NAVIGATION
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NAVIGATION
Falkland Islands
Islas Malvinas
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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Although first sighted by an English navigator in 1592, the first landing (English) did not occur until almost a century later in 1690, and the first settlement (French) was not established until 1764. The colony was turned over to Spain two years later and the islands have since been the subject of a territorial dispute, first between Britain and Spain, then between Britain and Argentina. The UK asserted its claim to the islands by establishing a naval garrison there in 1833. Argentina invaded the islands on 2 April 1982. The British responded with an expeditionary force that landed seven weeks later and after fierce fighting forced Argentine surrender on 14 June 1982. |
GEOGRAPHY
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Location:
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Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of southern Argentina |
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Geographic coordinates:
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51 45 S, 59 00 W |
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Map references:
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South America |
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Area:
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total: 12,173 sq km
note: includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and about 200 small islands water: 0 sq km land: 12,173 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Connecticut |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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1,288 km |
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Maritime claims:
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continental shelf: 200 NM
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more than half of days in year; occasional snow all year, except in January and February, but does not accumulate |
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Terrain:
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rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m |
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Natural resources:
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fish, wildlife |
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Land use:
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (99% permanent pastures, 1% other) (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km |
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Natural hazards:
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strong winds persist throughout the year |
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Environment - current issues:
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overfishing by unlicensed vessels is a problem; reindeer were introduced to the islands in 2001 for commercial reasons; this is the only commercial reindeer herd in the world unaffected by the Chornobyl disaster |
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Geography - note:
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deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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2,967 (July 2002 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA% |
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Population growth rate:
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2.44% (2002 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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NA births/1,000 population |
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Death rate:
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NA deaths/1,000 population |
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Net migration rate:
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NA migrant(s)/1,000 population |
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Infant mortality rate:
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NA deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: NA years
male: NA years female: NA years |
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Total fertility rate:
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NA children born/woman |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA% |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun: Falkland Islander(s)
adjective: Falkland Island |
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Ethnic groups:
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British |
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Religions:
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primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, Evangelist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day Adventist |
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Languages:
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English |