Saturday, January 28, 2012

Port Stanley, Falkland Islands



Geography: The Falklands are a compact group of more than 740 Islands, known as an archipelago, situated approximately 650 kilometres (400 miles) east of the Tierra del Fuego, off the south-eastern tip of South America in the South Atlantic Ocean. East and West Falkland are the largest of the islands.

About Stanley:  Stanley is the capital and only true city in the Falkland Islands located on East Falkland around picturesque Stanley Harbour.

Currency:  Falkland Pound (FKP)

National Symbol: Ram

National Anthem: "Song of the Falklands"

Language:  English

Area Comparison: The Falkland Islands are slightly smaller than the state of Connecticut

Distance from Pittsburgh:  10,457km or  6,498miles

Terrain: The land is rocky, hilly, and mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains.

Highest Point: Mount Usborne, located on East Falkland, 705m

Weather You Should Expect: The climate is cold marine with strong westerly winds, cloudy, and humid. Rain occurs on more than half of days in year and average annual rainfall is 24 inches in Stanley. There is occasional snow all year, except in January and February, but typically it does not accumulate!  It snows more in Pittsburgh!

Average Temperature in January: Low of 41 and a High of 57

What You Must See: There are 5 different species of penguins - Rockhopper, Gentoo, King, Magellanic and Macaroni. Seals, sea lions and many species of birds can also be seen on the islands, which were explored by Charles Darwin.

Historical Fact: Although first sighted by an English navigator - John Davis - in 1592, the first English landing did not occur until almost a century later in 1690, and the first settlement was French and 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.  

Science Trivia:  The Falkland Islands lie south of the 50th parallel. This means that they are further south than South Africa, Australia or New Zealand. Christ Church Cathedral, on the islands, is the southernmost in the world.

Interesting Facts: There is a cinema at the main military base on the islands.  School is only available in Port Stantley. Mobile reception has only been available since December 2005.  Many clothing and purchased goods have to be ordered from catelogs. There is a radio station and the police station contains the island's only prison - large enough to hold 13 people. 

Fun Fact:  There is only 2,400 people living on the Falkland Islands, excluding military personnel but there are over 700,000 sheep on the islands.

Everything You Need to Know About the Flag:

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