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The Falkland Islands is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom in the South Atlantic consisting of two main islands known as East Falkland and West Falkland and a number of smaller islands. Sovereignty of the islands is also claimed by Argentina where the islands are known as Malvinas. The capital Port Stanley is on East Falkland.
[Top] HistoryMain article: History of the Falkland Islands Several claims have been made that numerous navigators have sighted the Falkland Islands for the first time but the Dutch sailor Sebald de Weert has been credited with the first sighting in 1600, though the British and Spanish maintain their own respective explorers discovered the islands earlier. 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 took the islands in 1833, but Argentina maintained its claim. Various tensions led to an Argentine invasion in 1982. The island was later retaken by the UK. See: Falklands War. [Top] PoliticsMain 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, 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. The Legislative Council consists of Chief Executive, Financial Secretary and the eight Legislative Councillors. The Governor is ex officio the presiding officer or speaker of the Council. 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. Falkland Islanders themselves continue to view themselves as British, despite Argentine claims.
[Top] GeographyMain 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 200 small islands. The total land area is 12,173 km². [Top] EconomyMain 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 yet to be exploited [Top] DemographicsMain article: Demographics of the Falkland Islands The population is 2,967 (July 2003 estimated). [Top] CultureMain article: Culture of the Falkland Islands [Top] Miscellaneous topics
[Top] See also
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