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FALKLAND ISLANDS (ISLAS MALVINAS)

 (dependent territory of the UK) 

@Falkland Islands (islas Malvinas):Geography

 Location: Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean,
 east of southern Argentina

 Map references: South America
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
FALKLAND ISLANDS - MAJOR CITIES 
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                                        Latitude,      Internat'l     Time   
                        Population      Longitude      Phone Code     Zone   
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
STANLEY                      1,000    51.42S, 57.51W           N/A   GMT-4   
San Carlos                     N/A    51.40S, 59.01W           N/A   GMT-4   
Darwin                         N/A    51.50S, 59.00W           N/A   GMT-4   
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Area:
 total area: 12,170 sq km
 land area: 12,170 sq km
 comparative area: slightly smaller than Connecticut
 note: includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and
 about 200 small islands

 Land boundaries: 0 km

 Coastline: 1,288 km

 Maritime claims:
 continental shelf: 200 nm
 exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
 territorial sea: 12 nm

 International disputes: administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina

 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

 Natural resources: fish, wildlife

 Land use:
 arable land: 0%
 permanent crops: 0%
 meadows and pastures: 99%
 forest and woodland: 0%
 other: 1%

 Irrigated land: NA sq km

 Environment:
 current issues: NA
 natural hazards: strong winds persist throughout the year
 international agreements: NA

 Note: deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short
 growing season

@Falkland Islands (islas Malvinas):People

 Population: 2,317 (July 1995 est.)

 Age structure:
 0-14 years: NA
 15-64 years: NA
 65 years and over: NA

 Population growth rate: 2.43% (1995 est.)

 Birth rate: NA

 Death rate: NA

 Net migration rate: NA

 Infant mortality rate: NA

 Life expectancy at birth: NA

 Total fertility rate: NA

 Nationality:
 noun: Falkland Islander(s)
 adjective: Falkland Island

 Ethnic divisions: British

 Religions: primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church,
 Evangelist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day
 Adventist

 Languages: English

 Labor force: 1,100 (est.)
 by occupation: agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding)

@Falkland Islands (islas Malvinas):Government

 Names:
 conventional long form: Colony of the Falkland Islands
 conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

 Digraph: FA

 Type: dependent territory of the UK

 Capital: Stanley

 Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)

 Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)

 National holiday: Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)

 Constitution: 3 October 1985

 Legal system: English common law

 Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

 Executive branch:
 chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
 head of government: Governor David Everard TATHAM (since August 1992)
 cabinet: Executive Council; 3 members elected by the Legislative
 Council, 2 ex-officio members (chief executive and the financial
 secretary), and the governor

 Legislative branch: unicameral
 Legislative Council: elections last held 11 October 1989 (next to be
 held October 1994); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (10
 total, 8 elected) independents 8

 Judicial branch: Supreme Court

 Political parties and leaders: NA

 Member of: ICFTU

 Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the UK)

 US diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)

 Flag: 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

 Overview: The economy was formerly based on agriculture, mainly sheep
 farming, which directly or indirectly employs most of the work force.
 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. Rich stocks of fish in the
 surrounding waters are not presently exploited by the islanders. So
 far, efforts to establish a domestic fishing industry have been
 unsuccessful. The economy has diversified since 1987 when 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 and support the island's
 health, education, and welfare system. To encourage tourism, the
 Falkland Islands Development Corporation has built three lodges for
 visitors attracted by the abundant wildlife and trout fishing. 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.

 National product: GDP $NA

 National product real growth rate: NA%

 National product per capita: $NA

 Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.4% (1980-87 average)

 Unemployment rate: NA%; labor shortage

 Budget:
 revenues: $65 million
 expenditures: $55.2 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
 (1992-93)

 Exports: at least $14.7 million
 commodities: wool, hides and skins, and meat
 partners: UK, Netherlands, Japan (1987 est.)

 Imports: at least $13.9 million
 commodities: food, clothing, timber, and machinery
 partners: UK, Netherlands Antilles (Curacao), Japan (1987 est.)

 External debt: $NA

 Industrial production: growth rate NA%

 Electricity:
 capacity: 9,200 kW
 production: 17 million kWh
 consumption per capita: 7,253 kWh (1993)

 Industries: wool and fish processing

 Agriculture: predominantly sheep farming; small dairy herds; some
 fodder and vegetable crops

 Economic aid:
 recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
 commitments (1992-93), $87 million

 Currency: 1 Falkland pound (#F) = 100 pence

 Exchange rates: Falkland pound (#F) per US$1 - 0.6350 (January 1995),
 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5604
 (1990); note - the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound

 Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

@Falkland Islands (islas Malvinas):Transportation

 Railroads: 0 km

 Highways:
 total: 510 km
 paved: 30 km
 unpaved: gravel 80 km; unimproved earth 400 km

 Ports: Stanley

 Merchant marine: none

 Airports:
 total: 5
 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
 with paved runways under 914 m: 4

@Falkland Islands (islas Malvinas):Communications

 Telephone system: 590 telephones
 local: NA
 intercity: government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB radio
 networks provide effective service to almost all points on both
 islands
 international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station with links
 through London to other countries

 Radio:
 broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0
 radios: NA

 Television:
 broadcast stations: 0
 televisions: NA

@Falkland Islands (islas Malvinas):Defense Forces

 Branches: British Forces Falkland Islands (includes Army, Royal Air
 Force, Royal Navy, and Royal Marines), Police Force

 Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

 Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK


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