Home > Countries > South America > Falkland Islands
Country Name
The Falkland Islands. It comprises East Falkland, West Falkland, and 776 smaller islands.
Location
It lies about 480 kilometers northeast of the southern tip of South America and a similar distance east of the Strait of Magellan.
Capital
Stanley.
Reasons for Naming the Country
The name “Falkland Islands” comes from Falkland* Sound, the strait that separates the two main islands. The name “Falkland” was applied to the channel by John Strong, captain of an English expedition that landed on the islands in 1690.
*The Falkland Sound is a sea strait in the Falkland Islands. Running southwest-northeast, it separates West and East Falkland.
Flag
The current flag of the Falkland Islands was adopted on January 25, 1999, and consists of a defaced blue ensign with the Union Flag in the canton and the Falkland Islands coat of arms on the fly. The flag of Falkland Island symbolizes its association with Britain, as it is one of its overseas territories. The ship symbolizes the Desire, a vessel that is believed to have been used by Captain John Davis when he discovered the Falkland Islands in 1592. The ram represents sheep farming, a major economic industry in the country, while the tussock grass represents the most notable native vegetation in the country. The motto, scrolled at the bottom of the arms, represents what the Falkland people stand for.
Language
British English is the official language in the Falkland Islands.
Religion
Religion on the Falkland Islands is predominantly Christianity, of which the primary denominations are the Church of England, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, and Lutheran.
Currency
Falklands pound (FKP).
Time Zone
-03:00 GMT.
Government Regime
As a British overseas territory, the Falklands have internal self-governance, and the United Kingdom takes responsibility for its defense and foreign affairs.
Climate
The climate of the Falkland Islands is cold maritime: winter is cold, windy, and snowy, while summer is very cool, if not cold, and it’s rainy and windy as well. The humidity is high, and the sky is often cloudy throughout the year. In autumn and winter, the wind can be stormy. On the Falkland Islands, the sun is rarely seen in winter, when the sky is often cloudy, while in late spring and summer, all in all, it shines for a decent number of hours. The average daily temperature of the warmest months, January and February, is about 10 °C (50 °F), with highs around 14 °C (57 °F), while the average of the coldest months, namely June, July, and August, is about 2 °C (35 °F), with highs around 3 or 4 °C (37 or 39 °F). This means that the climate of these islands is almost subpolar, and it’s similar to that of Iceland, although it’s slightly milder.
The highest recorded temperature is 26 °C (79 °F), while the lowest is -11 °C (12 °F). However, in the colder period, from April to October, snowfalls are frequent; moreover, wind and humidity increase the feeling of cold. Some cold nights, with temperatures around freezing (0 °C or 32 °F), are possible even in summer, and in inland hills, snowfalls can occur even in this season.
International Phone Code
+500
Internet Code
.fk
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