What are the Falkland Islands of Argentina called? 11 letters. School encyclopedia. Geography of the Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands get their name from the Falkland Passage, a strait between the two main islands of the archipelago. The name for the strait was chosen by the Englishman John Strong in 1690 as a sign of respect to his patron Anthony Carey, 5th Viscount Falkland. This name was later extended to cover the entire group of islands. The Spanish name, Islas Malvinas, is derived from the French name, Îles Malouines, given by Louis Antoine de Bougainville in 1764 in honor of the first known islander settlers, sailors and fishermen from the Breton port of Saint-Malo in France. Since the dispute over ownership of the islands has not been definitively resolved, the use of many Spanish names in the Falkland Islands is considered offensive. This particularly applies to names associated with the 1982 Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands. The commander of British forces in the Falklands conflict, General Sir Jeremy Moore, did not allow the name "Islas Malvinas" to be used in the Argentine surrender document, dismissing it as a propaganda term.

Geography

The Falkland Islands consist of two large ones (West and East Falkland) and about 776 smaller islands and rocks. The archipelago is located 343 km from the Argentine island of Estados, 463 km from the coast South America and 1078 km from Shag rocks ( South Georgia). total area is 12,173 km². The total length of the coastline is about 1300 km, the coast is heavily indented. The islands of West and East Falkland are separated by the Falkland Strait. The highest point of the archipelago is Mount Usborne (705 m, located on the island of East Falkland), Mount Adam on the island of West Falkland has a height of 700 m. There are no long rivers on the islands, but there are a large number of streams that usually flow into the nearest fjord or bay.

The climate of the islands is characterized as cool temperate, oceanic. Western winds predominate. Temperature changes throughout the year are relatively small. Average monthly temperatures vary from 9°C in January and February to 2°C in June and July. The average annual temperature is about 5.6°C. It is influenced by powerful cold currents. One of them - Falkland (Malvinas) - runs from the Falkland Islands to La Plata Bay. Current speed is 1-2 km/h. average temperature water in winter from 4 to 10 °C, in summer from 8 to 15 °C. Carries a large number of icebergs, although icebergs are rare near the islands.

The average annual precipitation is about 574 mm, and precipitation levels are approximately constant throughout the year. The western part of the archipelago is drier than the eastern. Thus, the level of precipitation in Port Stanley, at east coast- about 630 mm, while in the far west of the Falkland Islands - only about 430 mm. In winter, precipitation may fall in the form of snow, but it is only temporary and does not create long-term snow cover. Fogs are frequent.

Flora and fauna
Biogeographically, the islands belong to the Antarctic ecozone and the Holontarctic floristic kingdom. There is a strong connection with Patagonian flora and fauna. The only native land mammal of the archipelago was the Falkland fox (it became extinct in the mid-19th century with the onset of mass colonization). 14 species of marine mammals live in coastal waters. A large number of seabirds nest on the islands (more than 60 species), among them it is worth noting the black-browed albatross, 60% of whose nesting sites are located on the Falkland Islands. In addition, 5 species of penguins nest on the archipelago. There are no species of reptiles or amphibians living on the islands. About 200 species of insects have been recorded, as well as 43 species of spiders and 12 species of worms. Only 13 species of terrestrial invertebrates are recognized as endemic, but due to the lack of information on many species, the proportion of endemics is likely much higher. The fresh waters of the archipelago are home to 6 species of birds.

The vegetation of the archipelago is represented by cereal meadows and heather heaths. There are 363 species of vascular plants, 21 species of ferns and 278 species of flowering plants.

The flora and fauna of the archipelago were greatly changed during colonization. Today, almost the entire territory of the islands is used as pasture for sheep. Introduced plant and animal species cause damage to local flora and fauna.

Story
It is alleged that the islands were discovered in 1591-1592 by the English navigator John Davis, who commanded a ship on the expedition of the English corsair Cavendish, but the Spaniards also claim the right to be the discoverers of the archipelago. Subsequently, the islands changed hands several times. There were no indigenous people there.

In 1763-1765, the islands were explored by the French navigator Louis Antoine de Bougainville. In 1764 he founded the first settlement on East Falkland Island, called Porte Saint-Louis (from 1828 - Port Louis). In January 1765, British captain John Byron, unaware of the presence of the French on the islands, explored Saunders Island at the eastern tip of the archipelago and declared its annexation to Great Britain. Captain Byron named the bay located on Saunders Port Egmont. Here in 1766 Captain MacBride founded an English settlement. That same year, Spain acquired the French possessions in the Falklands from Bougainville and, having consolidated its power there in 1767, appointed a governor. In 1770, the Spanish attacked Port Egmont and drove the British from the island. This brought the two countries to the brink of war, but a later peace treaty allowed the British to return to Port Egmont in 1771, with neither Spain nor Britain relinquishing their claims to the islands.

In 1774, in anticipation of the looming American Revolutionary War, Britain unilaterally abandoned many of its overseas possessions, including Port Egmont. When the British left the Falklands in 1776, they erected a plaque here to confirm their rights to the area. From 1776 to 1811, a Spanish settlement remained on the islands, administered from Buenos Aires as part of the Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata. In 1811, the Spaniards left the islands, also leaving a sign here to prove their rights.

On November 6, 1820, Colonel David Jewett raised the flag of the United Provinces of South America over Port Louis. Jewett was a US privateer in the service of Patrick Lynch, a Buenos Aires businessman on whose ship he sailed (Lynch himself received a letter of marque from José Rondo, head of the United Provinces). In 1828, merchant Louis Vernet founded a settlement in the Falklands, seeking permission from both the British and Argentine authorities (after independence in 1816, Argentina claimed the islands as its own). He was engaged in seal hunting and the Argentine government gave him a permit to fish (according to English historians, the Argentine government owed a large sum to Verna’s partner, Jorge Pacheco, and in order to somehow repay his debt, issued the required permit). In 1831, Vernet seized several American ships that were also hunting seals, believing that they were violating his rights. The American consul in Argentina responded by saying that the United States does not recognize that country's authority over the Falkland Islands. After this, the Americans sent a warship to the islands to return the captured Vernet ships. Upon arrival there, the captain of the sent ship arrested several residents of the settlement, took some with him, and several people decided to stay. At the same time, there is a version that the settlement (at least the powder magazines and cannons) was destroyed by the arriving Americans.

In 1832, Argentina decided to restore the settlement and establish a penal colony there. However, when a new governor arrived on the island, a rebellion broke out and the governor was killed. Vernet never returned to the settlement he founded, but it is alleged that he sold his possessions to an English merchant, who began to persuade the British government to regain control of the archipelago. As a result, in January 1833 the British landed in the Falklands and notified the Argentine authorities of their intention to restore their authority in the islands. The island settlers were allowed to remain. One of them, Irish shopkeeper William Dixon, was tasked with raising the British flag over the island on Sundays and in view of the approaching ship. However, despite this, until 1834 the Falkland Islands were essentially self-governing. And only on January 10, 1834, British naval lieutenant Henry Smith raised the Union Jack over Port Louis. At the same time, governors, as such, began to be appointed only in 1842, and before that the head of the islands was the so-called “resident naval officer” (permanently living naval officer).

Subsequently, the British Royal Navy built a military base in the Falklands (at Port Stanley), and the islands became a strategically important point for navigation in the Cape Horn area. During the First World War, a battle took place near the Falkland Islands between the German cruiser squadron of Vice Admiral Maximilian von Spee and the English squadron of Vice Admiral Frederick Sturdee. During World War II, Port Stanley served as a repair base for British ships taking part in the Battle of La Plata.

The question of the territorial affiliation of the islands arose again in the second half of the twentieth century. Argentina saw the creation of the UN as an opportunity to declare to other countries its rights to the archipelago. When signing the UN Charter in 1945, Argentina stated that it retained ownership of the Falkland Islands and the right to reclaim them. Britain responded to the effect that the islanders should vote to secede from the UK in a referendum and that this was an important condition for the implementation of the UN Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. Later, in the 60s, negotiations took place between British and Argentine representatives, but they did not lead to any clear solution to the Falklands issue. The stumbling block in the negotiations was the fact that the islands' population of 2,000, mostly of British origin, preferred that they remain British territory.

World War I

During the First World War, in the area of the archipelago on December 8, 1914, a battle took place between the German cruiser squadron under the command of Vice Admiral Maximilian von Spee and the English squadron (Vice Admiral F. D. Sturdy).

The German command tried to intensify the actions of its fleet on British sea lanes in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Vice Admiral von Spee led the squadron's march (2 armored and 3 light cruisers, 2 transports and a hospital ship) to the shores of South America, where on November 1, 1914, in a battle off Cape Coronel, he defeated an English squadron of cruisers.

Having completed the task of distracting significant forces of the English fleet, the German squadron received the order to break through back to Germany. Not knowing the location of the English ships, Spee decided to strike the English naval base of Port Stanley on the Falkland Islands, where the English squadron was located (1 battleship, 2 linear, 3 armored and 2 light cruisers). Having encountered unexpectedly strong resistance, Spee tried to leave, but the English ships overtook him. Spee ordered light cruisers and transports to leave in different directions. They were pursued by British armored and light cruisers, and the battlecruisers engaged in battle with the German armored cruisers and sank them. 2 light German cruisers and transports were also destroyed. Only the cruiser Dresden and the hospital ship managed to escape. As a result of the victory, the British command was freed from the need to allocate significant forces to secondary theaters of war, and the German command lost a strong cruising squadron. Spee himself died on the flagship cruiser Scharnhorst.

Anglo-Argentine conflict

In 1982, the Anglo-Argentine conflict broke out around the islands. On April 2, Argentina carried out a military operation, establishing control over the islands. However, Great Britain responded by sending a large naval force to the islands with the goal of recapturing the Falklands by force. During the fighting in May-June, Argentina was defeated, but continues to dispute both the name of the islands and territorial affiliation.

Present tense

Currently, the islands are the subject of a territorial dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, are actually controlled by the latter, who consider them their overseas territory. The issue of independence of the territory is also being considered, if declared, South Georgia, which is part of the archipelago, but belongs to another British overseas territory (South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands), will remain British.

The islands host British military bases - the Mount Pleasant air force base and the Mare Harbor naval base.

Relations between the UK and Argentina became strained again after British companies began developing offshore oil fields near the islands in 2010. In the spring of 2012, the Argentine authorities announced that they intended to file a lawsuit against companies involved in oil and gas exploration in areas near the islands, such as Rockhopper Exploration, Falkland Oil & Gas, etc. After this, Great Britain increased its military presence in the region, strengthening the fleet with the latest Dauntless destroyer and the Trafalgar-class submarine, and also demonstratively sending Prince William there on a six-week assignment.

Soon after, Argentina protested the militarization of the islands, but on February 8, 2012, the UK denied these accusations.

“We are not militarizing the South Atlantic. Our defensive strategy in the Falkland Islands remains unchanged. The people of the Falklands choose British citizenship. Its right to self-determination is enshrined in the UN Charter,” said the press service of British Prime Minister David Cameron.

The Argentine Olympic team starred in a video that tells about the preparations in the city of Port Stanley for the XXX summer Olympic Games under the slogan “To win in England, we train in Argentina,” which caused outrage from the Falkland Islands representative in the English Parliament, Ian Hansen.

Economy
The islands' economy was initially based on whale hunting and ship maintenance, and then (from the 1870s to the 1980s) based entirely on sheep farming. Today, the archipelago's economy depends mainly on sheep farming, industrial fishing, fish processing, tourism and agriculture. More than 80% of the islands' territory is occupied by pastures, according to statistics from the island government, there are about 500,000 sheep in the Falklands archipelago. Approximately 60% of the herds are in East Falkland and approximately 40% in West Falkland. The Falkland Islands are an exporter of high quality wool, which goes mainly to the UK. There are also slaughterhouses on the East Island.

Wells are being drilled to explore supposed large oil reserves on the islands' shelf.

"" Population

As of July 2008, the population of the Falkland Islands is 3,140 people. According to the 2006 census, the majority of the population (94.2% or 2,786 people) live on East Falkland Island, 4.2% or 127 people on West Falkland Island and 1.6% or 42 people on other islands of the archipelago. Port Stanley has a population of 2,115 (71.57% of the archipelago's population).

The language of the majority of the population is English; Spanish (7.68%), German (0.6%) and French (0.5%) are also common. About 1.83% of the population speaks English poorly or does not speak this language at all. 67.17% of the archipelago's population professes Christianity, 31.51% declared no religion, and about 1.3% profess other religions. Most of the population are descendants of English, Scottish, Irish and Norwegian settlers, some are also recent immigrants from Great Britain, St Helena, Chile, Australia and other countries.

January 3rd, 2013

Reading today's news: Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner sent an open letter to British Prime Minister David Cameron calling on him to begin negotiations on the return of the Falkland Islands to Argentina, the Guardian newspaper reported on Thursday.

The letter marks the 180th anniversary of the annexation of the Falklands, located off the coast of Argentina. Kirchner uses the Spanish name for the islands and claims that “as a result of British colonial policy, the Malvinas Islands were taken by force from Argentina,” which, in her opinion, dealt a blow to the territorial integrity of the country. The President relies on the fact that in 1965 the UN General Assembly “unanimously, without a single dissenting vote, adopted a resolution recognizing the annexation of the Malvinas Islands as a result of British colonialism and calling on countries to reach a negotiated solution to the territorial dispute.”

The Argentine cruiser General Belgrano sinks after being hit by a torpedo from the British nuclear submarine HMS Conqueror, May 1, 1982. Argentine and Chilean ships managed to rescue 770 people, while 323 were killed. (AP Photo)

In response to a letter, a copy of which was sent to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, David Cameron said that on this issue “the majority of the population of three thousand in the Falklands supports Britain.” A referendum planned for March this year will decide whether the Falklands will remain a British overseas territory. Cameron assured that Britain would “respect and protect” the interests of the local population. Member of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly Barry Elsby supported the Prime Minister, saying that being British is the choice of Falklanders. Argentina also accuses Britain of expelling its citizens from the islands; the other side denies such accusations.

The Falkland Islands (Malvinas), 14 thousand kilometers away from Britain, are actually the gateway to Antarctica, giving control over the extremely rich natural resources ocean areas. Disputes between Argentina and Great Britain over the ownership of the islands began at the beginning of the 19th century, when the first British settlers appeared on the islands. The fighting between Great Britain and Argentina over the Falkland Islands began on April 2, 1982, lasted 74 days and ended in victory for the British crown. British oil companies unilaterally began exploration for oil fields near the archipelago in 2010, escalating the conflict.

Argentine soldiers make military supplies shortly after the invasion of the Falkland Islands, April 13, 1982. (Daniel Garcia/AFP/Getty Images)

What actually caused the conflict? It would not be a big mistake to say that it owes its origin to the play of great political ambitions. In Argentina, another paramilitary regime came to power with election slogans and nationalist promises, among which was the return of the Malvinas (disputed territory).

Militarily, the regime felt confident: the recently acquired French aircraft carrier as part of its air wing contained not only Skyhawks with bombs, but also the latest French Super-Etandars with Exocet anti-ship missiles, capable of, without entering the air defense zone of a detachment of warships, inflict a serious defeat on him. Destroyers (EM) and guided missile frigates (FR URO) were ready to develop the success of aviation. The Argentine combat aviation group numbered up to 200 units. Crew preparedness has traditionally had a high reputation. All this looked solid and could not help but encourage Argentine strategists to “tickle” old England.

At this time, the military-political leadership of Great Britain sought to improve the strategic nuclear forces based on Trident missiles at the expense of the Navy. Because of this, the fleet is barely making ends meet; in 1982, both operating aircraft carriers, several ships of the main class, the most important elements of infrastructure, and a significant part of the personnel were cut. Even without that, the position of the “Mistress of the Seas” did not look convincing in comparison with France, and in a number of positions (in terms of the quality and quantity of surface ships of the main class) - with Japan. In this regard, the leadership of the military department did not find it possible either to defend, much less to conquer the Falklands back. There is no doubt that these difficulties and sentiments in Great Britain were known Argentine side. Nevertheless, in April 1982, a solid contingent of British troops landed on the archipelago with light attack aircraft and helicopters. At the same time, the British also captured South Georgia.

Gunsmiths prepare torpedoes on the British aircraft carrier HMS Hermes while Sea King helicopters watch for possible Argentine submarines, May 26, 1982. (AFP/Getty Images)

The archipelago was located less than 400 miles from the Argentine mainland, while it was 8,000 miles away from the metropolis. The Antarctic winter was approaching, no more than two months remained before its onset. In a word, not the best time and place for military operations or even ordinary navigation. But, despite the unsuitable conditions, the First Sea Lord of Great Britain, Admiral Henry Leach, requested permission from Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to begin forming a task force (TF) to be sent to the South Atlantic.

The British ships had to travel 6,000-8,000 miles to areas completely devoid of any signs of a coastal base. Approximately in the middle of the deployment route was the last piece of land used as a rear base - Ascension Island. Here the main forces of the 317th OS of the Royal Navy were assembled, after which Rear Admiral John Woodward reported to the commander of the Navy, Admiral J. Fieldhouse, who headed the specially created headquarters, the decision for the operation, subsequently known as “Corporate”. At the same time, planning, briefings on all types of databases, support, briefings, orientation, preliminary assignment of tasks to the forces, and final acceptance of supplies while stationed at the roadstead were carried out. Then all the work took place in the open ocean, usually on the move.

A British soldier checks the area with binoculars while an anti-missile battery is positioned next to him in case of an air attack, May 25, 1982. (AFP/Getty Images)

On April 18, the fleet continued its deployment. Admiral Fieldhouse will fly to London to defend at the highest level the plan of operation adopted near the “front line”, defending every point of it, without which it is impossible to control the war taking place 8,000 miles from the Admiralty.

The basis of the design of the OS commander's decision was that all actions, including the capture of the Falkland Islands, must be completed no later than mid-June. Later, hydrometeorological conditions were incompatible not only with maintaining a database, but also simply with the presence of ships and aircraft in these waters providing fire support and providing forces on shore. Countdown, taking the minimum necessary time for landing operations on the shore, the deadline for the start of the landing was determined as May 20-21.

In the same way, the timing of the arrival of the British OS on the theater of operations (in the general exclusive zone) on May 1 was determined to gain supremacy at sea and air superiority.
The first shots of this war were fired, and the loss count opened on the island of South Georgia, where a specially designated tactical group of ships disabled and captured the Argentine submarine Santa Fe and raised the British flag.

The completion of the deployment is marked by a series of air strikes on Port Stanley and Goose Green airfields. First, the strategic bomber "Vulcan" from Ascension Island on the night of May 1 from high altitude bombed Port Stanley. The deck-based Sea Harriers developed success at dawn. At this time, surface ships were shelling coastal targets and conducting a control search for enemy submarines. In the ensuing air battles, Argentine aviation had an almost 10-fold superiority, but the British Sea Harriers were more effective than the Sidewinders in service with the Argentine Air Force. The main task On the first day, there was a secret landing of a special forces task force to reconnoiter enemy positions and select a location for the future landing.

The struggle for supremacy at sea unfolded according to classical canons and with great severity. The Argentine fleet, having completed its combat deployment in advance, covered in its battle formation the arriving British forces from two sides - from the northeast and from the southwest. The massive use of shore-based aircraft was also envisaged as diversionary and supporting strikes.

British submarines were unable to detect enemy surface ships. When the Conqueror submarine finally discovers the Argentine cruiser, problems begin due to the imperfect control of the submarine, as well as the difficulty of tracking surface ships in shallow water. Nevertheless, the Argentine cruiser was sunk as a result of a torpedo attack.

It is generally accepted that it was the loss of the cruiser that forced the Argentine command to return the fleet to its bases. In fact, the Argentine sailors were burning with a thirst for revenge, but the weather prevented them from delivering a fatal blow to the English OS. The Argentine fleet returned to its bases and never left territorial waters.

Thick smoke rises from the British frigate HMS Antelope in Ajax Bay, May 24, 1982. Four Argentine A-4B Skyhawks attacked a British frigate the day before. During the attack, a bomb was dropped on the ship, which British technicians tried unsuccessfully to defuse. It exploded, causing a fire and killing 2 crew members. (AP Photo/Tom Smith)

Formally, the struggle for supremacy at sea could be considered over at this point, but the bitterness in the confrontation of forces does not subside. Argentine strike aviation comes to the fore, and the English fleet begins to suffer significant losses. The destroyer Sheffield can be considered lost due to the bungling of its command. While on air defense and missile defense patrol, the radar was turned off, readiness was reduced, the ship did not maintain a watch in the information exchange and warning networks in order to obtain good quality radio communications with London. As a result, the Argentines shot him with cruise missiles from low-flying Etanders. After 10 days, the same type “Glasgow”, which survived that attack and showed its best side, was seriously damaged. After this, the OS command began to have doubts about the effectiveness of their best air defense systems, Sea Dart and Sea Wolf.

Judging by the losses, the maximum intensity of the combat missions is reached with the beginning of the landing, because it was far from gaining air superiority and the problem was solved by simply “grinding” the Argentine aviation, rushing to the landing area and anchorage landing ships and transports.

An Argentine soldier walks past the wreckage of a downed British warplane in Darwin. (Reuters/Eduardo Farre)

The landing itself on May 21 went smoothly and without losses, but by May 25 the total number of British ships sunk reached four, almost all other ships had multiple battle damage. The price is quite high, although we managed to preserve all the landing gear and transport ships, especially with landing forces, as well as aircraft carriers. The losses were also due to the ineffectiveness of the Rapier air defense system. The losses of the British in naval personnel here could have been incomparably more severe if the Argentine air command had shown more skill and enterprise in managing forces.

At the same time, this air offensive in the anti-landing direction, as well as previous combat operations in the air, cost the Argentine Air Force and Navy at least a third of all combat-ready aircraft and the loss of the most experienced pilots. It is at this moment that the command of the Argentine Air Force recognizes its air force as undermined, and such a price for the Falklands as unacceptable. When leaving, the Argentine aviation, as they say, loudly slammed the door.

We are talking about the defeat of the Atlantic Conveyor container ship converted into air transport. In a well-planned raid by the Argentine Super Etandars, timed to coincide with the Argentine national holiday, a container ship with a radar signature similar to the Hermes took on the blow of two Exocets. One missile immediately aimed at it, the second, being withdrawn from the Hermes, also aimed at the container ship and finished it off. The ship was packed to capacity with the most valuable cargo for the expeditionary forces: three heavy Chinook helicopters, five Wessexes, a solid supply of cluster bombs for Harriers, equipment for the rapid creation runway in Carlos Bay, a huge amount of spare parts for helicopters, supplies and equipment. In addition, the container ship, being specially converted according to the mobilization plan, served as the third flight deck in the OS.

However, the bridgehead had already been captured, troops and equipment were on the shore, as for the loss of the Atlantic Conveyor, it was an unpleasant, but not a defining moment. The aircraft carriers were preserved - and this is the main thing. Despite the delays, the actions of the British troops on the shore developed successfully, and by mid-June the enemy capitulated.

Argentine soldiers take positions in Port Howard. (Reuters/Eduardo Farre)

The Falklands War takes unique place in military-political history. During the relatively short period of crisis (74 days), the opposing sides fought a fierce battle in a remote area Atlantic Ocean using the most modern weapons and a large number of troops and equipment. In total, up to 60 thousand personnel, over 180 ships and vessels, 350 combat aircraft and helicopters took part in the hostilities on both sides. Moreover, the warring parties had to literally “on the fly” adapt to the conditions of the war, because Even Argentina never seriously prepared for a possible war over the Malvinas, let alone Great Britain. However, a miracle did not happen: the regional “superpower” was unable to defeat one of the leading world powers. Although the Argentines and the war itself presented the British with a number of unpleasant surprises. In the end, “this nasty little war,” as some in Britain called it, turned out to be very bloody and difficult. As Admiral Sir John Woodward noted: “Someone has heard that in Ulster, Malaya, Korea, Kenya, etc. it was much worse, there losses reached up to eight hundred people, while in the Falklands War in 1982 they died two hundred and fifty British. But the difference is that we lost these two hundred and fifty people in six weeks, and not in many years. During this time, I lost almost half of my destroyers and frigates, and the loss of life was ten times greater than in the previous year. all our armed forces (apparently this means the Navy) since the Second World War."

Even after two decades, there is no complete clarity about the losses of Great Britain and Argentina. We are not talking about absolute accuracy - it would be nice to at least determine the order of losses.

A frigate sprays water on the damaged HMS Sheffield, 28 May 1982. At this time, a Sea King helicopter hovers in the air, ensuring safety. Two Argentine Super Etendard attack aircraft attacked the ship with missiles, starting a fire that lasted for several days until HMS Sheffield sank completely, killing 20 people. (AP Photo/Press Association/Martin Cleaver)

On May 27, the UK Ministry of Defense reported that 109 people had died by that date. The Argentines admitted the loss of only 92, although three times as many died on the Belgrano alone. At the end of the war, the British stated the following figures: about 200 British were killed and about 300 wounded. The Argentine armed forces lost about 1,300 people killed. Subsequently, the losses of the British “increased”, while those of the Argentines “decreased” accordingly.

There was a figure of 230-236 dead British, incl. 120 in the ground forces, the number of dead Argentines is estimated at 750 people and this number has been “fixed” in all Western sources. Then the “final” number of British dead was called the figure of 250 people, more precisely 255-256 people, including: the Royal Navy lost eighty-seven people, the Royal Marines - twenty-six, the merchant fleet - nine and the Royal Auxiliary Fleet - seven.

15-20 years after the war, 258 people were declared dead by Great Britain, incl. 3 islanders. The maximum number of British casualties I encountered was 286.

Argentine prisoners of war walk past a burning building in Port Stanley in last days Argentine occupation of the southern part of the islands. (AP Photo/J. Leonard)

Argentine losses are sometimes estimated at both 712 and 700 people killed; there were figures of 690 killed and 176 wounded, but the official Argentine figure is 655 dead.

Full statistics on losses in manpower and equipment

The Falklands War was literally a gift for Prime Minister Thatcher. Or rather, not the war itself, but its result. In the early 1980s, the UK economy was in a fever and victory in the war greatly strengthened Thatcher's popularity and allowed her to remain in power until 1990. The war was no less a gift for the military: defense spending increased sharply. There was a decisive abandonment of the previous military doctrine, thanks to which, if Argentina had attacked in 1983, Britain would have lost the war. The carriers would have been sold, the massive cuts already beginning in November 1981 and peaking in the spring of 1982 would have left the Royal Navy unable to win the battle for the Falklands. At least that's how it really happened.

Immediately after the war, the government abdicated responsibility for the war that began so timely. On 6 July 1982, Lord Franke was appointed chairman of a select committee of the Privy Council to investigate the reasons for the armed invasion of the Falkland Islands. On 18 January 1983, the Franks Report was published, exonerating Margaret Thatcher's government of responsibility for the Argentine military junta's decision to invade the Falkland Islands on 2 April 1982.

Another echo of the war in the South Atlantic was the process of disclosing documents shedding light on the events of May 2, 1982. February 11, 1985 Former British Ministry of Defense employee Clive Ponting is acquitted by a court considering the disclosure of the contents of documents related to the sinking of the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano during the Falklands War.

Argentine prisoners of war in Port Stanley, 17 June 1982. By the end of the conflict, more than 11 thousand Argentines were captured.

The war had much more serious consequences on Argentina. Already on June 17/18, 1982, General Galtieri resigned. A political crisis begins in the country. But on July 1, 1982, General Benito Renaldo Bignone (Bignone, Reynaldo Benito) became the head of the fourth and last military government of Argentina.

Unable to stop the political and economic crisis in the country, the general began to prepare for the departure of the military and destroy all evidence of repression, as well as demand an amnesty from the democratic forces for all war crimes.

Raul Alfonsin became the first democratic president of Argentina in many years. He began trials of the military, almost all the highest ranks received prison terms. But the army was not going to give up: the first uprising against President Alfonsin was raised by Colonel Aldo Rico, a participant in the Falklands War, on April 15, 1985 at a military base in Campo Mayo. Although the instigators of the riot were arrested, the military managed to achieve a law according to which all persons involved in repression, below the rank of colonel, were declared “executing orders.” The concessions provoked the military into new actions. As soon as Aldo Rico found himself under house arrest, he immediately started a new riot in mid-January 1988. On January 17, Rico surrendered, but they treated him quite leniently: a sentence with the ability to communicate by phone and good conditions of detention. The uprising in December 1988 ended with an increase in military salaries and no one was even arrested.

Finally, the new President of Argentina, Carlos Menema, will sign an amnesty order on October 5, 1989, and many generals will be free. The uprising on December 3, 1990 was suppressed, but Menema signed a general amnesty on December 29, 1990.

On July 11, 1982, Argentina, and the next day Great Britain, would de facto declare the end of the war. About 5 thousand British soldiers were left on the islands. 27 June 1983 The British Secretary of State for Defense announces £215 million for an airport in the Falkland Islands.

In October 1989, consular relations were restored between Great Britain and Argentina, and since February 1990, diplomatic relations have been fully established.

Mass grave of 30 Argentine soldiers after the Battle of Darwin. On June 14, 1982, Argentine troops left the island after being defeated by the British. (AP Photo/Martin Cleaver)

27 September 1995 Great Britain and Argentina enter into an agreement to develop oil and gas fields in the South Atlantic southwest of the Falkland Islands. Supervision over the extraction of mineral resources is entrusted to a joint commission.

The conflict flared up with renewed vigor when huge raw material deposits were discovered in the disputed area. Oil reserves are estimated at 60 billion barrels of oil, and natural gas reserves at 9 trillion cubic meters. In February 2010, British oil companies began exploration and production of oil from the Ocean Guardian floating drilling platform, located 100 km north of the islands. This caused a wave of protest from Argentina and economic response on its part.

Argentine Falklands War veteran José Luis Aparacio holds a photograph of himself (right) and a comrade (left) after they were captured by British troops at the Battle of Mount Longdon on June 12, 1982. The photo above was taken in La Plata, Argentina on March 20, 2007. (Reuters/Enrique Marcarian)

Among the latter we can name the December decision of the countries of the South American common market(MERCOSUR) prohibit entry into its ports of ships flying the flag of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas).

Shortly after this, on January 19, British Prime Minister David Cameron accused Argentina of colonialism in the Falkland Islands, to which Buenos Aires indignantly declared that the words about “colonialism” from the lips of the British sounded especially offensive, since “history perfectly demonstrates their attitude towards everything world" (today, about 50 of the approximately 200 countries in the world annually celebrate the day of independence from British rule). At the same time, Cameron approved an urgent plan to strengthen the country's military forces.

sources
http://nvo.ng.ru
http://historiwars.narod.ru
http://m.ria.ru/world/20130103/917061244.html

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And I also want to remind you how as a result of the war.

An archipelago located in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean, 480 km east of the coast of Argentina. Territory disputed between Great Britain and Argentina. Actually governed by Great Britain. Area 12,173 km2. Population: 2900 people. (2002). There are also 2,000 British troops permanently stationed on the islands. The official language is English. The administrative center is the city of Port Stanley (Puerto Argentino) (1800 people, 2002). The currency is the Falkland Islands pound (equal to 100 pence), pegged to the British pound sterling. The latter is used on a par with local currency.

Attractions of the Falkland Islands

Geography of the Falkland Islands

Located between 57°49′ west longitude and 5°42′ south latitude. Washed by the Atlantic Ocean. The length of the coastline is 1288 km. The archipelago includes two large islands- East Falkland (Soledad) with an area of 5300 km2 and West Falkland (Gran Malvina) with an area of 6700 km2, and approx. 200 dependent small islands. East and West Falklands are separated by a narrow strait, their coastline heavily cut up.

The Falkland Islands (Malvinas) are a hilly area. The terrain is very rugged. The most high point- Mount Adam (706 m) in West Falkland.

The climate is oceanic and cool. The humidity is uniform (approx. 700 mm of precipitation per year) with strong winds and frequent fogs. December and January are the wettest months. Average annual temperatures- no higher than +10°С, January (summer) +18°С, July (winter) +3°С.

The islands are composed predominantly of Paleozoic metamorphic and sedimentary rocks.

Among mineral resources, it is assumed that there are large reserves of oil and gas, surpassing the oil fields of the North Sea. Peat is extracted.

There are no forests on the archipelago. Oceanic grass meadows (tussok, cortadenia), heathlands with red crowberry, and peat bogs predominate. The fauna on the islands themselves is not diverse, but the fauna of the coastal strip is very rich. Lots of seabirds and mammals. Characteristic are penguins (including king penguins), albatrosses, swans, as well as falcons and hawks; Fur seals, elephant seals and sea lions are located in extensive rookeries. The coastal waters of the archipelago are home to large herds of dolphins and killer whales; The predominant fish species are sea trout, mullet and tuna. The reserves of sea crustacean krill are huge.

Population of the Falkland Islands

In 1992 the population was 2000 people; over 10 years the population increased by 900 people. Ethnic composition- English and Scots, partly immigrants from Chile. Argentines are prohibited from settling on the islands and owning real estate on them. Main languages - English, Spanish. Population density 0.2 people. per 1 km2. Urban residents - 66%, rural residents - 34%. Religion is mainly Anglican Christianity.

History of the Falkland Islands

According to Argentine sources, the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) were discovered in 1520 by the Spanish navigator Esteban Gomez from F. Magellan's flotilla; According to the British version, the archipelago was discovered by the English navigator John Davis in 1592. The first colonizers were the French (A. de Bougainville's expedition, 1764). In 1766 France ceded the islands to Spain; in 1820-33 the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) were under the sovereignty of the independent Argentine Republic. In January 1833 the islands were captured by a British naval landing. Since 1892, the archipelago has been officially declared a colony of Great Britain. April 2, 1982 Armed forces Argentina, ruled by a military regime, regained control of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas). Great Britain responded by launching large-scale military operations and on June 15, 1982, achieved the surrender of the Argentine garrison. The problem of the status of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) continues to exist, and the UN continues to deal with it. Argentina, having abandoned the military solution to this problem, nevertheless insists that the archipelago belongs to it; Great Britain does not consider the issue of sovereignty over the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) a subject of debate.

Government and political system of the Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands (Malvinas) are declared a colonial possession of Great Britain. They are governed by an English governor (since January 1996 - Richard Ralph Stanley), accountable to his government and the Queen. Under the governor there are an Executive Council (5 members - 2 ex officio and 3 elected by the Legislative Council) and a Legislative Council (10 members - 2 ex officio and 8 elected by the population). Port Stanley is the only city in the archipelago. There is a trade union association. The Falkland Islands (Malvinas) remain a strategically important stronghold for the British Armed Forces and Navy.

Economy of the Falkland Islands

The main occupation of the population is sheep breeding (about 700 thousand heads in 2002) and fishing (mainly sea trout and tuna). Cattle (10 thousand heads in 2002) and horses (4 thousand heads) are bred. The bulk of the land is owned by large sheep companies and farmers (pastures occupy 99% of used agricultural land). Cultivated crops include oats, as well as vegetables (potatoes, cabbage, beets, onions). There are small food processing enterprises, as well as a specialized wool sorting factory. The main fuel used by the population is peat. Railways No; There are some asphalt roads (mainly on East Falkland Island). Foreign trade is entirely oriented towards Great Britain. Wool, hides, meat, fish are exported; Almost all consumer goods, machinery, equipment, building materials, food, and industrial fuel are imported. The use of travel checks and credit cards in payments is limited, but is becoming increasingly popular. Tourism is developing (primarily related to visiting former places battles during the Anglo-Argentine period armed conflict 1982).

Science and culture of the Falkland Islands

Primary education is considered compulsory. There are several government primary schools. Government Broadcasting Center in Port Stanley. The administration publishes 2 monthly newspapers. A highlight in the life of the islands are summer sports competitions (horses, rodeos, shepherd dog competitions, etc.). In East Falkland, celebrations are held in Port Stanley between Christmas and New Year; in the West - in each settlement in turn at the end of February.

The Falkland Islands (Malvinas) are an archipelago in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean, 480 km away. east of Argentina. The archipelago consists of two large islands - Soledad (East Falkland) and Gran Malvina (West Falkland), and many (about 200) small ones.

The capital is Port Stanley.

The total area is 12.2 thousand square meters. km.

Climate
Oceanic, cool and uniformly humid. Average annual temperatures do not exceed +10 C, January (summer) - +18 C, July (winter) - +3 C. Precipitation is about 1500 mm. per year, December and January are also the wettest months. Best time to visit the islands - from October to April.

Population
About 2.5 thousand people. The population of the archipelago consists mainly of people from the British Isles and Chile. Language: English, Spanish. Religion - Anglican Christianity.

The time is 7 hours behind Moscow.

The monetary unit is the Falkland Islands Pound (Fb or FlP), pegged to the British pound sterling, which is used on a par with the local currency. In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 50, 20, 10 and 5 pounds, coins in denominations of 1 and 2 pounds, as well as 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 pence. Falkland Islands currency cannot be exchanged anywhere outside the islands. The use of credit cards and traveler's checks is limited but growing. Credit cards Visa, MasterCard and American Express can be cashed at the Upland Goose Hotel, Malvina House Hotel, various shops in Port Stanley and at the Falkland Island Travel Service office. Traveler's checks can be exchanged at Standard Chartered Bank and some commercial banks. To avoid additional costs, it is recommended to take traveler's checks in pounds sterling. Tips are 5-10% in restaurants and around 50p per day in hotels. In other cases, the amount should be rounded up.

Story
The islands were discovered by Europeans in the 16th century. Possession of Great Britain since 1892. They are disputed territory, which Argentina claims, which resulted in large-scale hostilities between these countries in April 1982. The conflict ended in the defeat of Argentina, but it continues to consider this territory its own. They are governed by a governor who is accountable to the government and the Queen of Great Britain.

Tourist information
Wildlife viewing is the main attraction of the Falkland Islands. Many island birds and marine mammals have already become accustomed to the constant presence of humans and do not pay any attention to the presence of observers. Penguins are the most famous inhabitants of these places, there are five varieties of them and their colonies on the shores of the islands, capes and river mouths are extensive and extremely picturesque. Also very interesting are the large colonies of beautiful black-headed albatrosses, falcons, hawks and swans, as well as the extensive rookeries of elephant seals and sea lions. Off the coast of the archipelago there are large herds of dolphins and killer whales. Fishing, especially sea trout, mullet and tuna, is another popular pastime here, especially good conditions for this purpose - the Marell River, which flows almost along the outskirts of Port Stanley. The fishing season lasts from September to April, best months for trout fishing - from March to April.

Port Stanley (Stanley or Puerto Argentino) is really little more than a village. Historically, it only gained its political status by being greater than the rest settlements archipelago, size. Since many of its houses were built from stone and timber "rescued" from the wreckage of numerous shipwrecks, the town has a certain charm, emphasized by its brightly painted buildings, traditional English lawns and the constant smell of burning peat carried by the sea breeze. The most “photogenic” object in the city is Government House, which has been the residence of the governor of the islands since the mid-19th century. A mandatory ceremony when visiting is entry into the “visitor register”, a tribute to tradition and the government of the islands. Nearby is Christ Church Cathedral, a massive brick and stone structure with a colorfully painted metal roof and impressive stained glass windows. The building was built in 1892 and now houses a museum and several plaques commemorating Falklands soldiers who died in action in the world wars. In the small square next to the cathedral stands the recently restored Whalebone Arch, erected in 1933 to commemorate the centenary of British rule in the Falkland Islands.

Many visitors come to the islands to visit the sites of the famous armed conflict between Argentina and Great Britain over the Falkland Islands. This “strange war,” in which both states fought hundreds and thousands of miles from their shores over a tiny piece of land lost in the ocean, still excites the minds of people, forcing them to go almost “to the ends of the earth” to look at the battle sites "live". The battlefields of Green Goose, San Carlos, Fitzroy, Pebble Island, Mount Publedown, Wireless Ridge, Sapper Hill and immediately around Port Stanley still attract thousands of visitors with their war cemeteries and museums.

The "highlight" of island life is the annual summer sports competition, which brings together the islanders who are usually isolated on their isolated farms. Visitors to the islands are eagerly welcomed to take part in these festivities, which traditionally include horse racing, a variety of rodeos and sheepdog competitions. Competitions usually take place in Port Stanley between Christmas and New Year, and in the West Falklands - at the end of February (there is no permanent festival site - the right to host the competition is contested by each settlement in turn).

Port Louis, with its roots as a French colony, is the oldest settlement in the Falkland Islands and as such has some of the oldest buildings on the islands. This is an ivy-covered farm (by the way, still functioning) of the 19th century, the ruins of the residence of the French governor and the estate of Louis Vernet nearby. Port Louis lies in the deepest part of Berkeley Sound, the largest bay in the East Falklands, 35 km away. northwest of Port Stanley. The outskirts of the city are very picturesque and with their green, low mountain slopes resemble a landscape northern Scotland. Volunteer Beach, located east of Port Louis on the shores of Johnson Harbor, provides excellent habitat for more than 150 breeding pairs of king penguins, the largest colony of king penguins on the islands. A few hours' walk east of the beach, in the Volunteer Point area, there is a large colony of Antarctic fur seals, and in the Volunteer Lacun area - elephant seals. Excursions to these sites can be organized from Port Stanley or by arrangement with the local landowner for permission to visit them yourself.

Sea Lion Island, lying east of south coast Falkland is less than a mile in diameter but teems with wildlife. Among its usual inhabitants are five species of penguins, a huge colony of cormorans, giant pigeons and almost tame "Johnny Hands" - so local residents The name is the striped caracara. Hundreds of elephant seals literally fill the sandy and pebble shores of the southern tail of the island. Thanks to the innovative farming practices of local landowners, the island's flora and fauna thrive here, in close proximity to sheep farms, and the island is believed to be the only Falkland island with surviving natural grass cover.

West Falklands (Gran Malvina) is almost the same size as East Falklands, but has only one good road, so traveling around them without using 4WD is almost impossible. There are many small communities and private farms worth visiting, the inhabitants of which are very welcoming to strangers. The real attractions of the West Falklands include the same wildlife sightings and good (but challenging) trekking routes. The island's south-west tip, Port Stephens, is home to thousands of seabirds, while Culm Head offers superb views of the jagged coastline and surrounding ocean. A now-abandoned observation station for a huge colony of penguins makes the long trek across the island to the Albemarle area worth exploring. You can spend the night there and spend some time watching the busy life of the restless “penguin tribe” - they do not pay the slightest attention to people. For permission to cross farmland here, you should definitely contact local farmers - hiking without their permission is considered bad manners, and simply unsafe due to the rather rugged terrain, replete with obstacles known only to local residents.

Sanders Island, which lies north of west coast Falkland is home to the first British garrison on the Falkland Islands, built in 1765. It was the expulsion of this tiny garrison by the Spanish in 1767 that caused the war between the two countries. After 1774 the Spanish demolished the settlement and all that remains today are a few piers, house foundation blocks and the terraced garden of British Marines. In addition to these ruins, the island boasts large colonies of seabirds (including several species of penguins) and elephant seals.

When visiting the islands, special attention should be paid to horse riding routes. The islanders, like all the British, are well versed in horses and are famous as good riders, so the horses for such a unique “horse trekking” will be selected excellent, and the routes are usually laid along the most picturesque places.

Entry rules A UK visa is required for entry. Visas for stays of up to 4 months are required for everyone except citizens of Andorra, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cyprus, Iceland, Israel, Liechtenstein, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, San Marino, Switzerland and Uruguay. Citizens of the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are generally allowed to stay on the islands for up to six months without a visa. In other cases, to obtain a visa, you must submit an application form English language, a passport valid for at least 6 months, 2 passport size photographs and provide proof of sufficient funds for an extended stay, as well as present a progressive air ticket. The processing time for documents is within 24 hours when contacting the embassy directly and 2-4 weeks for postal items. Please note: all visitors to the islands, even nationals of the above countries, must obtain permission to visit Falkland Islands from the Falkland Islands Government Office in London or the nearest British consulate. For tourist travel, permission can be obtained upon arrival from the Falkland Islands Immigration Office (Ross Road, Port Stanley, telephone: 27340; fax: 27342). To obtain a permit, you must have round-trip tickets, proof of sufficient financial funds and proof of commitment to stay on the island. For all types of travel there is one type of visa costing £5, valid for a period of 6 months from the date of issue for a stay of up to 4 months.

Instructions and visa requirements are subject to change without notice, so it is recommended that you contact the appropriate diplomatic or consular authorities before travel.

Customs regulations There are no restrictions on the import and export of local and foreign currency.

Allowed duty free import: cigarettes - up to 200 pcs., or cigars - up to 50 pcs., or tobacco - up to 250 grams, alcoholic beverages with a strength of more than 22 degrees - up to 1 liter, with a strength of less than 22 degrees - up to 2 liters, perfumes - up to 50 ml., eau de toilette- up to 250 ml., souvenirs and gifts - no more than 32 pounds sterling. The import of drugs, weapons (including knives with pop-up blades), counterfeit coins and banknotes, obscene materials, meat, poultry and products made from them, radio transmitters, plants, all types of live birds and bird eggs is prohibited.

The Falkland Islands are a British Overseas Territory archipelago in the southwest Atlantic Ocean near . The archipelago consists of two large islands, West Falkland and East Falkland. The capital is Port Stanley.

Climate of the Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands have a cold oceanic climate. The warmest time is January and February with temperatures of about 19 degrees Celsius, in July and August 2 degrees Celsius. The rainy season occurs in December and January. The best time to go to the islands is from October to March.

Falkland Islands The Falkland Islands, or Malvinas Islands in Spanish, are a true archipelago that lies near the southern tip of South America, a British overseas territory. Argentina still claims the Falkland Islands, which believes that it is part of Tierra del Fuego and Antarctica. The Falkland Islands are named after the Falkland Strait, which separates the two main islands of the archipelago.

Geography of the Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands are the two largest islands, East and West, as well as 776 small islets and rocks scattered in the surrounding area. The coast of South America is 463 kilometers, the island of Estados is 343 kilometers, and the South Georgia station is 1,078 kilometers. The area of the archipelago is about 12,173 square kilometers, the coastline is 1,300 kilometers, but the coast is very indented, and there are no strips of beaches as such. The most high mountain Adam has a height of 705 meters and is located on the East Island. Small streams flow down from the mountains, big rivers No.

Flora and fauna of the Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands are an Antarctic ecozone, animal world similar to what can be observed in Patagonia in Chile. A large number of birds nest on the rocks, about 60 species, but the black-browed albatross stands out here; more than half of the nesting sites in the world are located on the Falkland Islands. Note that there are no reptiles or amphibians here. The vegetation on the archipelago is very sparse, with many ferns and flowering plants. Almost all of the island's meadows are used for livestock farming, and these are pastures for sheep.

History of the Falkland Islands

The Englishman John Davis discovered the Falkland Islands in 1592, at that time the islands were uninhabited, Spanish sailors claim the right to discover the islands, territorial disputes are still ongoing between Argentina and Great Britain, Argentina does not recognize the British Falkland Islands at all. In 1763 to 1765, the islands were explored by the Frenchman Louis Antoine de Bougainville, he also founded the first settlement here on the Eastern Island, the first city was called Port Saint-Louis, today simply Port Louis, it’s funny that in 1765 the British navigator John Byron explored one from the islands of the Saunders archipelago and personally annexed it to Britain, soon the first English settlement appeared in Port Egmont Bay, at the same time Spain bought all their possessions from the French, in 1770 the Spaniards attacked the English Port Egmont, defeated them and drove them out from the island, in 1771, after a short conflict, Great Britain and Spain concluded a peace treaty, which allowed the British to return to their possessions.

In 1774, Britain could not afford to remain on the island as the American Revolutionary War was approaching, with Britain gradually losing much more territory. From 1776 until 1811, only Spanish or Argentine rule remained in the Falkland Islands, but in 1811 the Spanish also abandoned the island. But a good place It will never remain empty for long; already in 1828, the merchant Louis Vernet from France founded a French settlement here, although with the permission of Spain and Britain, the entrepreneur was engaged in seal fishing. In 1832, Argentina wanted to make a prison out of the Falkland Islands, but the newly arrived governor was killed by local residents, the following year the British landed on the island and notified the Argentines of their rights, the struggle for English influence continued for the next decade, and already in 1842 a military base appeared in Port -Stanley. During the First World War, a battle between German and British ships took place off the coast of the archipelago, and during the Second World War, Port Stanley served as a repair plant for the British fleet, which was being restored after the Battle of La Plata. In 1945, Argentina, within the framework of the UN, tried to take the islands away from Britain, Great Britain itself stated that the main population, and these are 2000 people on the Falkland Islands, are British who will not want to go over to the side of Argentina, in fact, and the subsequent referendum confirmed this point of view, local residents want to stay with Britain. In 1982, a conflict occurred between these two countries, Argentina decided with courage and attacked the islands, Great Britain sent its naval forces to the archipelago, as a result, Argentina was defeated, today the Falkland Islands are the subject of a territorial dispute between Argentina and Great Britain.

The British Overseas Territory was confirmed by a referendum held in 2013, 99.3% of the population was in favor of joining the UK, only three people were against, 1,517 of the 1,672 residents of the islands took part in the vote. Great Britain maintains its power on the islands with its military bases, these are the Mount Pleasant air force base and the Mare Harbor naval base.

Argentina did not like it in 2012 when Great Britain began searching for oil deposits here. Argentina threatened to sue companies that participate in oil exploration, after which Great Britain further increased its military presence in the region. Argentina's arguments are that Great Britain is militarizing the South Atlantic, and Great Britain's is that it is protecting the rights of the local population to choose British citizenship, these rights are enshrined in UN documents.

Population of the Falkland Islands

Today the population of the Falkland Islands is 2840 people, this is according to the 2012 census, and in 2008 the census showed a population of 3140 people, 94% of the population lives on the East Island, 4.5% on the West Island and another 22 people on other islands. Port Stanley has a population of 2,120 people, which is 71.57% of the total population of the Falkland Islands. Note that already in the 1930s, an average of 2,300 people lived on the Falkland Islands, however, starting from the 1970s, the population began to decrease, young people left the archipelago in search of more modern work, where they could make their career, note that there are Only secondary school and higher education can be received by local youth in the UK, and such education is paid for from the budget of the Falkland Islands. The majority of the population on the islands are descendants of the French, Gibraltarians and Scandinavians, a third of the inhabitants were born on the archipelago, the rest are foreign visitors who were able to acclimatize here. The lack of a modern way of life and the cold climate are the main problem of life on the Falkland Islands; the vast majority of those who left the archipelago headed to the British city of Southampton, which became known here as North Stanley. Today, immigration from the island has stabilized somewhat, and the population has not declined as much, thanks to return migration from the UK, also from Chile and St. Helena. In the census, 29% said their nationality was Falkland Islander, 29% English, 9.8% St Helena, 5.4% Chilean, less than one percent Argentinian. As of 2012, 12 Russians were registered in the Falkland Islands.

The Falkland Islands have one of the lowest population densities in the world, and the census does not take into account the number of military personnel on military bases and their families, who in addition make up 1,300 military personnel and 50 civilians in the Ministry of Defense. The town of Stanley is the most populous place in the archipelago, followed by Mount Pleasant, which has 369 inhabitants and is a major air base. The age distribution of the islands is skewed towards working age 20-60 years. Men outnumber women, 53 to 47 percent. In all likelihood, high school graduates who want to go to the UK to study are unlikely to agree to live in such harsh classes; young men will be more inclined to stay at home and continue the traditions of, for example, their father’s fishing.

Religion in the Falkland Islands

67.2% of the population are Christians, 31.5% have no religious affiliation, 1.3% adherents of other religious denominations.

Education in the Falkland Islands

According to local legislation, compulsory secondary education has been adopted for residents aged 5 to 16 years. There are schools only in the city of Stanley, there is both a primary and secondary school; after finishing school, children can go to the UK and continue to receive higher education there.

Language in the Falkland Islands

The majority of the population speaks exclusively English, with a noticeable British accent, another 12% can speak Spanish, 0.6% German, 0.5% French, 2% of the island's population speaks poor English.

Falkland Islands culture

The Falkland Islands have always been under English and Spanish influence; here today you can observe a mixture of English and Latin American culture, some terms and geographical names retained the Spanish names of the former Gaucho residents. Two newspapers, Teaberry Express and The Penguin News, are published on the islands, and English television and radio are received.

Local kitchen It is still more similar to English with the influence of seafood, local garden vegetables are widely used, lamb, mutton, beef and fish are always on the table. For dessert, homemade cakes and cookies with tea are traditionally prepared.

Restaurants and cafes in the Falkland Islands

In the city of Stanley there are 8 bars and 2 restaurants, they are always open when tourists arrive from cruise ships, the menu is exclusively traditionally English, dark Guinness beer is served. Lunch can cost just over £10 per person.

Phone numbers and addresses in the Falkland Islands

The emergency telephone number is 999, the local Stanley police telephone number is 27-222, and an ambulance can be called by calling 28-042. Telephone tourist office 22-215, telephone information 100.

Time and time zones in the Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands are in the GMT/UTC -4 time zone, which means that summer time Moscow is 7 hours ahead, in winter period by 6 hours, meaning that the time is moved forward an hour on the 1st Sunday in September, and returned back to the 3rd Sunday in April.

Tourism in the Falkland Islands

About 8,000 foreign tourists fly to the Falkland Islands every year, half of them stay at least one night in one of the local hotels, the tourism sector annually brings in up to 8 million euros per year to the Falkland Islands. Half of the tourists are British, the rest are from the South, North America, Western Europe. But most tourists come to the islands on cruise ships, with an average of 35,000 people annually. As you understand, from the point of view of the local economy, tourists who fly to the islands by plane are more profitable, since they almost certainly stay in local hotels and receive additional services.

The main flow of tourists comes from the UK and South American countries; tourists are interested in Antarctic exploration, wild animals and natural beauty, fishing and diving are well developed. The Falkland Islands are part of an excursion to Patagonia.

Many tourists visit the Falkland Islands on a cruise on board a large sea liner, in which case a visa is not required. Citizens of Russia or Ukraine who fly to the Falkland Islands by plane must have a visa with them; it is issued at British consulates and embassies.

Currency can be imported and exported from the Falkland Islands in unlimited quantities, but it is better to declare amounts over $10,000 in writing, this does not apply to amounts on credit cards. Without paying duty, you can bring up to 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars, 100 cigarillos, 250 grams of tobacco.

Medicine and treatment in the Falkland Islands

The level of medicine in the Falkland Islands is English; in the town of Stanley there is the only hospital where you can get at least first aid; more serious treatment is usually provided on the mainland, in Chile or the UK, where seriously ill patients are evacuated. First aid in the Falkland Islands is provided free of charge, further treatment is subject to insurance, all tourists who come to the Falkland Islands always have international insurance and there are no problems with this matter. There is a pharmacy at the hospital; many medications are sold by prescription only.

Natural hazards in the Falkland Islands

There is no need to get any vaccinations before traveling to the Falkland Islands, however, there have been cases of yellow fever on the island, and a tetanus vaccination can also be recommended.

After the 1982 war, when Argentina attacked the Falkland Islands, anti-personnel mines were laid, and where mine clearance work had not been carried out, information signs were installed: beware of bombs. For this reason, it is not recommended to walk anywhere. Very strong winds constantly blow on the Falkland Islands; as a rule, tourists visit the archipelago in one tourist trip in Patagonia and Antarctica, that’s why they take special clothing that could protect them from rain, wind, and low temperatures in extreme conditions; they also take shoes with studded soles for rough terrain on the trip.

From August to December, the Falkland Islands may fall into the zone of action of the ozone hole over Antarctica, when solar radiation is high, it is recommended to hide from direct sunlight during this time, and it makes no difference whether the weather is sunny or cloudy.

You can expect anything from the fauna of the Falkland Islands, for this reason there is a rule that prohibits approaching any animals at a distance closer than 6 meters; if penguins are still safe, this cannot always be said about elephant seals, lions and seals.

Entertainment

Stanley has several pubs and bars where sailors gather in the evenings, and especially on Fridays, to sit with a glass of beer. .

Economy of the Falkland Islands

Until the 1870s, the island's housekeeper was engaged in whale hunting, and then in sheep farming. Today there are also food industry enterprises, a fish processing plant, agriculture, again with sheep farming, tourism is also developed. 60% of the sheep herds are located on the East Island, the rest on the West Island, and slaughterhouses on the East Island. The wool is exported to the UK. IN last years exploration of oil reserves has been successful and wells are being drilled on the shelf of the Falkland Islands. We also note that there is a NATO nuclear military base in the South Atlantic here, according to statements by the Argentine government, but the British themselves deny this.

Wool, hides, venison, fish and squid are exported, fuel, building materials, clothing, electronics, various goods and food are imported.

Falkland Islands GDP

The Falkland Islands' GDP in terms of size is in 222nd place among 229 countries in the world, but with this GDP per capita the population is already in a very high 10th place in the world. The unemployment rate is 4.1%, the island is characterized by a high human development index, despite the fact that there are no universities or universities at all. Today, the basis of the economy is fishing, maintenance of military bases and sheep breeding; the budget also receives income from the sale of fishing licenses in the surrounding waters; in recent years, the share of international tourism in the future there will be large income from oil production. The port city of Stanley is the basis of the local economy; they are now betting on oil exploration and production, as the risks associated with issuing fishing licenses have recently increased. Sports and education are financed exclusively from the local budget; UK assistance is not needed. A quarter of the island's total population are civil servants, 10% are employed in agriculture, the rest are in fishing.

The local Falkland pound is pegged to the British pound.

Falkland Islands Transport

Active construction of roads in the Falkland Islands began only in 1982, until that moment there were roads only in the city of Port Stanley, 48 kilometers from the city there is also an international civil airport, all the rest, as you understand, are military air bases. There is a port in Port Stanley, as the name suggests, and a second port in Fox Bay (West Falkland). Move from Western to East Island possible using ferry crossing. Between cities and within cities there is no public transport, there are no buses, you can get around by personal car, bicycle or taxi, which must be ordered by phone.

Internet and cellular communications in the Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands are Great Britain, and today it’s already the 21st century, don’t forget about it. Coating mobile communications on the main islands of the archipelago 100%. Your mobile phone will immediately be connected to your local carrier and connected, however, Internet access will be very expensive due to roaming tariffs, publishing photos and videos on social networks will cost a pretty penny, so we can recommend using wireless Internet in cafes, bars and restaurants in Stanley. Also in the Falkland Islands, satellite communication devices are in demand in shops, and they can be rented inexpensively for a while.

Telephone communication in the Falkland Islands was established a long time ago; traditional London red telephone boxes can be seen everywhere on the streets of Stanley; payment is made using telephone cards, which can be bought at the post office.

Calls within the Falkland Islands cost 0.08 FKP per minute, calls abroad cost about one pound per minute. The international country code is 500; to call abroad from the Falkland Islands you must dial two zeros, then the country code.

Attractions of the Falkland Islands

The capital Port Stanley is located in the east of the island of Soledad, it is a small port with colorful buildings of a maximum of two-story wooden houses. The city's population is about 2,000 people; the largest building is the governor's house and Christ Church.

The city of Port Louis is very picturesque and is located in Berkeley Sound, 30 kilometers from the capital, nearby is Volantir Beach, where penguins, not people, actually relax.

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