See Also: Falkland Islands War(encyclopedia)
Falkland Islands(encyclopedia)
Falkland Islands map(tourism)
Falkland Islands(tourism)
falkland islands(medicine)
Falkland Islands mortgage(finance)
Falkland Islands travel(tourism)
Falkland Islands travel guide(tourism)
Falkland Islands travel insurance(tourism)
Falkland Islands travel agency(tourism)

Falkland Islands (sh)




Spanish Islas Malvinas

British self-governing colony (pop., 1996: 2,564), in the southern Atlantic Ocean.

Located about 300 mi (480 km) northeast of the southern tip of South America, the Falklands are made up of two main islands, East Falkland and West Falkland, and about 200 smaller islands. The islands are spread out over some 4,700 sq mi (12,200 sq km). The capital is Stanley, on East Falkland. The population is English-speaking and of British descent. The economy is based on sheep raising. The French founded the islands' first settlement, on East Falkland in 1764, and the British settled West Falkland in 1765. In 1770 the Spanish purchased the French settlement and expelled the British, but the latter's settlement was restored in 1771. In 1820 Argentina proclaimed its sovereignty over the Falklands, but the British took them back in 1833. Argentina invaded in 1982, and the British reclaimed the islands after a brief conflict (see Falkland Islands War).