Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

What are the Falkland Islands?

The Falkland Islands are a self-governing British Overseas Territory, and a dependency of the United Kingdom, who is responsible for their defense and foreign affairs. The Falkland Islands are also claimed by nearby country, Argentina, who calls them the Islas Malvinas.

Where are the Falkland Islands?

The Falkland Islands are an archipelago consisting of East Falkland, West Falklands, and 776 smaller islands in the South Atlantic Ocean. The islands are east of the southern coast of Argentina, in South America.

How big are the Falkland Islands?

The territory claimed as the Falkland Islands has an area of about 12,173 square kilometers, which includes the main islands and around 200 small islands

What is the population of the Falkland Islands?

The population of the Falkland Islands is approximately 3,140.

What is the capital of the Falkland Islands?

The capital of the Falkland Islands is called Stanley, which is located on East Falkland.

What are the primary religions practiced in the Falkland Islands?

The majority of the population of the Falkland Islands (about 67%) practice Christianity.

What languages are spoken in the Falkland Islands?

The official and primary language of the Falkland Islands is English.

When is the national holiday of the Falkland Islands?

The Islands celebrate Liberation Day, which happened on June 14, 1982, after the Argentinian troops surrendered to the British.

Who are the political leaders of the Falkland Islands?

As a British dependency, the Falkland Islands are under the rule of Queen Elizabeth II, the Chief of State. Her representative in the Falkland Islands is Governor Nigel Haywood. The Chief Executive is Dr. Tim Thorogood.

What are the main features of Falkland Islands’ economy?

In recent years, the Falkland Islands have become mostly self-financing, except for their defense which is provided by Britain. While the British military does contribute to the Islands’ economy, the largest portion of the economy is fishing, followed by tourism. The area was previously a big agricultural producer. Britain has also been exploring for oil as of late.

What form of currency is used in the Falkland Islands?

The British pound sterling (GBP) is used as the standard currency, but the Falkland Islands produce their own form of currency, Falkland pounds. The Falkland pound is equal to the British pound, but are decorated on one side with their own design.

What is the relationship of the Falkland Islands, Britain, and Argentina?

The Falkland Islands are located quite close to the Argentinian coast, but have primarily been colonized by Britain, as they were uninhabited before European colonization. The French were actually the first to settle the islands in 1764, but the Spanish and British also claimed areas, leading to conflict.

During the American Revolutionary War, Britain had to withdraw from many territories including the Falkland Islands because of its economic troubles. Argentina began settling the islands during this time. In 1833, British troops returned to assert their claim.

Argentinian forces invaded the Falkland Islands on April 2, 1982, leading to the Falklands War, which lasted about two months. Argentina withdrew its troops and surrendered on June 14, 1982, agreeing not to invade again. Argentina still claims the Falkland Islands as their territory. The United Kingdom continues to reject Argentina’s requests to discuss the status of sovereignty over Falkland Islands.

Britain’s claims on Falkland Islands are based on its continuous presence on the islands since 1833, while Argentina claims that they acquired the islands when they gained independence from Spain in 1811. Those living on the islands are primarily of British descent, and therefore choose to remain a dependency of the United Kingdom.

FAQ about Argentina

What is the origin of Argentina’s name?

Argentina’s name is derived from the Latin word Argentum, meaning silver. The term was first used to designate the region in an atlas made in 1536, and then in 1602 in a poem called “La Argentina” by Martín del Barco Centenera. Before “Argentina,” the area was commonly referred to as “Rio de la Plata” meaning Silver River, for the rumors of silver deposits found in the nearby mountains.

What is the capital of Argentina?

Argentina’s capital is Buenos Aires, the second largest city in South America. Located along the Rio de la Plata on Argentina’s northeast coast, Buenos Aires is an autonomous city, and is not part of the Buenos Aires province. 

What countries border Argentina?

While Argentina covers most of the southern portion of South America, Chile occupies the narrow strip of coastline to its west. Bolivia and Paraguay border Argentina on the north, and Brazil and Uruguay on the northeast. The southernmost tip of Argentina is not far from Antarctica, and Argentina has claimed a portion of Antarctica as its territory, though it is disputed and overlaps with territory claimed by Britain and Chile.

How big is Argentina?

Argentina is 2,780,400 square kilometers, which makes it the 8^th largest country by size and the largest Spanish speaking country in the world. Argentina contains 23 provinces and one autonomous city, Buenos Aires.

What is the population of Argentina?

Argentina’s population is estimated at around 40 million people.

What languages are spoken in Argentina?

Spanish is the primary and official language spoken in Argentina, but Italian, English, German, and French are also commonly spoken. Argentina is considered a country of immigrants because of colonization by Europeans in the 19^th and 20^th centuries. Most immigrants were from Spain and Italy, influencing the Spanish accent of Argentina, which is similar to Neapolitan Italian.

Several indigenous languages, including Araucano, Guarani, and Quechua are also recognized as regional languages.

When did Argentina achieve independence?

Argentina was first discovered by European explorers in 1516, and soon settled by the Spanish, who occupied much of South America at the time. The May Revolution in 1810 marked the beginning of Argentina’s fight for independence, beginning with rejecting Viceroy Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros, and instating a local government instead. The Argentine War of Independence lasted from 1810 to 1818, ending with independence from Spain declared on July 9, 1816.

Who are the Gauchos?

A gaucho is a South American cowboy from the Pampas region of Argentina as well as other parts of southern South America. In the region’s history, the nomadic, cattle-herding gauchos made up a large portion of the rural community, and are responsible for the high quality steaks for which Argentina is known. The gauchos served as a nationalistic symbol to represent freedom during the Argentinean revolution and journey for independence, not unlike the icon of the American cowboy: strong and willing to fight when necessary.

Does Argentina have an official religion?

Though the government is required to support Roman Catholicism, the people of Argentina are guaranteed religious freedom. Still, over 90% of Argentina’s population consider themselves Christian, primarily Roman Catholic. Argentina does, however, contain the largest Jewish population in Latin America.

What are the largest cities in Argentina?

1. Buenos Aires
2. Córdoba
3. Rosario
4. Mendoza
5. Tucumán

Where did tango originate?

The dance and music known as Tango originated in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Influenced by both African and European music styles, Tango was created by the working class of the Rio de la Plata region, which included many European immigrants. The style quickly spread and became popular among the upper class and around the world.