Falkland Islands

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Falkland Islands
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Desire the Right"
Anthem: God Save the Queen  (official)
Song of the Falklands [a]
Location of the Falkland Islands.
Location of the Falkland Islands.
Capital
and largest city
Stanley
51°42′S 57°51′W / 51.7°S 57.85°W / -51.7; -57.85
Official languages English
Demonym Falkland Islander
Government British Overseas Territory[b]
 -  Monarch Elizabeth II
 -  Governor Nigel Haywood
 -  Chief Executive Keith Padgett[1]
 -  Responsible Minister (UK) Hugo Swire MP
Legislature Legislative Assembly
Establishment
 -  British rule re-established 1833 
 -  Crown Colony 1841 
 -  British Dependent Territory 1981[c] 
 -  British Overseas Territory 2002 
 -  Current constitution 2009 
Area
 -  Total 12,173 km2 (162nd)
4,700 sq mi
 -  Water (%) 0
Population
 -  2012 estimate 2,932[2] (220th)
 -  Density 0.26/km2 (241st)
0.65/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2005 estimate
 -  Total $75 million (223rd)
 -  Per capita $55,400[3] (7th)
Currency Falkland Islands pound[d] (FKP)
Time zone FKST[e] (UTC−3)
Drives on the left
Calling code 500
ISO 3166 code FK
Internet TLD .fk
a. ^  Song of the Falklands is used as the islands' anthem at sporting events.
b. ^  Parliamentary democratic dependency under constitutional monarchy.
c. ^  Interrupted by Argentine military government in 1982.
d. ^  Fixed to the Pound sterling (GBP).
e. ^  The Falklands has been on FKST year-round since September 2010.[4]

The Falkland Islands (or Islas Malvinas in Spanish) are a group of islands in the South Atlantic ocean, off the coast of South America. They are an overseas territory of the United Kingdom, but Argentina has claimed them since 1833. A war (the Falklands War) was fought over their possession during Margaret Thatcher`s time as British Prime Minister. There are many islands in the group but the two biggest are East Falkland and West Falkland. About 3,000 people live on them. The people of the islands are British and speak English. The main income for the people is from fishing and sheep farming.

The Falkland Islands are about 300 miles (480 km) east of Argentina. Argentina and the UK had a short war in 1982 because Argentina claims to own the islands. The war lasted 6 weeks and about 1,000 soldiers were killed. The UK defeated Argentina and after this the governments of the two countries would not negotiate (talk) with each other. In 1990 they began to have talks again, but Argentina later refused to continue talks. Oil and gas has been found below the sea around the islands. Argentina and the UK have agreed to share the oil and gas. There is also oil and gas outside the sea area that belongs to the UK. This is owned by Argentina.

Christchurch Cathedral, Stanley

References[change | change source]

  1. Robertson, Janet (6 March 2012). "New Chief Executive for Falkland Islands Governmen". Penguin News. http://www.penguin-news.com/index.php/news/politics/item/278-new-chief-executive~~~~-for-falkland-islands-government. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
  2. "Falkland Islands Census 2012: Headline results". Falkland Islands Government. 10 September 2012. http://www.falklands.gov.fk/assets/Headline-Results-from-Census-2012.pdf. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  3. 2002 estimate. "CIA World Factbook 2012". cia.gov. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/fk.html. Retrieved 2013-01-04.
  4. "Falkland Islands will remain on summer time throughout 2011". MercoPress. 31 March 2011. http://en.mercopress.com/2011/03/31/falkland-islands-will-remain-on-summer-time-throughout-2011. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
Farm in the Camp

Other websites[change | change source]