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Country Guide > South America > Falkland Islands | |
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General Information Area 12,173 sq km (4700 sq miles). Population 2,913 (2001). Population Density 0.24 per sq km. Capital Stanley. Population: 1,981 (2001). Geography The Falkland Islands are located 560km (350 miles) off the east coast of South America and consist of two main islands and hundreds of small outlying islands, amounting to approximately 3 million acres (1.2 million hectares). Generally, the main islands are mountainous, with low-lying and undulating terrain in the south of East Falkland. The highest mountain is Mount Usborne at 712m (2312ft). Government British Overseas Territory since 1833. Not recognised by Argentina, which considers the Falkland Islands to be part of Argentina. Existing Constitution adopted in 1985. Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor Howard Pearce since 2002. The Governor presides over the Executive Council, the country’s ruling body. The Executive Council consists of two official members and three elected members. Elections are held every four years. Language English. Religion Christian. Time GMT - 3 (GMT - 4 from third Sunday in April to first Saturday in September). Electricity 240 volts AC, 50Hz. Communications Telephone IDD available. Country code: 500. Outgoing international code: 00. External communication links and Internet services are provided by Cable & Wireless plc (website: www.cw.com). Telephone links to the Islands, which are by satellite, provide clear and rapid links to the outside world. The Cable & Wireless office is open daily 0800-2000 for acceptance of traffic and sale of phone cards for use in the international telephone service booths situated in the office. Mobile telephone There is currently no network coverage on the Falkland Islands. Fax A system spans the Islands providing international direct-dialling facilities, together with high-speed data services. Radio Remote areas still keep in contact by radio. Internet There is an Internet cafe in Stanley. The main ISPs are Cable & Wireless Plc and U-Net. Post Airmail to Europe takes four to seven days. Press There are no daily papers on the Falkland Islands, but Penguin News (weekly) and Teaberry Express (weekly) are published in Stanley and all British national newspapers are also available. The Falkland Islands Gazette is a government publication. The Falkland Islands News Network relays news daily via fax. Media Satellite television channels are widely available. Radio BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online. |