Falkland Islands

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British crown colony in the South Atlantic, 480 km/300 mi east of the Straits of Magellan; area 12,173 sq km/4,700 sq mi, made up of two main islands: East Falkland (6,760 sq km/2,610 sq mi) and West Falkland (5,413 sq km/2,090 sq mi); population (2001 est) 2,400. The capital is Stanley, the main port, which was extended and modernized in 1984. The main economic activities are sheep farming and wool processing, fishing and the production of alginates (used as dyes and as a food additive) from seaweed beds, and fishing. The islands are heavily dependent on imports, especially fuels, foodstuffs, textiles, hardware, and machinery. The accessibility of the islands was greatly improved by the completion of Mount Pleasant Airport in 1985.

History
The first European to visit the islands was Englishman John Davis in 1592; at the end of the 17th century they were named after Lord Falkland, treasurer of the British navy. West Falkland was settled by the French in 1764. The first British settlers arrived in 1765; Spain bought out a French settlement in 1766, and the British were ejected (1770–71), but British sovereignty was never ceded, and from 1833, when a few Argentines were expelled, British settlement was continuous.

The national colours are taken from the Rusyn arms of 1848. Effective date: 28 January 1992. >>