Geography of the Falkland Islands

Located near Southern South America, The Falkland Islands are in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of southern Argentina. Geographic coordinates:\n51°45' S, 59°00' W\n

Map references:\nSouth America\n

Area:\n
total:\n12,173 sq km\n
land:\n12,173 sq km\n
water:\n0 sq km\n
note:\nincludes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and about 200 small islands. Smaller islands include Barren Island, Beauchene Island, Beaver Island, Bleaker Island, Carcass Island, George Island, Keppel Island, Lively Island, New Island, Pebble Island, Saunders Island, Sealion Island, Speedwell Island, Staats Island, Tea Island, Weddell Island, West Point Island and the Jason Islands.\n

Area - comparative:\nslightly smaller than Connecticut\n

Land boundaries:\n0 km\n

Coastline:\n1,288 km\n

Maritime claims:\n
continental shelf:\n200 nm\n
exclusive fishing zone:\n200 nm\n
territorial sea:\n12 nm\n

Climate:\ncold 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\n

Terrain:\nrocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains\n

Elevation extremes:\n
lowest point:\nAtlantic Ocean 0 m\n
highest point:\nMount Usborne 705 m\n

Natural resources:\nfish, wildlife\n

Land use:\n
arable land:\n0%\n
permanent crops:\n0%\n
permanent pastures:\n99%\n
forests and woodland:\n0%\n
other:\n1% (1993 est.)\n

Irrigated land:\nNA sq km\n

Natural hazards:\nstrong winds persist throughout the year\n

Environment - current issues:\nNA\n

Geography - note:\ndeeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season

See also : Falkland Islands

Category:Falkland Islands