The DICT Development Group
1 definition found
for Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
From CIA World Factbook 2002 :
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Introduction Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
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Background: Although first sighted by an English
navigator in 1592, the first landing
(English) did not occur until almost
a century later in 1690, and the
first settlement (French) was not
established until 1764. The colony
was turned over to Spain two years
later and the islands have since
been the subject of a territorial
dispute, first between Britain and
Spain, then between Britain and
Argentina. The UK asserted its claim
to the islands by establishing a
naval garrison there in 1833.
Argentina invaded the islands on 2
April 1982. The British responded
with an expeditionary force that
landed seven weeks later and after
fierce fighting forced Argentine
surrender on 14 June 1982.
Geography Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
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Location: Southern South America, islands in
the South Atlantic Ocean, east of
southern Argentina
Geographic coordinates: 51 45 S, 59 00 W
Map references: South America
Area: total: 12,173 sq km
note: includes the two main islands
of East and West Falkland and about
200 small islands
water: 0 sq km
land: 12,173 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,288 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 NM
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate: cold marine; strong westerly winds,
cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more
than half of days in year;
occasional snow all year, except in
January and February, but does not
accumulate
Terrain: rocky, hilly, mountainous with some
boggy, undulating plains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m
Natural resources: fish, wildlife
Land use: arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (99% permanent pastures,
1% other) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: strong winds persist throughout the
year
Environment - current issues: overfishing by unlicensed vessels is
a problem; reindeer were introduced
to the islands in 2001 for
commercial reasons; this is the only
commercial reindeer herd in the
world unaffected by the Chornobyl
disaster
Geography - note: deeply indented coast provides good
natural harbors; short growing
season
People Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
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Population: 2,967 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA%
65 years and over: NA%
Population growth rate: 2.44% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ NA
AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Nationality: noun: Falkland Islander(s)
adjective: Falkland Island
Ethnic groups: British
Religions: primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic,
United Free Church, Evangelist
Church, Jehovah's Witnesses,
Lutheran, Seventh-Day Adventist
Languages: English
Government Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
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Country name: conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Falkland
Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK; also
claimed by Argentina
Government type: NA
Capital: Stanley
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK;
also claimed by Argentina)
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK;
also claimed by Argentina)
National holiday: Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Constitution: 3 October 1985; amended 1997 and
1998
Legal system: English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II
(since 6 February 1952)
elections: none; the monarchy is
hereditary; governor appointed by
the monarch
head of government: Governor Donald
LAMONT (since NA May 1999); note -
Howard PEARCE was elected governor
on 24 January 2002, but will not
take office until October 2002;
Chief Executive A. M. GURR (since
NA); Financial Secretary D. F.
HOWATT (since NA)
cabinet: Executive Council; three
members elected by the Legislative
Council, two ex officio members
(chief executive and the financial
secretary), and the governor
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (10
seats - 2 ex officio, 8 elected by
popular vote, members serve four-
year terms); presided over by the
governor
elections: last held 22 November
2001 (next to be held NA November
2005)
election results: percent of vote -
NA%; seats - independents 8; note -
71% voter turnout
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (chief justice is a
nonresident); Magistrates Court
(senior magistrate presides over
civil and criminal divisions); Court
of Summary Jurisdiction
Political parties and leaders: none; all independents
Political pressure groups and none
leaders:
International organization ICFTU
participation:
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK;
also claimed by Argentina)
Diplomatic representation from the none (overseas territory of the UK;
US: also claimed by Argentina)
Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the
upper hoist-side quadrant and the
Falkland Island coat of arms in a
white disk centered on the outer
half of the flag; the coat of arms
contains a white ram (sheep raising
is the major economic activity)
above the sailing ship Desire (whose
crew discovered the islands) with a
scroll at the bottom bearing the
motto DESIRE THE RIGHT
Economy Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
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Economy - overview: The economy was formerly based on
agriculture, mainly sheep farming,
but today fishing contributes the
bulk of economic activity. In 1987
the government began selling fishing
licenses to foreign trawlers
operating within the Falklands
exclusive fishing zone. These
license fees total more than $40
million per year, which goes to
support the island's health,
education, and welfare system. Squid
accounts for 75% of the fish taken.
Dairy farming supports domestic
consumption; crops furnish winter
fodder. Exports feature shipments of
high-grade wool to the UK and the
sale of postage stamps and coins.
The islands are now self-financing
except for defense. The British
Geological Survey announced a 200-
mile oil exploration zone around the
islands in 1993, and early seismic
surveys suggest substantial reserves
capable of producing 500,000 barrels
per day; to date no exploitable site
has been identified. An agreement
between Argentina and the UK in 1995
seeks to defuse licensing and
sovereignty conflicts that would
dampen foreign interest in
exploiting potential oil reserves.
Tourism is increasing rapidly, with
about 30,000 visitors in 2001. The
second largest source of income is
interest paid on money the
government has in the bank. The
British military presence also
provides a sizeable economic boost.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $52
million (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 1% (FY95/96 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $19,000
(FY95/96 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: NA%
percentage share: highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.6% (1998)
Labor force: 1,100 (est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding
and fishing)
Unemployment rate: full employment; labor shortage
Budget: revenues: $66.2 million
expenditures: $67.9 million,
including capital expenditures of
$23.2 million (FY98/99 est.)
Industries: wool and fish processing; sale of
stamps and coins; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 12 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (1999)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 11.2 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1999)
Agriculture - products: fodder and vegetable crops; sheep,
dairy products
Exports: $7.6 million (1995)
Exports - commodities: wool, hides, meat
Exports - partners: UK, Japan, Chile, NZ
Imports: $24.7 million (1995)
Imports - commodities: fuel, food and drink, building
materials, clothing
Imports - partners: UK, Japan, Chile, NZ
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: none
Currency: Falkland pound (FKP)
Currency code: FKP
Exchange rates: Falkland pounds per US dollar -
0.6981 (January 2002), 0.6944
(2001), 0.6596 (2000), 0.6180
(1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106
(1997); note - the Falkland pound is
at par with the British pound
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Communications Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
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Telephones - main lines in use: NA
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: general assessment: NA
domestic: government-operated
radiotelephone and private VHF/CB
radiotelephone networks provide
effective service to almost all
points on both islands
international: satellite earth
station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean) with links through London to
other countries
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 7, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 1,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (operated by the British Forces
Broadcasting Service)
note: cable television is available
in Stanley (2002)
Televisions: 1,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .fk
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (2000)
Internet users: NA; however one-half of all
households are reported to have
internet access (2002)
Transportation Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
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Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 550 km
paved: at least 50 km
unpaved: NA (2002)
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Stanley
Merchant marine: none (2002 est.)
Airports: 5 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 1 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3 3
under 914 m: 3 (2001)
Military Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
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Military branches: British Forces Falkland Islands no
regular indigenous military forces;
(includes Army, Royal Air Force, and
Royal Navy), Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar $NA
figure:
Military expenditures - percent of NA%
GDP:
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the
UK
Transnational Issues Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
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Disputes - international: claimed by Argentina
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