Folcland Īegland
[[Ymele:Coat of arms of the Falkland Islands (variant).svg|right|100px]]
[[Ymele:Falkland Islands location detail.svg|right|250px]]

Þā '''Folcland Īegland''' licgaþ in þǣm sūðernan Garsecge ymbe 300 mīla of [[Sūðamerica]]n and 700 mīla of [[Antarctica]]. Hie sind [[Bryttisc ofersǣ landscipe]]. Þā īega hēafodburg is [[Stanley, Folcland Īegland|Stanley]] on Ēastfolclande.

Scēapƿelig sindon þā Īegland, and hēr is hiera mǣst fēoh.

Siððan ðe Bretƿare fangon eft tō rīce on þissum īegum in 1833 hæfþ [[Argentina]] acƿæþ his crafing for þæm.<ref>{{cite web
  | title = Country Profile: Falkland Islands, Sovereignty of the Islands
  | work = Countries & Regions
  | publisher = Foreign and Commonwealth Office
  | url = http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-the-fco/country-profiles/south-america/falkland-islands?profile=history&pg=3
  | date = 2007-07-27
  | accessdate = 2008-04-04
  | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080419000531/http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-the-fco/country-profiles/south-america/falkland-islands?profile=history&pg=3
  | archivedate = 2008-04-19
  }}</ref> In 1982 onsƿōg Argentinisc þreat þā Folcland Īegland and in þissum ƿīse begann sē [[Folcland Gewinn|Folcland Geƿinn]] hƿærin for tƿǣm mōnaþum feahton Brettas and Argentinaƿare, and hƿærof hæfde Brettas sige and sē Argentinisc þrēat ƿiþteah.

Siþþan þæm geƿinn, habbaþ þā īegland ƿeaxon mid fēoh fram [[fiscoþ]]e and sīþe.

== Nama ==
[[Biliþ:WhaleboneArchCathedral.JPG|thumb|right|Folcland Cathedral]]
Þāra Folcland Īeglanda nama geaf him [[Iohannes Strong]] sciphlāford in 1690, for in þǣm geare seglede he hēr and anamede þone ƿæterscipe betƿuh þǣm tƿǣm mǣstum īegum "[[Folcland Sund|Falkland Sound]]" æfter Anthony Cary, fifte Healfeorl of [[Folcland, Fīf Scīr|Folcland]].  Strong lendede on þæm īegum in 1690.<ref>{{cite web
  |url = http://www.falklands.info/history/histarticle19.html
  |title = Port Desire and the Discovery of the Falklands
  |author = Peter J. Pepper
  |publisher = Falkland Islands Newsletter, No. 78, March 2001
  |accessdate = 2010-03-06}}</ref>  Æfter manige ƿintra cƿōmon ēac [[Lidwic|Lidƿic]]cas on þā īega for fiscoþe and [[Louis Antoine de Bougainville]] geaf þone naman on [[Frencisc sprǣc|Frencisce]] ''Îles Malouines'' in æfter [[Sancte Malo]] hȳðe.<ref name="falklandislandsguide.wordpress.com"/> Spēne and Argentine brucaþ þone naman ''Islas Malvinas'' fram þæm Frenciscan naman.<ref name="falklandislandsguide.wordpress.com">{{cite web
|url = http://falklandislandsguide.wordpress.com/
|title = Falkland Islands Guide
|publisher = Blog at Worldpress.com
|accessdate = 2010-03-06}}</ref>

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==Stǣr==

The islands were uninhabited when they were first discovered by [[Age of Discovery|European explorers]], but there is evidence that [[Patagonia]]n Indians may have reached the Falklands in canoes.<ref name="royalnavy.mod.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/visitandlearn/learning-zone/locations/falkland-islands/history/ |title=History : Falkland Islands : Locations : Welcome to the Learning Zone : Visit & Learn |publisher=Royalnavy.mod.uk |date= |accessdate=2010-03-15}}</ref> Artifacts including  [[arrowhead]]s and the remains of a [[canoe]] have been found on the islands.<ref name="britishislesgenweb.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.britishislesgenweb.org/index.php/falkland-islands |title=Falkland Islands |publisher=Britishislesgenweb.org |date=2009-01-20 |accessdate=2010-03-15}}</ref> There was also the presence of the [[Falkland Island fox]], or [[Falkland Island Wolf|Warrah]] (now extinct), but warrahs may have reached the islands via a [[land bridge]] when the [[sea level]] was much lower during the last [[ice age]]. A group of islands appeared on maps in the Falkland Island region from the early 16th century, so either Ferdinand Magellan or another early expedition may have sighted them. [[Amerigo Vespucci]] may have sighted the islands in 1502, but he did not name them. In 1519 or 1520, Esteban Gómez, a captain in Magellan’s expedition, encountered several islands that members of his crew called "Islas de Sansón y de los Patos" ("Islands of Samson and the Ducks"). These were probably the Jason Islands, northwest of West Falkland, and the names "Islas de Sansón" (or "San Antón," "San Son," and "Ascensión") were used for the Falklands on Spanish maps during this period.<ref name="royalnavy.mod.uk"/> [[Piri Reis]], a Turkish admiral of the time who drew reasonably accurate maps, showed islands that may well have been the Falkland Islands.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/198001/piri.reis.and.the.hapgood.hypotheses.htm |title=Piri Reis and the Hapgood Hypotheses |authors= Paul F. Hoye and Paul Lunde |year=1980 |work=Saudi Aramco World |publisher=Saudi Aramco World |accessdate=10 April 2010}} Piri Reis' information appears to have been partly  based on an original chart drawn or used by Christopher Columbus and captured by the Turks from the Spanish.</ref>

[[Image:FalklandIslandFox2.jpg|thumb|The extinct [[Falkland Island fox|warrah]] was the only native mammal found on the islands upon discovery by Europeans]]

There is some dispute about which European explorer first set foot on the islands. The islands appear on numerous Spanish and other maps beginning in the 1520s.<ref name="britishislesgenweb.org"/> The English explorer [[John Davis (English explorer)|John Davis]], commander of the ''Desire'', one of the ships belonging to Thomas Cavendish's second expedition to the New World, is recorded as having visited the islands in 1592.<ref>{{cite web|last=Molle |first=Kris |url=http://www.polarconservation.org/education/explorers/john-davis |title=John Davis — Polar Conservation Organisation |publisher=Polarconservation.org |date=2008-10-07 |accessdate=2010-03-15}}</ref> He was separated from Cavendish off the coast of what is now southern Argentina by a severe storm and discovered the islands. For a time the islands were known as "Davis Land".<ref name="royalnavy.mod.uk"/> In 1594, the English commander Richard Hawkins visited the islands. Combining his own name with that of Queen Elizabeth I, the "Virgin Queen", he gave them the name of "Hawkins' Maidenland." Many give the credit to [[Sebald de Weert]], a [[Dutch Empire|Dutch]]man, who discovered the islands in 1600.<ref name="britishislesgenweb.org"/>

In January 1690, Captain John Strong of the ''Welfare'' was heading for [[Puerto Deseado]] (now in Argentina). Driven off course by contrary winds, he reached the Sebald Islands instead and landed at Bold Cove. He sailed between the two principal islands and called the passage "Falkland Channel" (now [[Falkland Sound]]), after [[Anthony Cary, 5th Viscount Falkland]], who as Commissioner of the [[Admiralty]] had financed the expedition (Cary later became First Lord of the Admiralty). The island group later took its English name from this body of water.

The first settlement on the Falkland Islands, named [[Port St. Louis]], was founded by the French navigator and military commander Louis Antoine de Bougainville on Berkeley Sound, in present-day [[Port Louis, Falkland Islands|Port Louis]], [[East Falkland]] in 1764.

[[Image:John Byron-Joshua Reynolds-1759 .jpg|thumb|[[John Byron]], by [[Joshua Reynolds]], 1759.]]

In January 1765, the British captain [[John Byron]], unaware of the French presence, explored and claimed [[Saunders Island, Falkland Islands|Saunders Island]], at the western end of the group, where he named the harbour of [[Port Egmont]]. He sailed near other islands, which he also claimed for [[George III of the United Kingdom|King George III]]. A British settlement was built at Port Egmont in 1766. Also in 1766, Spain acquired the French colony, and after assuming effective control in 1767, placed the islands under a governor subordinate to the [[Governorate of the Río de la Plata#Buenos Aires Province governors|Buenos Aires colonial administration]]. Spain attacked Port Egmont, ending the British presence there in 1770. The expulsion of the British settlement [[Falkland Crisis (1770)|brought the two countries to the brink of war]], but a peace treaty allowed the British to return to Port Egmont in 1771 with neither side relinquishing sovereignty.<ref name="briefhistory2">[http://www.falklands.info/history/history2.html A brief history of the Falkland Islands Part 2 - Fort St. Louis and Port Egmont.]. Retrieved 2007-09-08.</ref>

In 1774, as a result of economic pressures leading up to the [[American Revolutionary War]], the United Kingdom withdrew unilaterally from many of her overseas settlements, including Port Egmont.<ref>[http://www.falklands.info/history/history2.html] A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FALKLAND ISLANDS: Part 2 - Fort St. Louis and Port Egmont</ref><ref>[http://www.falklands.info/history/timeline.html] FALKLAND ISLANDS TIMELINE: A chronology of events in the history of the Falkland Islands</ref> Upon her withdrawal in 1776 the UK left behind a [[commemorative plaque|plaque]] asserting her claims. From 1776 until 1811 Spain maintained a settlement administered from [[Buenos Aires]] as part of the [[Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata]]. On leaving in 1811, Spain also left behind a plaque asserting her claims.

On 6 November 1820, Colonel [[David Jewett]] raised the flag of the [[United Provinces of the River Plate]] (Argentina) at Port Louis.  Jewett was an American sailor and [[privateer]] in the employment of Buenos Aires businessman [[Patrick Lynch (Argentina)#Descendants|Patrick Lynch]] to captain his ship, the frigate [[Heroina|''Heroína'']] (Lynch had obtained a [[Letter of marque|corsair licence]] from the Buenos Aires Supreme Director José Rondeau). Jewett had put into the islands the previous month, following a disastrous eight month voyage with most of his crew disabled by scurvy and disease.  After resting in the islands and repairing his ship he returned to Buenos Aires.

In 1828 the Argentines founded a settlement and a penal colony. United States warships destroyed this settlement in 1831 after the Argentine governor of the islands [[Luis Vernet]] seized US seal hunting ships during a dispute over fishing rights. Escaped prisoners and pirates were left behind. In November 1832, Argentina sent another governor who was killed in a mutiny.

In January 1833, British forces returned and informed the Argentine commander that they intended to reassert British sovereignty. The existing settlers were allowed to remain, with an Irish member of Vernet's settlement, William Dickson, appointed as the Islands' governor. Vernet's deputy, Matthew Brisbane, returned later that year and was informed that the British had no objections to the continuation of Vernet's business ventures provided there was no interference with British control.<ref>[[wikisource:Charles Darwin in the Falklands, 1833|Charles Darwin in the Falklands, 1833 (Extracts from Darwin's Diary)]]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://darwin-online.org.uk/content/frameset?itemID=EHBeagleDiary&viewtype=text&pageseq=304&keywords=falklands |title=Darwin's Beagle Diary (1831–1836)|page=304|publisher=The Complete Works of Charles Darwin Online|accessdate=2007-07-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cpel.uba.ar/filargenta/correo/malv0020.htm|title=Ocupación británica: Port Stanley (Puerto Argentino)|language=Spanish|accessdate=2007-07-23|publisher=}}</ref>

[[Image:stan 001.jpg|right|thumb|Road sign to the [[Stanley, Falkland Islands|capital]].]]
The [[Royal Navy]] built a base at [[Stanley, Falkland Islands|Stanley]], and the islands became a strategic point for navigation around [[Cape Horn]]. A [[World War I]] naval battle, the [[Battle of Falkland Islands]], took place in December 1914, with a British victory over the smaller [[Imperial German]] Asiatic Fleet. During [[World War II]], Stanley served as a Royal Navy station and serviced ships which took part in the 1939 [[Battle of the River Plate]].

Sovereignty over the islands again became an issue in the second half of the 20th century. Argentina saw the creation of the [[United Nations]] as an opportunity to present its claim to the islands to the rest of the world. When signing the [[United Nations Charter|UN Charter]] in 1945, Argentina stated that it reserved its right to sovereignty of the islands, and its right to recover them. The United Kingdom's response was to state that the [[Falklanders]] first had to vote for the British withdrawal in a [[referendum]] and that this was an essential precondition for the fulfilment of [[:s:United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1514|UN Resolution 1514 (XV)]] on de-colonising all territories still under foreign occupation,

Talks between British and Argentine foreign missions took place in the 1960s, but failed to come to any meaningful conclusion. A major sticking point in all the negotiations was that the two thousand inhabitants of mainly British descent preferred that the islands remain British territory.

One result of the these talks, however, was the creation of the islands' first air link.  In 1971, the [[Argentine Air Force]] (FAA), which operates the state airline [[LADE]], began [[amphibious aircraft|amphibious flights]] between [[Comodoro Rivadavia]] and Stanley using [[HU-16 Albatross|Grumman HU-16 Albatross]] aircraft.<ref>[http://web.sion.com/s.alaimo/malvinas.html Commemorative Stamps of first flights]{{Dead link|date=March 2010}}</ref>  The following year, Britain agreed to allow Argentina to build a temporary air strip, which was completed that November.  Flights between Stanley and Comodoro Rivadavia continued twice a week using [[Fokker F27]] and later [[Fokker F28]] aircraft following the construction of the permanent air strip until 1982.<ref name = "LADE">[http://www1.hcdn.gov.ar/proyxml/expediente.asp?fundamentos=si&numexp=4812-D-2006] Argentine National Congress, Chamber of Deputies. ''Líneas Aéreas Del Estado, LADE''.</ref><ref name = "Albatross">[http://www.asociacionatta.com.ar/aviones/avion30.htm] Asociación Tripulantes de Transporte Aéreo. Argentine Air Force, ''Grumman HU-16B Albatross''.</ref><ref name = "FAA">[http://www.asociacionatta.com.ar/aviones/avion23.htm] Asociación Tripulantes de Transporte Aéreo. Argentine Air Force, ''Fokker F-27 Troopship/Friendship''</ref>  During the same period, [[Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales|YPF]], the Argentine national oil and gas company, now part of [[Repsol YPF]], supplied the islands' energy needs.
-->
===  Folcland Geƿinn ===
{{Hēafod|Folcland Gewinn}}
[[Biliþ:Argentine POWs guarded by 2 Para.jpg|300px|thumb|left|Bryttisce lyftfeallƿigan ƿeardað Argentinisce [[herenuma]]n]] 

On 2 Ēastermonaþe 1982 onsƿōg Argentina þā Folcland Īegland and fyrðre Bryttisc landrīce þæs sūðernra gārsecges (þæt is [[Sūþgeorgia]] þā īeg. Sē hererǣd sē ricsode Argentinan siþðan 1976 sohtede lof þærof. <!--The Foreign Secretary, [[Peter Carington, 6th Baron Carrington|Lord Carrington]], and two junior ministers had resigned by the end of the week <nowiki>[following the Argentine invasion]</nowiki>. They took the blame for Britain's poor preparations and plans to decommission [[HMS Endurance (1967)|HMS ''Endurance'']], the Navy's only Antarctic patrol vessel. It was a move which may have lead the Junta to believe the UK had little interest in keeping the Falklands. | accessdate =2007-03-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title =Secret Falklands fleet revealed | work =[[BBC News]] | quote =[[David Owen|Lord Owen]], who was foreign secretary in 1977, said that if [[Margaret Thatcher]]'s Conservative government had taken similar action to that of five years earlier, the war would not have happened. | publisher =[[bbc.co.uk]] | date =2005-06-01 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4597581.stm | accessdate =2007-03-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last =Casciani | first =Dominic | title =1976 Falklands invasion warning | work =[[BBC News]] | quote =The [[Oliver Franks, Baron Franks|Franks]] Report into the eventual war noted that as tension mounted during 1977, the government covertly sent a small naval force to the islands — but did not repeat the move when relations worsened again in 1981–2. This has led some critics to blame prime minister Margaret Thatcher for the war, saying the decision to plan the withdrawal of the only naval vessel in the area sent the wrong signal to the military junta in Buenos Aires. | publisher =[[bbc.co.uk]] | date =2006-12-29 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6213121.stm | accessdate =}}</ref>

The [[United Nations Security Council]] issued [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 502|Resolution 502]], calling on Argentina to withdraw forces from the Islands and for both parties to seek a diplomatic solution.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historycentral.com/HistoricalDocuments/UNReso502.html |title=HistoryCentral. United Nations Resolution 502, ''Adopted by the Security Council at its 2350th meeting held on 3 April 1982.'' |publisher=Historycentral.com |date= |accessdate=2010-03-15}}</ref> International reaction ranged from support for Argentina in [[Latin America]]n countries (except [[Chile]] and [[Colombia]]), to opposition in the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] and Europe (apart from Spain), and eventually the United States.
-->
Of Breten seglede þrēat eft to nimian þā īega and sē [[Folcland Gewinn|Folcland Geƿinn]] begann. Æfter scortum gūðe and grimum on brime and in lyfte lendedon Brettas æt San Carlos Ƿæter on 21 {{monþes nama|5}} and feahton on lande oþþæt þā Argentinaƿare seldon self on 14 {{monþes nama|6}} 1982.
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The War led to the deaths of 655 Argentine and 255 British servicemen.

After the war, the British increased their military presence on the islands, constructing [[RAF Mount Pleasant]] and increasing the military garrison. Although the United Kingdom and Argentina resumed diplomatic relations in 1992, no further negotiations on sovereignty have taken place.

==Politics==

[[Biliþ:Falkland Islands Coronation Stamp.jpg|right|thumb|A Falkland stamp commemorating the coronation of [[George VI of the United Kingdom|King George VI]] of the United Kingdom and his consort [[Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon|Queen Elizabeth]].]]

[[Executive (government)|Executive authority]] is vested in the [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen]] and is exercised by the [[Governor of the Falkland Islands|Governor]] on her behalf. The Governor is also responsible for the administration of [[South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands]], as these islands have no native inhabitants. Defence and Foreign Affairs are the responsibility of the United Kingdom. The current Governor is [[Nigel Haywood]], appointed October 2010.

Under the [[constitution]], which came into force on 1 January 2009<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7713948.stm New Falklands constitution agreed], [[BBC News]], 6 November 2008</ref> (which replaced the 1985 constitution), there is an [[Executive Council (Commonwealth countries)|Executive Council]] and a [[Legislative Assembly of the Falkland Islands]]. The [[Executive Council of the Falkland Islands|Executive Council]], which advises the Governor, is also chaired by the Governor. It consists of the Chief Executive, Financial Secretary and three Legislative Councillors, who are elected by the other Legislative Councillors.

The Legislative Council consists of the Chief Executive, Financial Secretary and the eight Legislative Councillors, of whom five are elected from Stanley and three from [[Camp (Falkland Islands)|Camp]], for four-year terms. It is presided over by the Speaker, currently Keith Biles.

The [[United Nations Committee on Decolonization]] includes Falkland Islands on the [[United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories]].

===Relations with Argentina===
{{Main|Sovereignty of the Falkland Islands}}
The dispute over control of the islands has continued since the war.  Diplomatic relations between Argentina and the UK were resumed in 1992, and embassies were reopened in London and Buenos Aires.  In 1994, Argentina added its claim to the islands to the [[Constitution of Argentina|Argentine constitution]], stating that this claim must be pursued in a manner "respectful of the way of life of their inhabitants and according to the principles of international law"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pdba.georgetown.edu/Constitutions/Argentina/argen94_e.html |title="Argentina Constitution, Georgetown University" |publisher=Pdba.georgetown.edu |date= |accessdate=2010-03-15}}</ref> (see: [[1994 reform of the Argentine Constitution]]).

In 1998, in retaliation for the arrest in London of the former Chilean president [[Augusto Pinochet]], the [[Chile]]an government banned flights between [[Punta Arenas]] and [[Port Stanley]], thus isolating the islands from the rest of the world. [[Uruguay]] and [[Brazil]] refused to authorise direct flights between their territories and Port Stanley. This forced the Islands' government to enter negotiations with the Argentine government and led to Argentina authorising direct flights between its territory and Stanley, on condition that Argentine citizens be allowed on the islands.<ref>[http://falklands.info/history/99comm.html] AGREEMENT OF 14th JULY 1999</ref>  One flight a month, operated by [[LAN Airlines]], travels between [[RAF Mount Pleasant]] on East Falkland and [[Río Gallegos]] in [[Santa Cruz Province (Argentina)|Santa Cruz Province]], Argentina.

Since the war, successive Argentine governments have stated their intention to pursue their claim to the islands by peaceful means.  On the 22nd anniversary of the war, Argentina's President [[Néstor Kirchner]] gave a speech insisting that the islands would become part of Argentina. Kirchner, [[Argentine general election, 2003|campaigning for president]] in 2003, regarded the islands as a top priority. In June 2003 the issue was brought before a United Nations committee, and attempts have been made to open talks with the United Kingdom to resolve the issue of the islands.

[[File:CFK y Gordon brown .jpg|thumb|right|Cristina Fernandez with Gordon Brown]]

In 2007 (exactly 25 years after the Argentine invasion), Argentina renewed its claim over the Falkland Islands, asking for the UK to resume talks on sovereignty.<ref>{{cite news | first=VOA News | last= | coauthors= |authorlink= | title=Argentina Reasserts Claim to Falkland Islands | date=3 January 2007 | publisher=Voice of America | url =http://voanews.com/english/archive/2007-01/2007-01-03-voa29.cfm | work =VOA News | pages = | accessdate = 3 January 2009 | language = }}</ref>  In March 2009, British Prime Minister [[Gordon Brown]] stated in a meeting with Argentine President [[Cristina Fernández]] that there would be no talks over the future sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.<ref name="Vinadelmar">http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7969463.stm BBC News</ref>  As far as the governments of the UK and of the Falkland Islands are concerned, there is no issue to resolve. The Falkland Islanders themselves are almost entirely British and maintain their allegiance to the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/mar/28/falkland-islands-sovereignty-argentina
|title = Falkland Islands sovereignty talks out of the question, says Gordon Brown
|publisher = The Guardian
|date = 28 March 2009
|accessdate = 2009-04-29.
| location=London
| first=Nicholas
| last=Watt}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.falklands.gov.fk/overview.php |title=Falkland Islands Government Overview |publisher=Falklands.gov.fk |date= |accessdate=2010-03-15}}</ref>

On 22 September 2007, ''[[The Guardian]]'' reported the UK government was preparing to stake new claims on the sea floor around the Falklands and other UK remote island possessions, in order to exploit natural resources that may be present.<ref name="Guardian">
{{cite news |first=Owen |last=Bowcott |title=The new British empire? UK plans to annex south Atlantic |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/argentina/story/0,,2174616,00.html |publisher=The Guardian |date=2007-09-22 |accessdate=2007-09-23 | location=London}}</ref> In October 2007, a British spokeswoman confirmed that Britain intended to submit a claim<ref name="Reuters_Antartica">
{{cite news |first=Kate|last=Kelland|title=Britain to claim a million square km of Antarctica |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUKL1721422020071017 |publisher=Reuters |date=2007-10-18 |accessdate=2007-10-20}}</ref> to the UN to extend seabed territory around the Falklands and South Georgia, in advance of the expiry of the deadline<ref name="Prof_Dodds">{{cite news |first=Prof Klaus|last=Dodds|title=Icy imperialism or reinforcement of the Antarctic treaty? |url=http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foreignaffairs/story/0,,2194803,00.html |publisher=The Guardian|date=2007-10-19 |accessdate=2007-10-20 | location=London}}</ref> for territorial claims following Britain's ratification of the [[United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea|1982 Law of the Sea Convention]].<ref name="Law_of_The_Sea">{{cite web|url=http://www.globelaw.com/LawSea/lsconts.htm |title=Table of Contents to the UN Law of the Sea Convention |publisher=Globelaw.com |date=1982-12-10 |accessdate=2010-03-15}}</ref> If the claim is disputed, the UN will suspend the claim until the dispute is settled.<ref name="Reuters_Antartica"/> The claim is largely theoretical and does not affect the [[Antarctic Treaty System|Antarctic Treaty]] or confer new rights upon Britain.  Neither does it permit the exploitation of oil or gas reserves, since these are banned by a protocol to the treaty. It would enable Britain to police fishing within the zone to prevent over-exploitation of natural resources by commercial fishing in line with Britain's obligations under the treaty.<ref name="Prof_Boyle">{{cite news |first=Prof Alan|last=Boyle|title=Icy imperialism or reinforcement of the Antarctic treaty? |url=http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foreignaffairs/story/0,,2194803,00.html |publisher=The Guardian|date=2007-10-19 |accessdate=2007-10-20 | location=London}}</ref> Professor Klaus Dodds
of the University of London, commenting in The Guardian, has suggested that the move goes against the ''spirit'' of the Antarctic Treaty.<ref name="Prof_Dodds"/> Argentina has indicated it will challenge any British claim to Antarctic territory and the area around the Falkland Islands and [[South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands|South Georgia]].<ref name="Argentine_protests">{{cite news |first=Owen |last=Boycott |title=Argentina ready to challenge Britain's Antarctic claims |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/oct/19/climatechange.fossilfuels |publisher=The Guardian |date=2007-10-19 |accessdate=2007-10-20 | location=London}}</ref>  Argentina made a similar claim in 2009,<ref>{{cite news|last=Piette |first=Candace |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8011539.stm |title=Americas &#124; Argentina claims vast ocean area |publisher=BBC News |date=2009-04-22 |accessdate=2010-03-15}}</ref> and the United Kingdom quickly protested against these claims.<ref>[http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1172802/Not-fast-says-Britain-Argentina-makes-fresh-appeal-UN-Falkland-Islands.html 'Not so fast,' says Britain as Argentina makes fresh appeal to UN over Falkland Islands] - [[Mail on Sunday]], 23 April 2009</ref>

In February 2010, the Argentine government announced that ships traversing Argentine territorial waters en route to the Falklands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands would require a permit, as part of a dispute over British oil exploration near the Falklands.  The British and Falkland governments stated that Falklands-controlled waters were unaffected.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8518982.stm Argentina in Falkland sailing permit move] - [[BBC]], 16 February 2010</ref>

==Geography and ecology==
{{See also|Geology of the Falkland Islands|Rivers of the Falkland Islands}}
[[Image:Falkland Islands topographic map-en.svg|thumb|300px|Map of the Falkland Islands]]
[[Image:TierraDelFuego.PNG|thumb|The position of the Falklands relative to [[Argentina|Argentine]] and [[Chile]]an [[Patagonia]]]]
[[Image:2386116148 1de2537b92.jpg|left|thumb|upright|[[San Carlos Water]], one of many inlets on [[East Falkland]]. The islands are heavily indented by sounds and fjords]]

The Falkland Islands comprise two main islands, [[West Falkland]] and [[East Falkland]] (in Spanish Isla Gran Malvina and Isla Soledad respectively), and about 776 small islands.<ref name="islands"/>  The islands are located {{convert|212|mi|nmi km}}<ref>Distance between Bird Island {{Coord|51|10|11|S|60|56|22|W|display=inline}} and Isla de los Estados {{Coord|54|43|10|S|63|48|31|W|display=inline}} measured using [http://earth.google.com/ Google Earth]</ref> from the [[Isla de los Estados]] in Argentina (and {{convert|287|mi|nmi km}}<ref>Distance between Jason Island {{Coord|51|00|03|S|61|18|45|W|display=inline}} and Punta Buque {{Coord|48|06|35|S|65|54|51|W|display=inline}} measured using [http://earth.google.com/ Google Earth]</ref> from the Argentine mainland); {{convert|304|mi|nmi km}}<ref>Distance between Beaver Island {{Coord|51|50|07|S|61|20|52|W|display=inline}} and Punta Dungeness {{Coord|52|23|51|S|68|26|02|W|display=inline}} measured using [http://earth.google.com/ Google Earth]</ref> from [[Chile]]; {{convert|669|mi|nmi km}}<ref>Distance between a rock off Cape Pembroke {{Coord|51|40|33|S|57|41|17|W|display=inline}} and Shag Rocks {{Coord|53|33|00|S|42|02|00|W|display=inline}} measured using [http://earth.google.com/ Google Earth]</ref> west of the [[Shag Rocks (South Georgia)|Shag Rocks]] ([[South Georgia]]) and {{convert|576|mi|nmi km}}<ref>Distance between Beauchêne Island {{Coord|52|54|50|S|59|11|30|W|display=inline}} and [[Seal Island]] {{Coord|60|59|10.5|S|55|23|00.7|W|display=inline}} measured using [http://earth.google.com/ Google Earth]</ref> north of the [[British Antarctic Territory]] (which overlaps with the [[Argentine Antarctica|Argentine]] and [[Chilean Antarctica|Chilean]] claims to Antarctica in that region).

The total land area is 4,700 square miles (12,173&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), slightly smaller than [[Connecticut]] or [[Northern Ireland]], with a [[coastline]] estimated at 800 miles (1288&nbsp;km).<ref name="autogenerated1">[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/fk.html CIA - The World Factbook - Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)]</ref>

The two main islands on either side of [[Falkland Sound]] make up most of the land. These are [[East Falkland]], which contains the capital, [[Stanley, Falkland Islands|Stanley]], and most of the population; and [[West Falkland]]. Both islands have [[mountain range]]s, the highest point being [[Mount Usborne]], 2312 feet (705&nbsp;m)<ref name="autogenerated1"/> on East Falkland. There are also some [[bog]]gy [[plain]]s, most notably in [[Lafonia]], on the southern half of East Falkland. Virtually the entire area of the islands is used as [[pasture]] for [[domestic sheep|sheep]].

Smaller islands surround the main two. They include [[Barren Island (Falkland Islands)|Barren Island]], [[Beaver Island (Falkland Islands)|Beaver Island]], [[Bleaker Island]], [[Carcass Island]], [[George Island]], [[Keppel Island]], [[Lively Island]], [[New Island]], [[Pebble Island]], [[Saunders Island (Falkland Islands)|Saunders Island]], [[Sealion Island]], [[Speedwell Island]], [[Staats Island]], [[Weddell Island]], and [[West Point Island]]. The [[Jason Islands]] lie to the north west of the main archipelago, and [[Beauchene Island]] some distance to its south. Speedwell Island and George Island are split from East Falkland by [[Eagle Passage]].

Numerous flora and fauna are found on the Falkland Islands. Notable fauna include colonies of the [[Magellanic Penguin]].<ref>C. Michael Hogan. 2008. [http://globaltwitcher.auderis.se/artspec_information.asp?thingid=232 ''Magellanic Penguin'', GlobalTwitcher.com, ed. N. Stromberg]</ref>

The islands claim a territorial sea of {{convert|12|nmi|km mi|1|lk=in}} and an [[Exclusive Economic Zone|exclusive fishing zone]] of {{convert|200|nmi|km mi|1}}, which has been a source of disagreement with Argentina.
[[Biogeography|Biogeographically]], the Falkland Islands are classified as part of the [[Neotropical]] realm, together with South America. It is also classified as part of the [[Antarctic Floristic Kingdom]].

{{Clear}}
==Climate==
Surrounded by cool [[Atlantic Ocean|South Atlantic]] waters, the Falkland Islands have a [[Oceanic climate|Maritime Subarctic climate]] (Koppen ''Cfc'') which is very much influenced by the ocean by having a narrow annual temperature range. January average maximum temperature is about {{convert|55|°F|1}}, while July maximum average temperature is about {{convert|39|°F|1}}. The average annual rainfall is {{convert|22.58|in|mm|abbr=on}} but East Falkland is generally wetter than West Falkland.<ref>http://www.visitorfalklands.com/assets/documents/falklands-factsheet.pdf</ref>  [[Humidity]] and winds, however, are constantly high. Snow is rare, but can occur at almost any time of year. Gales are very frequent, particularly in winter.<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/country_guides/results.shtml?tt=TT004760 |title=Weather Centre - World Weather - Country Guides - Falkland Islands |publisher=BBC |date= |accessdate=2010-03-15}}</ref>  The  climate is similar to the [[Shetland islands]] in the [[United Kingdom]], but with less rainfall and longer and slightly more severe winters.<ref name="autogenerated2"/>

{{Infobox weather
|single_line= yes
|metric_first=
|location = Stanley, Falkland Islands
|Jan_Hi_°C = 13      |Jan_REC_Hi_°C = 24
|Feb_Hi_°C = 13      |Feb_REC_Hi_°C = 23
|Mar_Hi_°C = 12      |Mar_REC_Hi_°C = 21
|Apr_Hi_°C =  9      |Apr_REC_Hi_°C = 17
|May_Hi_°C =  7      |May_REC_Hi_°C = 14
|Jun_Hi_°C =  5      |Jun_REC_Hi_°C = 11
|Jul_Hi_°C =  4      |Jul_REC_Hi_°C = 10
|Aug_Hi_°C =  5      |Aug_REC_Hi_°C = 11
|Sep_Hi_°C =  7      |Sep_REC_Hi_°C = 15
|Oct_Hi_°C =  9      |Oct_REC_Hi_°C = 18
|Nov_Hi_°C = 11      |Nov_REC_Hi_°C = 22
|Dec_Hi_°C = 12      |Dec_REC_Hi_°C = 22
|Jan_Lo_°C = 6      |Jan_REC_Lo_°C =  -1
|Feb_Lo_°C = 5      |Feb_REC_Lo_°C =  -1
|Mar_Lo_°C = 4      |Mar_REC_Lo_°C =  -3
|Apr_Lo_°C = 3      |Apr_REC_Lo_°C =  -6
|May_Lo_°C = 1      |May_REC_Lo_°C =  -7
|Jun_Lo_°C = -1     |Jun_REC_Lo_°C =  -11
|Jul_Lo_°C = -1     |Jul_REC_Lo_°C =  -9
|Aug_Lo_°C = -1     |Aug_REC_Lo_°C =  -11
|Sep_Lo_°C = 1      |Sep_REC_Lo_°C =  -11
|Oct_Lo_°C = 2      |Oct_REC_Lo_°C =  -6
|Nov_Lo_°C = 3      |Nov_REC_Lo_°C =  -3
|Dec_Lo_°C = 4      |Dec_REC_Lo_°C =  -2

|Jan_Precip_mm = 71
|Feb_Precip_mm = 58
|Mar_Precip_mm = 64
|Apr_Precip_mm = 66
|May_Precip_mm = 66
|Jun_Precip_mm = 53
|Jul_Precip_mm = 51
|Aug_Precip_mm = 51
|Sep_Precip_mm = 38
|Oct_Precip_mm = 41
|Nov_Precip_mm = 51
|Dec_Precip_mm = 71

|Jan_Hum= 78
|Feb_Hum= 79
|Mar_Hum= 82
|Apr_Hum= 86
|May_Hum= 88
|Jun_Hum= 89
|Jul_Hum= 89
|Aug_Hum= 87
|Sep_Hum= 84
|Oct_Hum= 80
|Nov_Hum= 75
|Dec_Hum= 77
|Year_Hum=
|source = BBC Weather<ref name="BBC Weather">{{cite web | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/city_guides/results.shtml?tt=TT004760 | title = BBC Weather: Stanley, Falkland Islands | accessdate = 13 January 2010 | publisher = BBC }}</ref>
|accessdate =
}}

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of the Falkland Islands}}
The largest company in the islands used to be the [[Falkland Islands Company]] (FIC), a publicly quoted company on the [[London Stock Exchange]]. The company was responsible for the majority of the economic activity on the islands, though its farms were sold in 1991 to the Falkland Islands Government. The company now operates several retail outlets in Stanley and is involved in port services and shipping operations.

Except for defence, the islands are self sufficient; exports account for more than $125&nbsp;million a year (2004 estimate).<ref name=cia>{{cite web
  | last =
  | first =
  | authorlink =
  | coauthors =
  | title = Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
  | work = The World Factbook
  | publisher = [[CIA]]
  | date = 27 April 2010
  | url = https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html
  | doi =
  | accessdate = 2010-05-08}}</ref>

===Currency===
[[Biliþ:Falklands one pound coin.JPG|thumb|One-pound coin of the Falkland Islands pound]]
The Falkland Islands Government issues a local currency, the [[Falkland pound]]. It has notes and coins that are equivalent to the United Kingdom [[sterling]] coinage but with local designs on the reverse. The [[Falkland Pound]] is fixed at parity with the [[pound sterling]] and both circulate interchangeably on the islands. For more information about currency in the region see [[The Sterling Currency in the South Atlantic and the Antarctic]].

The Falkland Islands also [[Postage stamps and postal history of the Falkland Islands|issue their own stamps]], which are a source of revenue from overseas collectors.

===Farming===
Farmland accounts for {{convert|1123985|ha|sqmi|disp=output only|abbr=on}} (1,123,985 hectares), more than 90% of the Falklands land area.<ref name=Farms>{{cite web
|url=http://www.agriculture.gov.fk/publications/farming_statistics/2008-2009.pdf/ |title=Biennial Report 2008/9
|publisher=Falklands Island Government Department of Argiculture
|date=31 May 2009
|accessdate=2010-04-18}}</ref>  Since 1984, efforts to diversify the economy have made [[fishing]] the largest part of the economy and brought increasing income from [[tourism]].<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2004/apr/04/food.business LA, Paris, Port Stanley?], Frank Kane, [[The Observer]], 4 April 2004</ref> [[Domestic sheep|Sheep]] farming was formerly the main source of income for the islands and still plays an important part with high quality wool exports going to the UK: according to the Falklands Government Statistics there are over 500,000 sheep on the islands with roughly 40% on West Falkland and 60% on East Falkland.<ref name=Farms/>

===Fiscoþ===
The government has operated a fishing zone policy since 1986 with the sale of fishing licences to foreign countries has bringing in more than [[Falkland Islands pound|£]]40 million a year in revenues. Local fishing boats are also in operation. More than 75% of the annual catch of {{convert|200000|LT|lk=on|t ST}} of [[squid]]<ref>{{cite web
|url =http://www.falklands.gov.fk//Fisheries.html
|title=Fisheries
|publisher = The Falkland Islands Government
|accessdate = 2010-04-06}}</ref>, and most exports are to Spain.

===Tourism===
Tourism has grown rapidly. The islands have become a regular port of call for the growing market of [[cruise ship]]s with more than 36,000 visitors in 2004.<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.falklands.info/background/lifearticle31.html
|title = Four Seasons and more than 3,000 Tourists in One Day
|author = Sharon Jaffray
|newspaper = [[Penguin News]]
|date = 22 April 2005}}</ref>  Attractions include the scenery and wildlife conservation with [[penguin]]s, seabirds, [[pinniped|seals]] and [[sealion]]s, as well as visits to battlefields, [[golf]], fishing and [[wreck diving]].

===Oil===
An agreement with Argentina had set the terms for exploitation of offshore resources including large [[oil reserves]]<ref>{{cite news
|first=Calvin |last=Sims
|title=Britain and Argentina Reach an Accord on Falkland Oil Rights
|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1995/09/20/world/britain-and-argentina-reach-an-accord-on-falkland-oil-rights.html?pagewanted=1
|publisher=The New York Times
|date=20 September 1995
|accessdate=10 May 2010
|location=New York}}</ref> as it was thought that there might be up to 60 billion barrels (9.5 billion cubic metres) of oil under the sea bed surrounding the islands.<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/feb/07/falkland-islands-oil-britain-argentina |title = Falklands oil prospects stir Anglo-Argentinian tensions
|newspaper = The Guardian
|date = 7 Feb 2010}}</ref> However, in 2007 Argentina unilaterally withdrew from the agreement.<ref name=""Kirchner_oil">{{cite news |first=Sophie |last=Arie |title=Argentina snubs UK over oil deal as anniversary nears |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/03/29/warg29.xml |publisher=The Daily Telegraph |date=2007-04-03 |accessdate=2007-10-20 | location=London}}</ref>  In response, Falklands Oil and Gas Limited has signed an agreement with [[BHP Billiton]] to investigate the potential exploitation of oil reserves.<ref name="Times_Oil_Deal">
{{cite news |first=Carl |last=Mortished |title=BHP Billiton strikes $100m Falklands drilling deal |url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/natural_resources/article2577806.ece |publisher=The Times |date=2007-10-03 |accessdate=2007-10-20 | location=London}}</ref>  Climatic conditions of the southern seas mean that exploitation will be a difficult task, though economically viable, and the continuing sovereignty dispute with Argentina is hampering progress.<ref name="Argentine_response">{{cite news |first=Jude |last=Webber |title=Argentina protests at Falklands oil stake |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/aa2294fe-71d7-11dc-8960-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1 |publisher=The Financial Times |date=2007-10-03 |accessdate=2007-10-20}}</ref> In February 2010, exploratory drilling for oil was begun by Desire Petroleum,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8527307.stm |title=Drilling for oil begins off the Falkland Islands |publisher=BBC News |date=2010-02-22 |accessdate=2010-03-15}}</ref> but the results from the first test well were disappointing.<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/explorers-fail-to-strike-oil-in-test-sites-off-falklands-1930807.html Explorers fail to strike oil in test sites off Falklands]</ref> Two months later, on 6 May 2010, Rockhopper Exploration announced that "''it may have struck oil''".<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/10100769.stm
|title = Falklands oil firm Rockhopper claims discovery
|publisher = BBC News
|date = 6 May 2010
|accessdate = 2010-05-06}}</ref> As of 8 May 2010, the commercial viability of the {{convert|174|ft|adj=on}} oil bearing strata had yet to be established.<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article7119075.ece
|title = Discovery in disputed waters puts Argentina back on the defensive
|newspaper = The Times
|date = 8 May 2010
|author = Decian McGarvey
|author2 = Robin Pagnamenta}}</ref>

===Defence===
The UK provides defence and British military expenditures make a significant contribution to the economy.
==Demographics==
{{See also|Falkland Islanders|Origins of Falkland Islanders}}
[[Image:IMG 0688-ch-whalebone-arch.jpg|thumb|[[Christ Church Cathedral (Falkland Islands)|Christ Church Cathedral]] with the Whale bone arch, [[Stanley, Falkland Islands|Stanley]]]]
Census figures show that the population rose from an estimate of 287 in 1851 to 2272 in 1911. It was 2094 in 1921 and 2392 in 1931 but then the population declined and in 1980 it was 1813. The population then rose and was 2955 in 2006.  The 2006 census recorded 2115 people in Stanley and 477 in Mount Pleasant. However, there were only 194 people in the rest of East Falkland, 127 people in West Falkland and 42 people in all the other islands. These figures exclude all military personnel and their families, but includes 477 people who were present in the Falkland Islands in connection with the military garrison. <ref>{{cite web |url=documents/Census%20Report%202006.pdf |title=Falkland Islands Census Statistics, 2006 |publisher=Falkland Islands Government |accessdate=4 June 2010}}</ref> The American CIA stated that In July 2008, the population was estimated to be 3,140. <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/fk.html |title=South America  Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) (Overseas Territory of the UK; Also Claimed by Argentina)
|date=27 May 2010 |work=The World Factbook |publisher=US Central Intelligence Agency |accessdate=5 June 2010}}</ref>

About 70 per cent are of British descent, primarily as a result of [[Scottish people|Scottish]] and [[Welsh people|Welsh]] immigration to the islands.<ref>{{cite book|first=Patrick|last=Vincent|title=The Geographical Journal, Vol. 149, No. 1, pp 16–17|month=March | year=1983}}</ref> The native-born inhabitants call themselves "Islanders"; the term "[[Kelpers]]", from the [[kelp]] which grows profusely around the islands, is no longer used in the Islands. People from the United Kingdom who have obtained Falkland Island status are known locally as 'belongers'.

A few Islanders are of [[French people|French]], [[Gibraltarian people|Gibraltarian]] (such as the Pitaluga family), [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]] and Scandinavian descent. Some are the descendants of [[whaling|whalers]] who reached the Islands during the last two centuries.  There is also a small minority of South American, mainly [[Chile]]an origin, and in more recent times many people from [[Saint Helena]] have also come to work and live in the Islands.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6683677.stm |title=UK &#124; Falklands questions answered |publisher=BBC News |date=2007-06-04 |accessdate=2010-03-15}}</ref>

The main religion is [[Christianity]]. The main denominations are [[Angelcirice]], [[Rēmisce Cirice]], [[Geānede Frēocirice]], and [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]]. Smaller numbers are  [[Jehovah's Witnesses]], [[Seventh-day Adventist Church|Seventh-day Adventists]] and [[Greek Orthodox Church|Greek Orthodox]]; with the latter being due to Greek fishermen passing through. There is also a [[Bahá'í Faith|Bahá'í]] congregation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.horizon.co.fk/bahai_falklands/ |title=Falkland Islands Bahá'í Community Newsletter |publisher=Horizon.co.fk |date= |accessdate=2010-03-15}}</ref> The Islands are the home of the [[Apostolic Prefecture of the Falkland Islands]].

Since the [[British Nationality (Falkland Islands) Act 1983]] the islanders have been full [[British nationality law|British citizens]]. For the Argentine position on Falklanders’ citizenship, see [[Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute#Current claims|Current claims]].

==Medical care==
The Falkland Islands Government Health and Social Services Department provides medical and dental care for the islands. The King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH) is Stanley's only hospital. It was partially military operated in the past but is now under complete civilian control.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.falklands.gov.fk/Health_Services.html
|title = Health Services
|publisher = Falkland Islands Government
|accessdate = 2010-05-24}}</ref> Specialist medical care is provided by visting ophthalmologists, gynaecologists, ENT surgeons, orthopaedic surgeons, psychiatrist, and oral surgeons from the United Kingdom provide specialist care.  Patients needing emergency treatement are air-lifted to the United Kingdom or to [[Santiago]] ([[Chile]]).<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/south-america/falkland-islands
|title = Travel & living abroad - South America and South Atlantic Islands - Falkland Islands (British Overseas Territory)
|publisher = Foreign & Commonwealth Office
|date = 18 March 2010
|accessdate = 2010-05-24}}</ref>

==Broadcasting and telecommunications==
[[Image:Gypsy-Cove.jpg|thumb|Penguins at Gypsy Cove]]
===Broadcasting===
[[Radio]] services are operated by the [[Falkland Islands Radio Service]], formerly the Falkland Islands Broadcasting Service, and the [[British Forces Broadcasting Service]] (BFBS). FM stereo broadcasting using the UK allocation is standard. [[Medium Wave]]  broadcasting using 10&nbsp;kHz steps (standard in [[ITU-R|ITU]] Region II).

The only terrestrial channel available is [[British Forces Broadcasting Service#Television|BFBS1]]. [[PAL]] television, using the UK UHF allocation standard. There is also a [[cable television]] service in [[Stanley, Falkland Islands|Stanley]] operated by [[KTV Ltd.]]

===Telephone===
The Falkland Islands has a modern telecommunications network providing fixed line telephone, [[ADSL]] and [[dial-up access|dial-up]] internet services in Stanley. Telephones  to outlying settlements use [[microwave radio relay|microwave radio]]. A [[GSM|GSM 900]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gsmworld.com/ROAMING/GSMINFO/net_fkcw.shtml |title=GSM coverage in the Falkland Islands |publisher=Gsmworld.com |date= |accessdate=2010-03-15}}</ref> mobile network was installed in 2005<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cwfi.co.fk/ |title=Cable and Wireless Falkland Islands |publisher=Cwfi.co.fk |date= |accessdate=2010-03-15}}</ref> providing coverage to Stanley, Mount Pleasant and surrounding areas. It is operated under the '''Touch Mobile''' brand.

[[Cable and Wireless]] is the sole telecommunications provider in the Falkland Islands.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.falklands.info/factfile/comms.html |title=Telecommunications |publisher=falklands.info |date= |accessdate=2010-03-15}}</ref>

==Sport==
{{Main|Sport in the Falkland Islands}}
There are more than 30 different sports clubs on the Falklands, including badminton, clay-pigeon shooting, cricket, football, golf, hockey, netball, rugby union, sailing, swimming, table tennis and volleyball.<ref name=clubs>[http://www.falklands.info/factfile/clubs.html Falklands Information website clubs page]. Retrieved 9 July 2008.</ref> The Falklands compete in the biennial [[International Island Games Association|Island Games]].<ref name=IG>[http://www.islandgames.net/cms/members.html Island Games website membership page]. Retrieved 9 July 2008.</ref>

==Transport==
{{Main|Transport in the Falkland Islands}}
[[Image:DHC-7-dash-7.jpg|thumb|The [[De Havilland Canada Dash 7|Dash-7]] of the [[British Antarctic Survey]] at [[Stanley, Falkland Islands|Stanley]]]] The Falkland Islands have two airports with paved runways. The main international airport is [[RAF Mount Pleasant]], 26.89 miles (43.28&nbsp;km) west of Stanley.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mapcrow.info/Distance_between_London_UK_and_Port_Stanley_FK.html |title=43.28 km in Map Crow Travel Distance Calculator |publisher=Mapcrow.info |date=2007-10-23 |accessdate=2010-03-15}}</ref> There are weekly flights, operated by [[LAN (airline)|LAN Airlines]], to [[Santiago, Chile]], via [[Punta Arenas]].  Once a month, this flight also stops in [[Río Gallegos]], Argentina.<ref>[http://xtold.visitorfalklands.com/content/view/186/175/ Official Tourism Website of the Falkland Islands]</ref>

The [[Royal Air Force]] operates flights from [[RAF Mount Pleasant]] to [[RAF Brize Norton]] in [[Oxfordshire]], England, with a refuelling stop at [[RAF Ascension Island]]. RAF flights are on [[Lockheed TriStar (RAF)|TriStars]] although charter aircraft are often used if the TriStars are required for operational flights. At present [[Omni Air International]] operates the RAF air link, using [[DC-10]]s. [[British International Helicopters|British International (BRINTEL)]] also operate two [[H-3 Sea King|Sikorsky S61N]] helicopters, based at RAF Mount Pleasant, under contract to the United Kingdom Ministry Of Defence, primarily for moving military personnel, equipment and supplies around the islands.

The [[British Antarctic Survey]] operates a transcontinental air link between the Falkland Islands and the [[Rothera Research Station]] on the [[Antarctic Peninsula]] and servicing also other British bases in the [[British Antarctic Territory]] using a [[de Havilland Canada Dash 7]].

The smaller [[Port Stanley Airport]], outside the city, is used for internal flights.  The [[Falkland Islands Government Air Service]] (FIGAS) operates [[Britten-Norman Islander|Islander]] aircraft that can use the grass airstrips that most settlements have. Flight schedules are decided a day in advance according to passenger needs. The night before, the arrival and departure times are announced on the radio.

The road network has been improved in recent years. However, not many paved roads exist outside Stanley and RAF Mount Pleasant.  Speed limits are 25&nbsp;mph (40&nbsp;km/h) in built-up areas and 40&nbsp;mph (64&nbsp;km/h) elsewhere.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.falklandislands.com/assets/documents/falklands-factsheet.pdf
|title=The Falkland Islands
|publisher=Falkland Islands Tourist Board
|accessdate = 2010-05-19}}</ref>

==Landmines and ordnance==
Depending on the source, between 18,000 and 25,000 [[land mine]]s remain from the 1982 war. One source says that Argentina placed 18,000 landmines.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://maic.jmu.edu/JOURNAL/5.2/focus/falklands.htm
|title=Landmines in the Sand: The Falkland Islands, by Juan Carlos Ruan and Jill E. Macheme (5.2)|publisher=maic.jmu.edu
|accessdate=2009-06-20}}</ref> The British Government stated that all but one of their anti-personnel mine were accounted for.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/1998/apr/28/landmines-falkland-islands|title=Landmines (Falkland Islands) (Hansard, 28 April 1998)|publisher=hansard.millbanksystems.com|accessdate=2009-06-20}}</ref> The land mines are located in either 101 or 117 mine fields, that are dispersed over an area of 8 sq mi (20&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) in the areas of Port Stanley, Port Howard, Fox Bay and Goose Green (these areas are now well marked).<ref name="Landmine Monitor">{{cite web|url=http://lm.icbl.org/index.php/publications/display?url=lm/2002/falk_malv.html|title=Landmine Monitor (LM): Landmine Monitor|publisher=lm.icbl.org|accessdate=2009-06-20}}</ref> Information is available from the EOD ([[Explosive Ordnance Disposal]]) Operation Centre in Stanley.<ref name="Landmine Monitor"/>

Some beaches were mined, and there have been concerns the tides could have moved some mines. Mines near rivers may also have been washed out of the marked area by flooding. As well, there is [[unexploded ordnance|ordnance]] from the war. Between 1997 and 2002, 248 antipersonnel mines were destroyed in the Falklands, 16 were destroyed in 2003, one in 2005 and six antipersonnel mines were destroyed in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lm.icbl.org/index.php/publications/display?url=lm/2007/falk_malv.html |title=Landmine Monitor (LM): Landmine Monitor |publisher=Lm.icbl.org |date= |accessdate=2010-03-15}}</ref>

In February 2005, the charity Landmine Action proposed a [[Kyoto Protocol|Kyoto]]-style credit scheme, which would see a commitment by the British government to clear an equivalent area of mined land to that currently existing in the Falklands in more seriously mine-affected countries by March 2009. This proposal was supported by Falkland Islanders, for whom landmines do not pose a serious threat in everyday life.<ref>http://www.theworkcontinues.org/page.asp?id=127</ref> The British government has yet to declare its support or opposition to the idea.

In November 2008, Landmine Action opposed Britain's request for a ten year extension on the deadline for clearing the landmines. It accused the British Government of not demonstrating "any evidence of serious plans to complete, or even begin, this work" and stated "Allowing a well-resourced, technically capable State such as the United Kingdom to effectively ignore its responsibilities would set a dangerous and ethically unacceptable precedent." <ref>http://www.landmineaction.org/resources/uk_and_the_falkland_islands__art_5.pdf</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Crawford |first=Angus |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7742661.stm |title=UK &#124; UK Politics &#124; UK misses Falklands mine deadline |publisher=BBC News |date=2008-11-24 |accessdate=2010-03-15}}</ref>  However, in 2008, the UK Government argued that in stark contrast to minefields elsewhere, "There have never been any civilian injuries in almost 26 years" in the Falklands.<ref>http://www.apminebanconvention.org/fileadmin/pdf/mbc/IWP/SC_june08/Speeches-MC/SCMC-StocktakingArt5-4June08-UnitedKingdom-en.pdf</ref>

On 30 November 2009 the Falkland Islands Government announced that mine clearance was due to begin at Surf Bay on 2 December 2009, and further clearances were to take place at Sapper Hill, Goose Green and Fox Bay. The British company BATEC International was chosen to carry out the project,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.falklands.gov.fk/news/2009/11/mine-clearance-begins-at-surf-bay/ |title=Mine Clearance Begins at Surf Bay « Falkland Islands Government News |publisher=Falklands.gov.fk |date=2009-11-30 |accessdate=2010-03-15}}</ref> "The work began on 4 December 2009 and is expected to be completed in the middle of 2010." (Hansard 5 January 2010).<ref>{{cite web|author=Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Commons, Westminster |url=http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200910/cmhansrd/cm100105/text/100105w0049.htm |title=Hansard |publisher=Parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2010-03-15}}</ref> The workers are using Argentinian  and UK records to help determine the location of mines.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8564061.stm|title=The long road to clearing Falklands landmines |author=Rajesh Mirchandani |date=14 March 2010 |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |accessdate=11 April 2010}}</ref>

==Military==
{{Main|Military of the Falkland Islands}}
[[Image:Fk-fidf.gif|thumb|Badge of the [[Falkland Islands Defence Force]]]]
There is a British military garrison stationed on the Falkland Islands, but the islands also have their own [[Falkland Islands Defence Force]]. This [[company (military unit)|company]] sized force is completely funded by the [[Politics of the Falkland Islands|Falklands government]]. It uses vehicles such as: [[quad bike]]s, [[inflatable boat]]s and [[Land Rover]]s to traverse the islands' terrain. The Falkland Islands Defence Force uses the [[Steyr AUG]] as its main [[assault rifle]].

A front page report in RAF News <ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.mercopress.com/2009/02/02/prince-william-as-sar-pilot-could-spend-time-in-falklands |title=Prince William as SAR pilot could spend time in Falklands — MercoPress |publisher=En.mercopress.com |date=2009-02-02 |accessdate=2010-03-15}}</ref> that [[Prince William of Wales]] would serve a 3-month tour of duty in the Falkland Islands, following completion of his 18-month training with the [[RAF Search and Rescue Force]] drew a critical response from the Argentine government in January 2009.<ref>{{cite news|author=Published: 11:54PM GMT 02 Feb 2009 |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/theroyalfamily/4440789/Prince-Williams-deployment-to-Falkland-Islands-upsets-Argentina.html |title=Prince William's deployment to Falkland Islands upsets Argentina |publisher=Telegraph |date=2009-02-02 |accessdate=2010-03-15 | location=London}}</ref> However, the Ministry of Defence denied that any decision on the Prince's deployment had been raised.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g3Ql194Jgzr2W8mZMHX338cnshqQ |title=AFP: No decision taken on Prince William's Falklands mission |publisher=Google.com |date=2009-02-02 |accessdate=2010-03-15}}</ref>
-->

== Ēac sieh ==
* [[Sūþgeorgia and þā Sūþsandwic Īegland|Sūþgeorgia and þā Sūþsandƿic Īegland]]

== Fruman ==
{{reflist}}

== Ūtweardlice hlencas ==
* [[wikisource:The Future of the Falkland Islands and Its People|''Þā Folcland Īeglanda and hiera Folces Forþgesceaft'' (on Nīwum Englisce)]] 
* [http://www.falklands.gov.fk/ Folcland Īegland Leodweard] webbstede
* [http://www.visitorfalklands.com/ Folcland Īegland Siðrǣd]
* [http://www.falklandislands.com/ Folcland Īegland Sið]

[[Flocc:Bryttisce ofersæwisce landscipas]]
[[Flocc:Folcland Īegland]]
right|250px

Þā Folcland Īegland licgaþ in þǣm sūðernan Garsecge ymbe 300 mīla of Sūðamerican and 700 mīla of Antarctica. Hie sind Bryttisc ofersǣ landscipe. Þā īega hēafodburg is Stanley on Ēastfolclande.

Scēapƿelig sindon þā Īegland, and hēr is hiera mǣst fēoh.

Siððan ðe Bretƿare fangon eft tō rīce on þissum īegum in 1833 hæfþ Argentina acƿæþ his crafing for þæm. In 1982 onsƿōg Argentinisc þreat þā Folcland Īegland and in þissum ƿīse begann sē Folcland Geƿinn hƿærin for tƿǣm mōnaþum feahton Brettas and Argentinaƿare, and hƿærof hæfde Brettas sige and sē Argentinisc þrēat ƿiþteah.

Siþþan þæm geƿinn, habbaþ þā īegland ƿeaxon mid fēoh fram fiscoþe and sīþe.

 Nama 
thumb|right|Folcland Cathedral
Þāra Folcland Īeglanda nama geaf him Iohannes Strong sciphlāford in 1690, for in þǣm geare seglede he hēr and anamede þone ƿæterscipe betƿuh þǣm tƿǣm mǣstum īegum "Falkland Sound" æfter Anthony Cary, fifte Healfeorl of Folcland.  Strong lendede on þæm īegum in 1690.  Æfter manige ƿintra cƿōmon ēac Lidƿiccas on þā īega for fiscoþe and Louis Antoine de Bougainville geaf þone naman on Frencisce Îles Malouines in æfter Sancte Malo hȳðe. Spēne and Argentine brucaþ þone naman Islas Malvinas fram þæm Frenciscan naman.

  Folcland Geƿinn 

300px|thumb|left|Bryttisce lyftfeallƿigan ƿeardað Argentinisce herenuman 

On 2 Ēastermonaþe 1982 onsƿōg Argentina þā Folcland Īegland and fyrðre Bryttisc landrīce þæs sūðernra gārsecges (þæt is Sūþgeorgia þā īeg. Sē hererǣd sē ricsode Argentinan siþðan 1976 sohtede lof þærof. 
Of Breten seglede þrēat eft to nimian þā īega and sē Folcland Geƿinn begann. Æfter scortum gūðe and grimum on brime and in lyfte lendedon Brettas æt San Carlos Ƿæter on 21  and feahton on lande oþþæt þā Argentinaƿare seldon self on 14  1982.

 Ēac sieh 
 Sūþgeorgia and þā Sūþsandƿic Īegland

 Fruman 

 Ūtweardlice hlencas 
 Þā Folcland Īeglanda and hiera Folces Forþgesceaft (on Nīwum Englisce) 
 Folcland Īegland Leodweard webbstede
 Folcland Īegland Siðrǣd
 Folcland Īegland Sið

Flocc:Bryttisce ofersæwisce landscipas
Flocc:Folcland Īegland