Introduction | Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) |
Geography | Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) |
Location:
|
Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of southern Argentina | |
Geographic coordinates:
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51 45 S, 59 00 W | |
Map references:
|
South America | |
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:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm |
|
Climate:
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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:
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rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains | |
Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m |
|
Natural resources:
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fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss | |
Land use:
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (99% permanent pastures, 1% other) (2005) |
|
Irrigated land:
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NA | |
Natural hazards:
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strong winds persist throughout the year | |
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 1986 Chornobyl disaster | |
Geography - note:
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deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season |
People | Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) |
Government | Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) |
Economy | Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) |
Communications | Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) |
Transportation | Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) |
Military | Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) |
Military branches:
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no regular military forces | |
Military expenditures:
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NA | |
Military - note:
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defense is the responsibility of the UK |
Transnational Issues | Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) |
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