reorganization Process (in Spanish, Proceso de Reorganización Nacional, often simply El Proceso) was the name used by its leaders Argentina benefits from rich Natural resources, a highly literate population an export-oriented Agricultural sector and a diversified industrial base They attempted to do this by playing off long-standing feelings of the Argentines towards the islands. ^[18] British writers hold that the United Kingdom's reduction in military capacity in the South Atlantic also encouraged the invasion. ^[19][20][21]

The United Nations Security Council issued Resolution 502, calling on Argentina to withdraw forces from the Islands and for both parties to seek a diplomatic solution. ^[22] International reaction ranged from support in the Latin American countries (with the exception of Chile), to opposition in Europe (with the exception of Spain), the Commonwealth, and eventually the United States. Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. The English noun commonwealth dates from the fifteenth century. The British sent an expeditionary force to retake the islands, leading to the Falklands War. The Falklands War (Guerra de las Malvinas/Guerra del Atlántico Sur also called the Falklands Conflict/Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the After short but fierce naval and air battles, the British landed at San Carlos Water on 21 May, and a land campaign followed until the Argentine forces surrendered on 14 June. Events 878 - Syracuse Italy is captured by the Muslim sultan of Sicily. Events 1276 - While taking exile in Fuzhou in southern China, away from the advancing Mongol invaders, the remnants of the

Following the war, the British increased their military presence on the islands, constructing RAF Mount Pleasant and increasing the military garrison. RAF Mount Pleasant (also known as Mount Pleasant Airport, Mount Pleasant Complex or MPA) is a military base for the Royal Air Force in Although the United Kingdom and Argentina resumed diplomatic relations in 1989, no further negotiations on sovereignty have taken place.

Politics

Main articles: Politics of the Falkland Islands and Sovereignty of the Falkland Islands

Executive authority is vested in the Queen and is exercised by the Governor on her behalf. In Political science and Constitutional law, the executive is the branch of government responsible for the day-to-day management of the State. For the ship see RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Context States headed by Elizabeth II Nowadays the Governor of the Falkland Islands is the local representative of the British Crown in the Falkland Islands. The Governor is also responsible for the administration of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, as these islands have no native inhabitants. South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ( SGSSI) is a British overseas territory in the southern Atlantic Ocean. Defence and Foreign Affairs are the responsibility of the United Kingdom. The current Governor is Alan Huckle, appointed July 2006. Alan Edden Huckle (born June 15 1948 is a British colonial administrator

Under the constitution, the latest version of which came into force in 1985, there is an Executive Council and a Legislative Council of the Falkland Islands. A constitution is a system for government often Codified as a written document that establishes the rules and principles of an autonomous political entity The Legislative Council of the Falkland Islands has ten members 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. The Camp is the term used in the Falkland Islands to refer to any part of the islands outside of the islands' only significant town Stanley, and often the large It is presided over by the Speaker, currently Darwin Lewis Clifton.

The loss of the war against the United Kingdom over control of the islands led to the collapse of the Argentine military dictatorship in 1983. The National Reorganization Process (in Spanish, Proceso de Reorganización Nacional, often simply El Proceso) was the name used by its leaders Disputes over control of the islands continue. In 1992 Argentina and Britain resumed diplomatic relations and reopened their embassies in each other's countries. In 1998, in retaliation for the arrest in London of the former Chilean president Augusto Pinochet, the Chilean government banned flights between Punta Arenas and Port Stanley, thus isolating the islands from the rest of the world. Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte (November Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the Punta Arenas (literally in Spanish: "Sandy Point" is the most prominent settlement on the Strait of Magellan and the capital of the Magallanes y la "Port Stanley" redirects here For the town in Canada see Port Stanley Ontario. Uruguay and Brazil refused to authorise direct flights between their territories and Port Stanley, forcing the Islands' government to enter negotiations with the Argentine government which led to Argentina authorising direct flights between its territory and Stanley, on condition that Argentine citizens be allowed on the islands. Uruguay.(official full name in República Oriental del Uruguay;, Oriental Republic of Uruguay) is a country located in the southeastern part of South America |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld ^[23] In 2001, British Prime Minister Tony Blair became the first Prime Minister to visit Argentina since the war. Anthony Charles Lynton "Tony" Blair (born 6 May 1953 is a British Politician who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to On the twenty-second anniversary of the war, Argentina's President Néstor Kirchner gave a speech insisting that the islands would once again be part of Argentina. Néstor Carlos Kirchner Ostoić (born February 25, 1950) was the President of Argentina from May 25, 2003 until December Kirchner, campaigning for president in 2003, regarded the islands as a top priority. Argentina held presidential and parliamentary elections on Sunday April 27, 2003. In June 2003 the issue was brought before a United Nations committee, and attempts have been made to open talks with the United Kingdom 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. ^[24]

On 2 April 2007 (exactly 25 years after the Argentine invasion), Argentina renewed its claim over the Falkland Islands, asking for the UK to resume talks on sovereignty. Events 68 - Galba, Governor of Hispania, names himself legatus senatus populique Romani, breaking the line of Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.

Falkland Islanders were granted full British citizenship from 1 January 1983 under the British Nationality (Falkland Islands) Act 1983. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) The British Nationality (Falkland Islands Act 1983 (1983 c 6 was an Act of Parliament passed by the British Parliament, which came into force on January

22 September 2007, The Guardian reported the UK government was preparing to stake new claims on the sea floor around the Falklands and other UK remote island possessions, in order to exploit natural resources that may be present. Events 66 - Emperor Nero creates the Legion I Italica. 1236 - The Lithuanians Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The Guardian (until 1959 The Manchester Guardian) is a British Newspaper owned by the Guardian Media Group. ^[25] In October 2007, a British spokeswoman confirmed that Britain intended to submit a claim^[26] to the UN to extend seabed territory around the Falklands and South Georgia, in advance of the expiry of the deadline^[27] for territorial claims following Britain's ratification of the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ( UNCLOS) also called the Law of the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea treaty is the international agreement that resulted ^[28]. If the claim is disputed, the UN will suspend the claim until the dispute is settled. ^[26] The claim is largely theoretical and does not affect the Antarctic treaty or confirm new rights upon Britain. The Antarctic Treaty and related agreements collectively called the Antarctic Treaty System or ATS, regulate International relations with respect to Neither does it permit the exploitation of oil or gas reserves, since these are banned by a protocol to the treaty. It would enable Britain to police fishing within the zone to prevent over exploitation of natural resources by commercial fishing in line with Britain's obligations under the treaty. ^[29] Nevertheless many commentators have criticised the move for going against the spirit of the Antarctic treaty. The Antarctic Treaty and related agreements collectively called the Antarctic Treaty System or ATS, regulate International relations with respect to ^[27] Argentina has indicated it will challenge any British claim to Antarctic territory and the area around the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ( SGSSI) is a British overseas territory in the southern Atlantic Ocean. ^[30]

Geography

See also: Geology of the Falkland Islands and Rivers of the Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands comprise two main islands, East Falkland and West Falkland (in Spanish Isla Gran Malvina and Isla Soledad respectively), and about 776 small islands. The geology of the Falkland Islands has its origins in events of more than 400 million years bp before the Falkland Islands existed as separate entities with the appearance Due its geography and geology the Falkland Islands has no particularly large rivers East Falkland (Isla Soledad the largest of the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic, has an area of 6605 square kilometres (2550 sq mi. West Falkland is the second largest of the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic, with an area of approximately 4532 km² (5413 km² including the adjacent ^[3] The total land area is 4,700 square miles (12,173 km²), approximately the same area as Connecticut or Northern Ireland, with a coastline estimated at 800 miles (1,288 km). The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of Connecticut ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. Northern Ireland (Tuaisceart Éireann Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a Country within the United Kingdom, lying in the northeast of The coast is defined as the part of the land adjoining or near the Ocean.

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. The Falkland Sound (Estrecho de San Carlos is a sea Strait in the Falkland Islands. East Falkland (Isla Soledad the largest of the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic, has an area of 6605 square kilometres (2550 sq mi. "Port Stanley" redirects here For the town in Canada see Port Stanley Ontario. West Falkland is the second largest of the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic, with an area of approximately 4532 km² (5413 km² including the adjacent Both islands have mountain ranges, rising to 2,313 feet (705 m) at Mount Usborne on East Falkland. A mountain range is a chain of Mountains bordered by highlands or separated from other mountains by passes or valleys A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International Mount Usborne is a mountain on East Falkland Island at 705m (2312 feet above sea level it is the highest point in the Falkland Islands. There are also some boggy plains, most notably Lafonia, on the southern half of East Falkland. A bog or mire is a Wetland type that accumulates Acidic Peat, a deposit of dead plant material &ndash usually Mosses but also In Geography, a plain is an area of land with relatively low relief — meaning that it is flat Lafonia is a Peninsula forming the southern part of East Falkland, the largest of the Falkland Islands. Virtually the entire area of the islands is used as pasture for sheep. Pasture is land with Herbaceous vegetation cover used for grazing of Ungulate Livestock as part of a Farm or Ranch.

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, and West Point Island. Barren Island (Isla Pelada is one of the Falkland Islands, lying south west of East Falkland and south east of George Island. Beaver Island (Isla San Rafael is one of the Falkland Islands, lying west of Weddell Island and south of New Island. Bleaker Island (Isla Maria is one of the Falkland Islands, lying off south east Lafonia (the southern peninsula of East Falkland) Carcass Island (Isla del Rosario is one of the Falkland Islands, lying north west of West Falkland and south east of the Jason Islands. George Island (Isla Jorge is one of the Falkland Islands, lying south of Speedwell Island and south west of East Falkland. Keppel Island ( Spanish: 'Isla de la Vigia' is one of the Falkland Islands, lying between Saunders Island and Pebble Island, and near Lively Island (Isla Bougainville is one of the Falkland Islands, lying east of East Falkland. New Island (Isla de Goicoechea is one of the Falkland Islands, lying north of Beaver Island. Pebble Island (Isla Borbón is one of the Falkland Islands, lying north of West Falkland. Saunders Island ( Spanish: Isla Trinidad) is the 4th largest Island of the Falkland Islands, lying north west of West Falkland Sea Lion Island ( Spanish: Isla de los Leones Marinos) is one of the Falkland Islands, lying eight miles south east of Lafonia ( Speedwell Island (formerly Eagle Island; Spanish Isla Águila) is one of the Falkland Islands, lying in the Falkland Sound, southwest Staats Island is one of the Falkland Islands, lying between Beaver Island and Weddell Island, parallel to Tea Island. Weddell Island ( Spanish: " Isla San José " is the third largest of the Falkland Islands, with an area of 98 square miles (254 km² West Point Island (originally known as Albatross Island; Spanish: Isla Remolinos) is one of the Falkland Islands, lying west The Jason Islands lie to the north west of the main archipelago, and Beauchene Island some distance to its south. The Jason Islands ( Spanish /Argentine name Islas Sebaldes) are an Archipelago in the Falkland Islands, lying north west of the main island Beauchene Island is one of the Falkland Islands, lying thirty miles south of Sea Lion Island, the nearest land Speedwell Island and George Island are split from East Falkland by Eagle Passage. The Eagle Passage is a strait in the Falkland Islands, between Lafonia in the south west of East Falkland, and the smaller islands of Speedwell

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. A nautical mile or sea mile is a unit of Length. It corresponds approximately to one minute of Latitude along any meridian. Under the law of the sea, an Exclusive Economic Zone ( EEZ) is a seazone over which a State has special rights over the exploration and use of marine

Surrounded by cool South Atlantic waters, the Falkland Islands have a climate very much influenced by the ocean with a narrow annual temperature range of only 7°C. January averages about 9°C, with average daily high of 13°C, while July averages about 2°C with average daily high 4°C. Rainfall is relatively low at about 24 inches (610 mm). Humidity and winds, however, are constantly high. Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air In daily language the term "humidity" is normally taken to mean Relative humidity. Snow is rare, but can occur at almost any time of year.

Biogeographically, the Falkland Islands are classified as part of the Neotropical realm, together with South America. Biogeography is the study of the distribution of Biodiversity over Space and Time. In Biogeography, Neotropic or Neotropical refers to one of the world's eight terrestrial Ecozones This ecozone includes South and Central America the It is also classified as part of the Antarctic Floristic Kingdom. NZflaxPiha02jpg|thumb|right| Phormium tenax, Piha, New Zealand]]The Antarctic Floristic Kingdom (also Holantarctic Kingdom) is a Floristic

Economy

Main article: Economy of the Falkland Islands

Sheep farming (as of 2002, there were 583,000 sheep on the island^[31]) 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 economy of the Falkland Islands, previously heavily over-dependent on sheep farming (and historically Whaling) has become more diversified For the computer security term see Phishing. Fishing is the activity of catching Fish. Tourism is Travel for Recreational or Leisure purposes The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel

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. The pound is the currency of the Falkland Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic Ocean. More than 75% of the fish taken are squid, and most exports are to Spain. Squid are marine Cephalopods of the order Teuthida, which comprises around 300 species Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. 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. A cruise ship or cruise liner is a Passenger ship used for pleasure voyages where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience Attractions include the scenery and wildlife conservation with penguins, seabirds, seals and sealions, as well as visits to battlefields, golf, fishing and wreck diving. Penguins ( order Sphenisciformes, family Spheniscidae) are a group of aquatic, flightless Birds living almost Pinnipeds ("fin-feet" lit "winged feet" or fin-footed mammals are a widely distributed and diverse group of semi-aquatic marine Mammals comprising Wreck diving is a type of Recreational diving where Shipwrecks are explored

An agreement with Argentina had set the terms for exploitation of offshore resources including large oil reserves, however, in 2007 Argentina unilaterally withdrew from the agreement. Oil reserves are the estimated quantities of Crude oil that are claimed to be recoverable under existing Economic and operating conditions ^[32] In response, Falklands Oil and Gas Limited has signed an agreement with BHP Billiton to investigate the potential exploitation of oil reserves. ^[33] Climatic conditions of the southern seas mean that exploitation will be a difficult task, though economically viable, and the continuing sovereignty dispute with Argentina is hampering progress. ^[34]

Defence is provided by the UK, and British military expenditures make 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 used to be the Falkland Islands Company (FIC), a publicly quoted company on the London Stock Exchange which was responsible for the majority of the economic activity on the islands, though its farms were sold in 1991 to the Falkland Islands Government. Falkland Islands Holdings plc (FIH is a company which plays a key role in the economy of the Falkland Islands. The London Stock Exchange or LSE is a Stock exchange located in London, England. The FIC now operates several retail outlets in Stanley and is involved in port services and shipping operation.

The currency in use is the Falkland Pound, which remains in parity with the pound sterling. The pound is the currency of the Falkland Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic Ocean. The Pound Sterling ( symbol £; ISO code: GBP) subdivided into 100 pence (singular penny) is the Currency Sterling notes and coins circulate interchangeably with the local currency. The Falkland Islands also mint their own coins, and issue stamps, which forms a source of revenue from overseas collectors. A mint is an industrial facility which manufactures Coins for Currency. This is a survey of the Postage stamps and Postal history of the Falkland Islands.

Demographics

See also: Falkland Islanders and Origins of Falkland Islanders

The population is 2,967 (July 2003 estimate), the majority of which are of British descent (approximately 70%), as a result of primarily Scottish and Welsh immigration to the islands. Falkland Islanders (also called Kelpers, Falklanders; Malvinenses Malvineros/as are the People of the British overseas territory Falkland Islanders (also called Kelpers, Falklanders; Malvinenses Malvineros/as derive from the numerically small but internationally diverse early The Scots people ( Scots Gaelic: Albannaich) are a Nation and an Ethnic group indigenous to Scotland. The Welsh people ( Welsh: Cymro ("Welshman" Cymraes ("Welsh woman" Cymry ("Welshmen/women" Cymry ^[35] The native-born inhabitants 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. Kelp are large Seaweeds ( Algae) belonging to the Brown algae and classified in the order Laminariales Those people from the United Kingdom who have obtained Falkland Island status became what are known locally as 'belongers'. A few Islanders are of French, Gibraltarian (such as the Pitalaugas), Portuguese and Scandinavian descent. Legal residents and citizens To be French according to the first article of the Constitution is to be a citizen of France regardless of one's origin race or religion ( Gibraltar (dʒɨˈbrɒltər is a British overseas territory located near the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar The Portuguese people (os Portugueses literally the Portuguese) are the Ethnic group or Nation native to the country of Portugal, in the west Terminology and usage As a cultural term "Scandinavia" has no official definition and is subject to usage by those who identify with the culture in question as well Some are the descendants of whalers who reached the Islands during the last two centuries. Whaling is the hunting of Whales and dates back to at least 6000 BC 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. Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the Saint Helena (pronounced saint he-LEE-na) named after St Helena of Constantinople, is an island of volcanic origin and a British overseas territory The Falkland Islands have been a centre of English language learning for South Americans.

The main religion is Christianity. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings The main denominations are Church of England, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, and Lutheran-based denominations. The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England, the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican The United Free Church of Scotland (or ‘UF Church’ is a Scottish Presbyterian denomination formed in 1900 by the union of the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther Other smaller numbers of Christian churches are active, including Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-day Adventist and Greek Orthodox; with the latter being due to Greek fishermen passing through. Jehovah's Witnesses is a restorationist, millenialist Christian denomination The Seventh-day Adventist (abbreviated " Adventist " Church is a Christian denomination which is distinguished mainly by its observance The Greek Orthodox Church ( Greek: Ἑλληνορθόδοξη Ἐκκλησία Hellēnorthódoxē Ekklēsía) is formed by several autocephalous churches There is also a small Bahá'í presence ^[36]. The Bahá'í Faith is a Religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in nineteenth-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind

Medical care

The Falkland Islands Government Health and Social Services Department provides medical care for the islands. The King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH) is Stanley's only hospital. It was partially military operated in the past but is now under complete civilian control. ^[37] There are no ophthalmologists or opticians on the islands, although an optician from the United Kingdom visits about every six months and an ophthalmologist comes to do cataract surgery and eye exams on irregular intervals (once every few years). Ophthalmology is the branch of Medicine which deals with the diseases and surgery of the visual pathways including the Eye, Brain Scientific Equipment OpticianAn optician is an Eye care professional who provides corrective lenses based on a prescription for the correction of a Refractive A cataract is a clouding that develops in the crystalline lens of the Eye or in its envelope varying in degree from slight to complete opacity There are two dentists on the islands. Dentistry' is the "evaluation diagnosis prevention and/or treatment (nonsurgical surgical or related procedures of diseases disorders and/or conditions of the oral cavity

Broadcasting and telecommunications

Broadcasting

• PAL television, using the UK UHF allocation is standard. PAL, short for Phase Alternating Line, is a colour -encoding system used in Broadcast television systems in large parts of the world
• FM stereo broadcasting using the UK allocation is standard.
• MW broadcasting using 10 kHz steps (standard in ITU Region II). The ITU Radiocommunication Sector ( ITU-R) is one of the three sectors (divisions or units of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU and is responsible for

Telephone

The Falkland Islands has a modern telecommunications network providing fixed line telephone and ADSL and dial-up internet services in Stanley. Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line ( ADSL) is a form of DSL, a data communications technology that enables faster data transmission over Copper Telephone Dial-up Internet Access is a form of Internet access via Telephone lines The user's computer or Router uses an attached Modem connected to a

Telephony is provided to outlying settlements using microwave radio. Microwave radio relay is a technology for transmitting digital and analog signals, such as long-distance Telephone calls and the relay of

A GSM mobile network was installed in 2005 which provided coverage of Stanley, Mount Pleasant and surrounding areas. GSM ( Global System for Mobile communications: originally from Groupe Spécial Mobile) is the most popular standard for Mobile phones in the

Transport

The Falkland Islands has two airports with paved runways. RAF Mount Pleasant, thirty miles west of Stanley, acts as the main international airport, with flights operated by the Royal Air Force to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, England via a refuelling stop at RAF Ascension Island. RAF Mount Pleasant (also known as Mount Pleasant Airport, Mount Pleasant Complex or MPA) is a military base for the Royal Air Force in RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, about 50 miles west of London, England, United Kingdom, is the largest airbase of the Royal Air Force History See also History of Oxfordshire The county of Oxfordshire was formed in the early years of the 10th century and is broadly situated in the England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Royal Air Force Station Ascension, more commonly known as RAF Ascension Island, and sometimes known as Ascension Island Base, is a British military RAF flights are on TriStars although it is common for charter aircraft to be used if the TriStars are required for operational flights. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout At present (December 2007) the RAF air link is operated by Omni Air International, using DC-10s. Omni Air International is a United States charter Airline, based in Tulsa Oklahoma, USA. Weekly flights are also available to/from Santiago, Chile, operated by LAN Airlines. Santiago ( (litteraly in spanish Saint James) is the Capital of Chile, and the center of its largest Conurbation ( Greater Santiago LAN Airlines SA is an Airline based in Santiago Chile. It is the principal Chilean airline and one of the largest in South America with flights to

Port Stanley Airport is a smaller airport outside the city, and is used for internal flights. Port Stanley Airport is a STOLport in the Falkland Islands, two miles outside the capital Stanley. Most settlements have grass air strips which are served by Islander aircraft of the Falkland Islands Government Air Service (FIGAS). The Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander is a 1960s British light utility aircraft mainline airliner and cargo aircraft designed and originally manufactured by Britten-Norman Falkland Islands Government Air Service (FIGAS is an Airline based in Stanley, Falkland Islands. 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. The British International (BRINTEL) company also operate two Sikorsky S61N helicopters for passenger flights between the islands. British International Helicopters (Veritair Limited is an Airline based at Penzance heliport in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout The British Antarctic Survey operates a transcontinental air link between the Falkland Islands and the Rothera base airfield, servicing also other British bases in the British Antarctic Territory using a de Havilland Canada Dash 7. The British Antarctic Survey (BAS is the United Kingdom 's national Antarctic operator and has an active role in Antarctic affairs Rothera research station is a British Antarctic Survey (BAS base on the Antarctic Peninsula, located at Rothera Point Adelaide Island. The British Antarctic Territory is a sector of Antarctica claimed by the United Kingdom. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout

The road network has been improved in recent years. However, not too many paved roads exist outside Stanley and the RAF base.

Landmines and ordnance

Approximately twenty five thousand land mines remaining from the 1982 war are securely and clearly fenced off. A land mine is an Explosive device designed to be placed on or in the ground to explode when triggered by an operator or the Proximity of a vehicle person Free maps are available from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) office in Stanley. Bomb disposal is the process by which hazardous explosive devices are rendered safe 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. Unexploded ordnance (or UXO s/ UXB s sometimes acronymized as UO) are explosive Weapons ( Bombs Bullets shells

In February 2005, the charity Landmine Action proposed a Kyoto-style credit scheme, which would see a commitment by the British government to clear an equivalent area of mined land to that currently existing in the Falklands in more seriously mine-affected countries by March 2009. The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the international Framework Convention on Climate Change with the objective of reducing Greenhouse gases in an effort This proposal was supported by Falkland Islanders, for whom landmines do not pose a serious threat in everyday life, but the British government is yet to declare its support or opposition to the idea.

Military

The island has a number of royal marines stationed on it at most times, but also has its own defence force known as the Falkland Islands Defence Force. The Falkland Islands Defence Force ( FIDF) is the locally maintained volunteer defence unit in the Falkland Islands. The Royal Marines ( RM) are the marine corps and amphibious Infantry of the United Kingdom and along with the Royal Navy The Falkland Islands Defence Force ( FIDF) is the locally maintained volunteer defence unit in the Falkland Islands. This is one Company in size. A company is a Military unit, typically consisting of 75-200 Soldiers Most companies are formed of three to five Platoons although the exact number may vary It is completely funded by the Falklands government and uses vehicles such as; Quad bikes, Inflatable boats and Land Rovers to traverse the islands terrain. Politics of the Falkland Islands takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic dependency, whereby the governor is the Head An inflatable boat is a lightweight boat constructed with its sides and bow made of flexible tubes containing pressurised gas Land Rover is an all-terrain vehicle and Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV manufacturer based in Solihull, England, now operated as part of the Jaguar The Falkland Islands Defence Force uses the Steyr AUG as its main assault rifle. The Falkland Islands Defence Force ( FIDF) is the locally maintained volunteer defence unit in the Falkland Islands. The AUG is an Austrian 556 mm Assault rifle, designed in the early 1970s by Steyr Mannlicher GmbH & Co KG (formerly Steyr-Daimler-Puch An assault rifle is a Selective fire Rifle or Carbine (not to be confused with a semi-automatic only replica firing Ammunition with muzzle

See also

British Nationality (Falkland Islands) Act 1983 Communications in the Falkland Islands Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey Falklands War (1982) Geology of the Falkland Islands List of Falkland Islands-related topics List of Falkland Islands placenames Falkland Islands national football team 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 Battle of the Falkland Islands, a naval engagement during World War I Scouting in the Falkland Islands South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Ascension Island Marion Island

External links

• Falkland Islands at the Open Directory Project
• Falkland Islands travel guide from Wikitravel
• Falkland Islands Government official site
• The Falkland Islands Tourist Board
• Falkland Islands Tourism
• Falkland Islands Development Corporation official site
• Falkland Islands News Network official site
• Falkland Islands Information Portal
• Thoughts on the Late Transactions Respecting Falkland's Islands by Samuel Johnson 1771

References

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