Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Travel Guide

Falkland Islands (Malvinas) — Country and Tourist Information

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Country Facts

Location: South Atlantic.
Language: English.
Area: 12,173 sq km (4,700 sq miles).
Time Zone: GMT - 3 (GMT - 4 from third Sunday in April to first Saturday in September).
Electricity: 240 volts AC, 50Hz.
Population: 3,140 (2008).
Population Density: 0.3 per sq km.
Capital City: Stanley. Population: 2,115 (2006).
Government: British Overseas Territory since 1833, which is not recognised by Argentina, as it considers the Falkland Islands to be part of Argentina. Existing constitution adopted in 1985.
Head of Government: Chief executive Tim Thorogood since 2008.
Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor Alan Huckle since 2006.
Religion: Christian, with Catholic, Anglican and United Reformed Church of Stanley denominations.

Recent History

Until the war of 1982, the rainy, windswept Falkland Islands were a forgotten remnant of the old British Empire. First occupied by the French in 1764, the islands were quickly ceded to Spain, which then ruled the adjacent territory in Latin America. However, the Spanish only established themselves on West Falkland and, in 1765, the British took control of the eastern island.

By 1816, both powers had removed their respective garrisons and the Falkland Islands had no permanent inhabitants. A vessel from newly independent Argentina was sent in 1820 to establish a permanent settlement but was driven out by a British expedition in 1832. The British declared full sovereignty over the Falkland Islands the following year.

Argentina refused to recognize British sovereignty and has maintained a consistent claim to sovereignty ever since. This claim was pursued periodically through diplomatic channels until 1982, when an Argentine force overran the British garrison and established a military base on ‘Islas Malvinas', a name derived from the original French settlers, who named the islands after their home port of St Malo.

After various attempts at negotiation and mediation had failed, a British task force, which had been dispatched at the start of the crisis, was ordered to continue its journey and engage the Argentines. Argentina formally surrendered on 14 June, 10 weeks after the invasion. In the subsequent contact between the two governments, it has become apparent that the issue of sovereignty is a stumbling block and that the Falkland Islands' issue will remain a key aspect of Argentine foreign policy in the foreseeable future.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +500. Good satellite telephone links to the Islands. The Cable & Wireless office is open Mon-Thurs 0815-1200 and 1315-1630 (Fri until 1615), and sells phone cards for use in the international telephone service booths situated in the office.

Mobile Telephone

Cable & Wireless launched a mobile phone service in December 2005. Coverage is initially in Stanley and Mount Pleasant with fairly good coverage along the MPA road and more limited coverage between MPA and Goose Green. No roaming agreements have been declared.

Internet

There is an Internet cafe in Stanley.

Media

Coverage of local affairs is provided by a radio station and by the territory's sole newspaper. Satellite television channels are widely available. There are no daily local papers, but Penguin News (weekly) is published in Stanley and all British national newspapers are also available; the Falkland Islands Gazette is a government publication; the Falkland Islands News Network relays news daily via fax and email. BFBS Radio Falklands provides radio coverage for British forces; the Falkland Islands Broadcasting Station (FIBS) operates on both AM and FM.

Post

Airmail to Europe takes four to seven days.

Public Holidays

Below are listed the Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
25 Dec Christmas

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
21 Apr Queen’s Birthday
22 Apr Good Friday
14 Jun Liberation Day
6 Oct Spring Holiday
8 Dec Battle Day
25 Dec Christmas

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
6 Apr Good Friday
21 Apr Queen’s Birthday
14 Jun Liberation Day
6 Oct Spring Holiday
8 Dec Battle Day
25 Dec Christmas

Contact Information

Diplomatic representation

The Falkland Islands is a British Overseas Territory represented abroad by British Embassies – see United Kingdom section.

Government House, Falkland Islands

Stanley, FIQQ 1ZZ, Falkland Islands.
Tel: (500) 28200.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1200, 1315-1630.

Falkland Islands Government Office

(Incorporating the Falkland Islands Development Corporation and the Falkland Islands Tourist Board)
Falkland House, 14 Broadway, Westminster, London SW1H 0BH, UK
Tel: (020) 7222 2542.
Website: www.falklandislands.comorwww.visitorfalklands.com
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1730.
The Falkland Islands Government Office issues visas and visitor forms, helps to promote trade and investment in the Islands, offers RAF flight bookings to the Islands, assists immigrants and promotes the Falkland Islands' interests in all respects.