Falkland Islands

Falkland Islands, a self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom, is a group of islands in the South Atlantic, 240 miles East of Tierra del Fuego. It was discovered in 1592 by Davis. It was purchased from the French in 1764 by Spain, but afterwards ceded to Britain, by whom they were occupied in 1833 and used as a convict settlement until 1852. Although Argentina maintained its claim to the islands. In 1982, after Argentina's invasion of the islands, the Falklands War resulted in the surrender of Argentine forces and the return of the islands to British administration. Besides East and West Falkland there are upwards of 100 small islands, mostly barren. Wheat and flax are raised, but sheep-farming is the main industry.

Nearby pages
Fall of Foyers, Fallopian tubes, Falmouth, False Easting, False Northing