Key Facts about Falkland Islands

About Falkland Islands:

• Also known as the Malvinas Islands, the Falkland Islands is an internally self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom.
• It is an archipelago located in the South Atlantic Ocean, some 500 km from mainland South America.
• It comprises of two large islands (East Falkland and West Falkland) and several hundred smaller ones.
  • The two large islands are separated by Falkland Sound (strait). 
  • The islands are positioned both in the southern and western hemispheres of the Earth. 
• It covers a total area of 12,173 sq.km. (4,700 sq mi).
• Climate: A cool temperate oceanic climate that is characterised by its lack of extremes.
• Capital: Located on the island of East Falkland, is Stanley (also, Port Stanley) is the capital of the Falkland Islands. 
• Demographics: The population of the Falkland Islands is English-speaking and consists primarily of Falklanders of African-Irish descent (88% of population). 
• Economy: Almost the whole area of the two main islands, outside of Stanley, is devoted to sheep farming.
• Currency: The official currency is the Falkland pound, which is on par with the British pound.
• Government:
  • Executive authority is vested in the British crown, and the islands’ government is headed by a governor appointed by the crown.
  • The islands are self-governing, although foreign affairs and defence matters are handled by the British government.

Q1: What is a strait?

A strait is a narrow waterway between two pieces of land that connects two large bodies of water. A strait is similar to a canal cutting through an isthmus (a narrow strip of land), but a strait is formed naturally and canals are built by people.

Source: Rugged Falklands landscape was once a lush rainforest