The Falkland Islands lie in the South West Atlantic. The largest islands are East Falkland and West Falkland and the main town is Stanley. The Islands have a permanent population of 2,913 and approximately 2,000 live in the Stanley area. The rest of the population live on smaller settlements in “Camp” (the local term for the countryside).

The population is almost exclusively of British descent and English is the common language.

In the Spanish-speaking world the Falkland Islands are often referred to as “Las Islas Malvinas”.

History

A British expedition reached West Falkland in 1765 and took formal possession of the Falklands. In 1766 a British settlement was established in Port Egmont. This was withdrawn in 1774, but British sovereignty was never relinquished or abandoned. In 1829 the Buenos Aires government issued a decree setting out its rights to the Islands under the control of Governor Louis Vernet. Britain protested that the decree infringed British sovereignty, which had never been relinquished. In 1831 a US warship destroyed the fort and declared the Falklands free from all government. In 1832 the Government of Buenos Aires appointed Juan Mestivier as Governor in the Islands. The British government once again protested that this appointment infringed British sovereignty. Mestivier was murdered by his own soldiers shortly after arriving in the Islands.

In 1833 the British government resumed it’s occupation of the Islands and, with the exception of two months of illegal Argentine occupation in 1982, the Islands have been continuously and effectively administered by Britain since this date. In 1841 a Civil Governor was appointed and in 1843 the civil administration was put on a permanent footing by an Act of the British Parliament. In 1845 the first Island Executive and Legislative Councils were established; these Councils continue to give Islanders an important voice in their own government.

On 2 April 1982 General Galtieri, leader of Argentina’s military regime ordered the invasion and illegal occupation of the Falkland Islands. A British Task Force was despatched immediately and, following a conflict in which over 1,000 British and Argentine lives were lost, the Argentine forces surrendered on 14 June 1982.

Since then the pace of development in the Islands has accelerated with the construction of a new hospital, a new school, port facilities and an international airport.

Travelling to the islands

There are 6 flights a month from the UK to the Falkland Islands, via Ascension Island. From South America, Lan Chile flies once a week from Santiago de Chile via Punta Arenas (in Chile) to Stanley. This Lan Chile flight has a monthly stop-off, in both directions, in the Argentine town of Rio Gallegos. Passengers can board here.

Argentines are welcome to visit: a valid passport is required, which will be stamped on arrival in the Islands. For more information on accommodation, tours and transport please visit the Falkland Islands Tourist Board website.

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Common myths corrected

• There is no restriction against Argentine tourists visiting the Falkland Islands.
• The Islands are economically independent and do not receive financial aid from the UK.
• Many families on the Islands can trace their routes roots back to the 1833 settlers.