Page last updated on November 15, 2012

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

Geographic coordinates:
51 45 S, 59 00 W

Map references:
South America

Area:
total: 12,173 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 165
land: 12,173 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and about 200 small islands

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries:
0 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]

Coastline:
1,288 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

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

Climate:
cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more than half of days in year; average annual rainfall is 24 inches in Stanley; occasional snow all year, except in January and February, but typically does not accumulate

Terrain:
rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - lowest point country ranks ]
highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m

Natural resources:
fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss

Land use:
arable land: 0%
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (99% permanent pastures, 1% other) (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Natural hazards:
strong winds persist throughout the year

Environment - current issues:
overfishing by unlicensed vessels is a problem; reindeer were introduced to the islands in 2001 for commercial reasons; this is the only commercial reindeer herd in the world unaffected by the 1986 Chornobyl disaster

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