Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands consist of over 700 rocky islands and islets scattered across an area similar in size to Northern Ireland in the southwestern Atlantic. Two main islands are separated by Falkland Sound, while smaller rock formations extend throughout surrounding waters.

French navigators established the first permanent settlement in 1764 before Spain assumed control. British forces landed in 1833 and claimed the territory, triggering a diplomatic dispute with Argentina that continues today.

The roughly 2,800 residents maintain a British way of life through local pubs, Anglican churches and celebration of royal occasions despite the isolated South Atlantic location. Sheep ranching has shaped island identity for generations, while fishermen draw their livelihoods from surrounding waters.

Regular flights operate twice weekly from Santiago de Chile through Mount Pleasant Airfield, while monthly military flights connect the territory with the United Kingdom. Cruise ships call between November and March, bringing visitors to penguin colonies and historical war sites.

Five different penguin species breed on the islands, including roughly 1,200 king penguins at Volunteer Point, making this colony the most accessible of its kind outside subantarctic regions. Waters surrounding the archipelago contain over 220 documented shipwrecks spanning three centuries of maritime history.

Inception: January 3, 1833

Capital city: Stanley

Part of: South America

Website: https://falklands.gov.fk

GPS coordinates: -51.94929,-59.53837

Latest update: December 12, 2025 18:54