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Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) travel guides

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) - General Country Information

Introduction
Geography
People
Government
Economy
Communications
Transportation
Military
Transnational Issues

Introduction

General Information: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

The capital of Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) is Stanley.

Geography

Location:	Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of southern Argentina
Coordinates:	51 45 S, 59 00 W
Area:	total: 12,173 sq km land: 12,173 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and about 200 small islands
Area Comparative:	slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land Boundaries:	0 km
Coastline:	1,288 km
Maritime Claims:	territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:	cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more than half of days in year; average annual rainfall is 24 inches in Stanley; occasional snow all year, except in January and February, but does not accumulate
Terrain:	rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains
Elevation Extremes:	lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m
Natural Resources:	fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss
Land Use:	arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (99% permanent pastures, 1% other) (2001)
Irrigated Land:	NA sq km
Natural Hazards:	strong winds persist throughout the year
Environment Current Issues:	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
Note:	deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season

People

Population:	2,967 (July 2004 est.)
Population Growth Rate:	2.44% (2004 est.)
Birth Rate:	NA births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death Rate:	NA deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Migration Rate:	NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Infant Mortality Rate:	total: NA male: NA female: NA (2004 est.)
Expectancy Birth:	total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years (2004 est.)
Fertility Rate:	NA children born/woman (2004 est.)
Nationality:	noun: Falkland Islander(s) adjective: Falkland Island
Ethnic Groups:	British
Religions:	primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, Evangelist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day Adventist
Languages:	English

Gouvernment

Country Name:	conventional long form: none conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Capital:	Stanley
Administrative Divisions:	none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Independence:	none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
National Holiday:	Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Constitution:	3 October 1985; amended 1997 and 1998
Legal System:	English common law
Suffrage:	18 years of age; universal
Executive Branch:	chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Governor Howard PEARCE (since 3 December 2002); Chief Executive Chris SIMPKINS (since NA March 2003); Financial Secretary Derek F. HOWATT (since NA) cabinet: Executive Council; three members elected by the Legislative Council, two ex officio members (chief executive and the financial secretary), and the governor elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch
Legislative Branch:	unicameral Legislative Council (10 seats - 2 ex officio, 8 elected by popular vote, members serve four-year terms); presided over by the governor elections: last held 22 November 2001 (next to be held NA November 2005) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 8; note - 71% voter turnout
Judicial Branch:	Supreme Court (chief justice is a nonresident); Magistrates Court (senior magistrate presides over civil and criminal divisions); Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Political Parties Leaders:	none; all independents
Political Pressure Groups Leaders:	none
International Organization Participation:	ICFTU, UPU
Diplomatic in US:	none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Diplomatic from US:	none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Flag Description:	blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Falkland Island coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a white ram (sheep raising is the major economic activity) above the sailing ship Desire (whose crew discovered the islands) with a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto DESIRE THE RIGHT

Economy

Economy Overview:	The economy was formerly based on agriculture, mainly sheep farming, but today fishing contributes the bulk of economic activity. In 1987 the government began selling fishing licenses to foreign trawlers operating within the Falklands exclusive fishing zone. These license fees total more than $40 million per year, which goes to support the island's health, education, and welfare system. Squid accounts for 75% of the fish taken. Dairy farming supports domestic consumption; crops furnish winter fodder. Exports feature shipments of high-grade wool to the UK and the sale of postage stamps and coins. The islands are now self-financing except for defense. The British Geological Survey announced a 200-mile oil exploration zone around the islands in 1993, and early seismic surveys suggest substantial reserves capable of producing 500,000 barrels per day; to date no exploitable site has been identified. An agreement between Argentina and the UK in 1995 seeks to defuse licensing and sovereignty conflicts that would dampen foreign interest in exploiting potential oil reserves. Tourism, especially eco-tourism, is increasing rapidly, with about 30,000 visitors in 2001. Another large source of income is interest paid on money the government has in the bank. The British military presence also provides a sizeable economic boost.
GDP:	purchasing power parity - $75 million (2002 est.)
GDP Capital:	purchasing power parity - $25,000 (2002 est.)
GDP Composition:	agriculture: NA industry: NA services: NA
Household Income:	lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA
Inflation Rate:	3.6% (1998)
Labor Force:	1,100 (est.)
Labor Force Occupation:	agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding and fishing)
Unemployment Rate:	full employment; labor shortage (2001)
Budget:	revenues: $66.2 million expenditures: $67.9 million, including capital expenditures of $23.2 million (FY98/99 est.)
Agriculture Products:	fodder and vegetable crops; sheep, dairy products
Industries:	fish and wool processing; tourism
Electricity Production:	16.33 million kWh (2001)
Electricity Consumption:	15.19 million kWh (2001)
Electricity Exports:	0 kWh (2001)
Electricity Imports:	0 kWh (2001)
Oil Production:	0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil Consumption:	200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil Exports:	NA (2001)
Oil Imports:	NA (2001)
Exports:	$82 million (2002)
Exports Commodities:	wool, hides, meat
Exports Partners:	Spain 80%, UK 9.3%, US 3.6% (2003)
Imports:	$53 million (2002)
Imports Commodities:	fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing
Imports Partners:	UK 62%, Spain 30.4%, Italy 2.5% (2003)
Debt External:	NA (1999 est.)
Currency:	Falkland pound (FKP)
Currency Code:	FKP
Exchange Rates:	Falkland pounds per US dollar - 0.6125 (2003), 0.6661 (2002), 0.6944 (2001), 0.6596 (2000), 0.618 (1999), 0.6037 (1998); note - the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal Year:	1 April - 31 March

Communications

Telephones Lines Use:	2,400 (2002)
Mobile Cellular:	0 (2001)
Telephone System:	general assessment: NA domestic: government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB radiotelephone networks provide effective service to almost all points on both islands international: country code - 500; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) with links through London to other countries
Radio Stations:	AM 1, FM 7, shortwave 0 (1998)
Television Stations:	2 (operated by the British Forces Broadcasting Service) note: cable television is available in Stanley (2002)
Internet Code:	.fk
Internet Users:	NA; however one-half of all households are reported to have internet access (2002)

Transportation

Highways:	total: 440 km paved: 50 km unpaved: 390 km (2002)
Waterways:	general assessment: NA domestic: government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB radiotelephone networks provide effective service to almost all points on both islands international: country code - 500; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) with links through London to other countries
Ports Harbors:	Stanley note: the primary port is located in Stanley Harbour and known locally as FIPASS (Falkland Interim Port and Storage System); the facility consists of seven permanently moored barges providing 300 meters of berthing space; it was installed by the military after 1982 and handed over to the Falkland Islands Government in 1988
Airports:	5 (2003 est.)
Airports Paved Runways:	total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports Unpaved Runways:	total: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Military

Military Branches: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

no regular military forces

Transnational Issues

Disputes International: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

claimed by Argentina whose forces briefly occupied it in 1982, but now declares it will no longer seek settlement by force; UK continues to reject Argentine requests for sovereignty talks