Falkland IslandsThe '''Falkland Islands''' are an archipelago in the South Atlantic consisting of two main islands, East Falkland and West Falkland, and a number of smaller islands. They are administered as a largely Self-governing colony |self-governing British overseas territory|overseas territory of the United Kingdom (UK) from Port Stanley, the capital and largest city, on East Falkland. Argentina, however, claims the islands, calling them by their Spanish language|Spanish name, ''Islas Malvinas'' (and the derived '''Malvinas Islands''' in English language|English) and considers them part of the Tierra del Fuego Province, Argentina|Tierra del Fuego Province. Argentina invaded the islands in 1982, leading to the Falklands War in which they were retaken by the UK. The Argentines accuse the British of colonialism and emphasise decolonisation, whereas the British emphasise the right of the islanders, who consider themselves to be British, to self-determination. Although still a touchy diplomatic issue, international relations have improved in recent years. The United Nations Committee on Decolonization includes the Falkland Islands on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories. {| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="margin:0 0 1em 1em; float:right; width:290px;" |+ <big>'''The Falkland Islands'''</big> |- | style="background:#efefef;" align="center" colspan="2" | {| border=0 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 |- | align="center" width="140px" | Image:Falkland islands flag large.png|125px|Flag of the Falkland Islands || align="center" width="140px" | Image:Falklands_Coat_of_Arms.png|70px|Falkland Islands coat of arms |- | align="center" width="140px" | (Flag of the Falkland Islands|In Detail) || align="center" width="140px" | (Coat of Arms of the Falkland Islands|In Detail) |} |- | align="center" colspan=2 style="border-bottom:3px solid gray;" | ''Motto: Desire the right'' |- | align="center" colspan=2 | Image:LocationFalklandIslands.png |- | Official language || English |- | Capital || Port Stanley |- | Governor of the Falkland Islands|Governor || Howard Pearce |- | Chief Executive of the Falkland Islands|Chief Executive || Chris Simpkins |- | Area  - Total  - % water || List of countries by area|not ranked 1 E10 m2|12,173 km² - |- | Population  - Total (2003 Estimation|E)  - Population density|Density || List of countries by population|not ranked 2,967 0.24/km² |- | Currency || Falkland pound (FKP; fixed to Pound Sterling|GBP) |- | Time zone || Coordinated Universal Time|UTC -4 (Daylight Saving Time|DST -3) |- | National anthem || God Save the Queen |- | Top-level domain|Internet TLD || .fk |- | List_of_country_calling_codes|Calling Code || 500 |} ==History== ''Main article: History of the Falkland Islands'' The Dutch sailor Sebald de Weert is usually credited with first sighting the Falklands in 1600, though both the British and Spanish maintain their own explorers discovered the islands earlier. Some older maps, particularly Dutch ones, used the name 'Sebald Islands' for a while. The history of exploration is as follows: *1504: Amerigo Vespucci (Florence) *1540: Ferdinand Camargo (Spain) *1592: John Davis (English explorer)|John Davis (England) *1593: Richard Hawkins (England) *1600: Sebald de Weert (Netherlands) *1684: Cowley & Dampier (England) discovered Pepys Island, renamed South Georgia by James Cook in 1775. *1690: John Strong (England) *1701: Gouin de Beauchesne (France) *1708: Roger Woodes (Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain) *1740: George Anson, 1st Baron Anson|George Anson (Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain) In the eighteenth century, Louis de Bougainville (France) founded a naval base at Port Louis, East Falkland in 1764. The French named them the ''Îles Malouines'', so-called from when the islands were briefly occupied by fishermen from St Malo. Ignorant of de Bougainville's presence, John Byron (Great Britain) established a base at Port Egmont, West Falkland in 1765. In 1766, France sold its base to Spain. Spain declared war on Great Britain in 1770 in a fight over the islands but the dispute was settled the following year, with Spain retaining East Falkland and Great Britain West Falkland. Image:FalklandIslands.jpg|thumb|240px|Falkland Islands from Space They remained practically unsettled until the 19th century. Argentina set up a penal colony in the islands in 1820, and in 1829 named Luis Vernet as the islands' governor, in order to colonise them. The United Kingdom invaded the islands in 1833, but Argentina maintained its claim. Various tensions led to an Argentine invasion in 1982. The islands were later retaken by the UK. See: Falklands War. No native people lived in the islands when the Europeans arrived, although there is some disputed evidence for earlier human visits. The most convincing is the Falkland Island fox, or Warrah, possibly descended from South American culpeo used as hunting dogs by Yaghan people of Tierra del Fuego. It is unlikely that it reached the islands by itself. Abundant when the islands were settled by Europeans, it was considered a nuisance to livestock and hunted to extinction. ==Politics==  ''Main article: Politics of the Falkland Islands'' Executive authority comes from the Queen and is exercised by the governor on her behalf. Defence is the responsibility of the UK. There is a constitution, which was put into force in 1985. Under the constitution, eight Legislative Councillors, five from Stanley and three from Camp_(Falkland_Islands)|Camp, are elected every four years. The Executive Council, which advises the Governor, consists of the Chief Executive, Financial Secretary and three Legislative Councillors, which are elected by the other Legislative Councillors. Executive concil is chaired by the Governor. The Legislative Council consists of Chief Executive, Financial Secretary and the eight Legislative Councillors. Legislative council is presided over by the Speaker of the House, currently Mr LG 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 still continue. In 2001, British Prime Minister Tony Blair was 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, since becoming president in 2003, has made 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. The Falkland Islanders themselves are almost entirely British, and maintain their allegiance to the United Kingdom. ==Geography== Image:Falklandsmap.gif|thumb|300px|Map of the Falkland Islands ''Main article: Geography of the Falkland Islands'' The islands are 300 miles (483 km) from the South American mainland.There are two main islands, East Falkland (Soledad) and West Falkland (Gran Malvina) and about 700 small islands. The total land area is 12,173 km². Islanders themselves talk about two main areas of the islands, namely Stanley and the rest which they nickname "the Camp", from the Spanish "campo" meaning "countryside". ==Economy== ''Main article: Economy of the Falkland Islands'' The largest industries are fishing and agriculture. The islands have oil reserves that are believed to be quite substantial, but have yet to be exploited. ==Demographics== ''Main article: Demographics of the Falkland Islands'' The population is 2,967 (July 2003 estimated). Islanders call themselves "Islanders". Outsiders often call Islanders "Kelpers", from the kelp, which grows profusely around the islands, but the name is not used in the Islands any more. The word ''kelper'' is used in Argentina with the meaning of ''second-class citizens'' as a reflection on the legal status of the islanders within the UK prior to the passing of the British Nationality (Falkland Islands) Act 1983|Nationality Act of 1983. ==Culture== ''Main article: Culture of the Falkland Islands'' ==Miscellaneous topics== * Communications in the Falkland Islands * Transport in the Falkland Islands * Military of the Falkland Islands * Stamps and postal history of the Falkland Islands ==See also== * Battle of the Falkland Islands - naval engagement of the World War I|First World War * British Nationality (Falkland Islands) Act 1983 * Falklands War - conflict between Argentina and United Kingdom * Major Samuel Stransham * Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey * List of settlements in the Falkland Islands ==Reference== *{{note|UN_decolonization}} {{Web reference|URL=http://www.un.org/Depts/dpi/decolonization/trust3.htm| title=Non-Self-Governing Territories listed by General Assembly in 2002| work=United Nations Special Committee of 24 on Decolonization| year=2005|date=March 10}} == External links == {{Wikitravel}} *[http://www.falklands.gov.fk/ Falkland Islands government] official website, including a [http://www.falklands.gov.fk/coastal-shipping/falkland-islands-map.jpg detailed map] *[http://www.falklandislands.com/ Falkland Islands portal], from the Falkland Islands Development Corporation *[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/country_profiles/4087743.stm BBC Focus on the Islands] *[http://www.penguin-news.com/ ''Penguin News''], a weekly newspaper since 1979 (membership required for access) *[http://www.falklandnews.com/ Falkland Islands News Network], privately maintained *[http://www.tourism.org.fk/ Falkland Islands Tourism], from a company by that name   *[http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/individual.php?db_date=2005-05-03 Satellite photograph of the islands] taken April 28, 2005, hosted by a NASA website {{South_America}} {{Crowncolonies}} Category:Falkland Islands Category:Disputed territories Category:Current British colonies Category:Special territories of the EU ca:Illes Malvines cs:Falklandské ostrovy de:Falklandinseln et:Falklandi saared es:Islas Malvinas eo:Falklandoj fr:Îles Malouines id:Kepulauan Falkland it:Isole Falkland he:איי פוקלנד zh-min-nan:Falkland Kûn-tó nl:Falklandeilanden ja:フォークランド諸島 no:Falklandsøyene pl:Falklandy pt:Malvinas ru:Фолклендские острова sk:Falklandy sl:Falklandski otoki fi:Falklandinsaaret sv:Falklandsöarna zh:福克兰群岛 First page | Prev | Next | Last page |

This article on Falkland Islands is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Falkland Islands".

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