Falkland Islands - Islas Malvinas

Introduction The Falkland Islands (Falkland Islands in English) are an archipelago located in the extreme south of South America, less than 500 km from the PatagoniaArgentina. It is mainly made up of two large islands and hundreds of islets that surround them. The islands have been part of a historic conflict for their sovereignty between the Argentina and the United Kingdom, which currently manages it.

Capital Port Stanley Idiom English Surface 12,173 km² Population 3 140 (2008) Currency Falkland Islands pound Time zone UTC-4 (UTC-3 in summer) Telephone prefix 500

Context

Map of the islands, with the official Argentine toponymy.

Dispute

After their discovery by European explorers, the sovereignty of the islands was disputed during the 18th century by the empires French, Spanish Y British. Around 1800, the Spanish Empire had a small colony on the islands that it administered from Buenos Aires therefore, after its independence, Argentina claimed dominion over the archipelago. In 1833, however, a British military expedition occupied the archipelago, giving rise to a territorial dispute that continues to this day. Since that date, the United Kingdom has ruled the territory, except for a few months in 1982 during the Argentine occupation within the framework of the Malvinas War.

At present, the United Kingdom effectively administers the archipelago as an overseas territory. The inhabitants, mostly of British origin and known as kelpers They have rejected any negotiation on the sovereignty of the islands and have voted overwhelmingly to maintain their status in several referendums. On the other hand, Argentina considers the islands as an "integral and indivisible part" and that it is "illegally occupied by an invading power." The Malvinas are considered by Argentina as part of the Province of Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica and the South Atlantic Islands, as well as the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, also under British administration.

Internationally, the Falkland Islands are one of the 17 territories on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories and their status has been reviewed annually by the Decolonization Committee since 1965. Officially, the United Nations classifies the sovereignty of the territory as in dispute.

Many tourists are attracted, not only by the natural beauty of the territory but also by this historic international dispute. Several sites of interest are related to the war of 1982 and, without a doubt, many will want to know the opinion of the islanders on the matter. Beyond the Argentine claim, in everyday life the British administration is indisputable, so the tourist must comply, for example, with the immigration regulations of the United Kingdom, use the pound as currency and even drive on the left.

To get

Inside the terminal of the Carlos Ibáñez del Campo International Airport, from where flights to the Malvinas Islands depart.

It can be reached by air from the Presidente Carlos Ibáñez del Campo International Airport, located near the Chilean city of Punta Arenas, in the extreme south of the country.

To enter the islands, will require a passport (no need for a visa) tourists from Germany, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, chili, Cyprus, Vatican City, South Korea, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, United States,Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, malt, New Zealand, Norway, Netherlands, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, San Marino, South Africa, Sweden, Swiss, Taiwan, United Kingdom Y Uruguay, as well as people with a passport issued by the Red Cross or the United Nations.

The other countries will require a visa, which can be processed at the closest consulate or embassy to your country.

Islands