THE FALKLAND ISLANDS AND DEPENDENCIES

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Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP83B00231R000100180001-4
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
C
Document Page Count: 
9
Document Creation Date: 
December 21, 2016
Document Release Date: 
December 17, 2007
Sequence Number: 
1
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Publication Date: 
April 1, 1982
Content Type: 
REPORT
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Approved For Release 2007/12/17: CIA-RDP83B00231 R0001 00180001-4 Approved For Release 2007/12/17: CIA-RDP83B00231 R000100180001-4 Approved For Release 2007/12/17: CIA-RDP83B00231 R0001 00180001-4 Directorate of Intelligence The Falkland Islands and Dependencies A Geographical Reference Aid Confidential Confidential GI 82-10075 April 1982 Copy 512 Approved For Release 2007/12/17: CIA-RDP83B00231 R000100180001-4 Approved For Release 2007/12/17: CIA-RDP83B00231 R0001 00180001-4 Approved For Release 2007/12/17: CIA-RDP83B00231 R000100180001-4 Approved For Release 2007/12/17: CIA-RDP83B00231 R0001 00180001-4 The Falkland Islands and Dependencies A Geographic Reference Aid Information available as of 7 April 1982 has been used in the preparation of this report. Geography Division, Office of Global Issues. Comments and queries are welcome and may be directed to the Chief, Africa-Latin America Branch, The author of this paper is This paper was coordinated with the National Intelligence Council Confidential GI 82-10075 April 1982 Approved For Release 2007/12/17: CIA-RDP83B00231 R000100180001-4 Approved For Release 2007/12/17: CIA-RDP83B00231 R0001 00180001-4 The Falkland Islands and Dependencies A Geographic Reference Aid Information available as of 7 April 1982 has been used in the preparation of this report. Geography Division, Office of Global Issues. Comments and queries are welcome and may be directed to the Chief, Africa-Latin America Branch, The author of this paper is This paper was coordinated with the National Intelligence Council Confidential GI 82-10075 April 1982 Approved For Release 2007/12/17: CIA-RDP83B00231 R000100180001-4 Approved For Release 2007/12/17: CIA-RDP83B00231 R0001 00180001-4 Climate. In these bleak islands, strong, cold westerly winds prevail throughout the year. Stanley, the only place where long-term metoerological records have been kept, receives an annual precipitation of about 670 mm (26 inches). Skies are usually cloudy and humidity is invariably high; precipitation occurs on more than half the days of every month of the year. Snow may fall during any month but even in winter does not remain on the ground for long periods. Average daily temperatures during July, the coldest month, range from -1 ? to 4? Celsius; during Janu- ary, the warmest month, the range is from 6? to 13? Celsius. Winds average more than 15 knots. Vegetation. The natural vegetation, limited to grasses, heath, and small shrubs, offers little cover or conceal- ment. Trees do not grow naturally in the cold, windy climate, and those that are planted usually die. Broad areas in the uplands are practically barren. The grasses are the single most important resource of the islands, as they provide pasturage for sheep. Peat, available in abundance, is dried and used as a heating Harbors, Beaches, and Landing Places. Although the bays and inlets provide many safe anchorages, the only port for oceangoing vessels is at Stanley. Its protected harbor is entered via Port William, an anchorage suitable for ships of all draughts. Larger vessels are prevented from entering Stanley harbor by shallow depths and limited turning space; they must remain in Port William and transfer cargo by smaller craft. Many of the small settlements have jetties to serve the boats that ply back and forth to Stanley bringing in supplies and carrying out bales of wool for Climatic Indicators for Stanley I I I I I I I I I I I I I Average Max. Temp. Average Min. Temp. The People. The total population of the Falkland Islands prior to the Argentine takeover was approxi- mately 1,825. About 1,075 of the inhabitants lived in Stanley; the rest lived in some 30 or more settlements on East Falkland, West Falkland, and a dozen smaller islands. The native population is almost wholly Brit- ish, many of Scottish origin. Working-age males Approved For Release 2007/12/17: CIA-RDP83B00231 R000100180001-4 Approved For Release 2007/12/17: CIA-RDP83B00231 R0001 00180001-4 predominate because of a net emigration of females and immigration of males between the ages of 15 and 64. Almost half the male population is employed in the sheep- farming industry. Labor shortages have been a critical problem, and contract labor has com- monly been brought in from the United Kingdom Over the past 50 years the population has gradually declined from a high of about 2,400 in 1931, as many of the young people have sought opportunities else- where. The small settlements have suffered most of the decline; the population of Stanley has remained fairly stable. Living standards are good, and the inhabitants overwhelmingly favor retaining their ties to the United Kingdom. Economy. Sheep farming has long been the most important economic activity in the Falklands. Today there are more than 640,000 sheep on the islands. The wool, which is of high quality, is exported to the United Kingdom. Whales and seals were exploited extensively in and around the islands, particularly during the 19th century, but the last whaling station, on South Georgia, ceased operating in the early 1960s. In spite of the potentially good fishing grounds south and east of the islands, no commercial fishing industry has developed. A few people fish part-time to supplement their incomes and provide fish for local consumption There are no important mineral resources on the Falkland Islands proper, but there has been much speculation about petroleum deposits offshore be- tween the islands and the Argentine coast. The most recent geophysical information does not support opti- mism that these deposits are of great economic impor- tance. Significant finds might still be made, but commercial development would be difficult and ex- pensive because of the unfavorable operating condi- tions. The Dependencies The Dependencies of the Falkland Islands include South Georgia, the South Sandwich Islands, Shag Rocks, Clerke Rocks, and several other scattered rocks and islets. A cold, inhospitable climate and a lack of natural resources discourage habitation. Sci- entific stations are the only permanent settlements in the Dependencies. South Georgia, the largest island of the Dependencies, is located 725 nautical miles east-southeast of the Falkland Islands. Rugged and mountainous, with elevations as high as 2,934 meters, it is covered entirely by snow and glaciers much of the year. In summer (December-February) the snow line may rise Confidential to 450 meters. Vegetation on the island consists of a few species of grasses, lichens, and mosses; the only land mammals are reindeer, introduced in the early part of this century, which now number about 2,000. The irregular, deeply indented coast provides many safe anchorages, and the island once had whaling stations at Leith, Grytviken, and several other sites. The stations have fallen into disuse with the decline of whaling activities in the region and the development of whaling factory ships. A British scientific station at Grytviken, the only permanently inhabited place on the island, was captured by Argentine forces on 3 April. The South Sandwich Islands are a string of rugged, steep-sided, volcanic islands lying about 350 nautical miles southeast of South Georgia. Unlike South Geor- gia, this group includes few anchorages, and most of the places that are suitable for landing are subject to continuing volcanic activity. In 1976 Argentina set up a scientific base on. Southern Thule, the southernmost island of the chain. British protests resulted in a mutual agreement that Argentine scientific activity in the area had no sovereignty implications. 25X1 The South Shetland Islands, South Orkney Islands, and other lands within the British-claimed sector of the Antarctic were separated from the Falkland Is- land Dependencies in 1962 and are now administered 25X1 as the British Antarctic Territory.F I Other Jurisdictional Implications Besides the question of sovereignty over the Falkland Islands themselves, occupation of the islands has implications for jurisdictional claims over ocean re- sources in a broad region around the Falklands and in Antarctica. At stake are some potentially good fishing grounds that fall within the 200-mile economic zones around the islands, and the resources of the wide continental shelf en which the islands are located. The Argentines believe that their claims in Antarctica, which overlap those of the United Kingdom, are reinforced by possession of territory immediately to the north. 25X1 The long dispute between Argentina and Chile over sovereignty issues in the area of the Beagle Channel may also be strongly affected by the outcome of the current crisis in the Falklands. The success of Argen- 25X1 tina's invasion of the Falklands may tempt it to use military force rather than diplomacy to achieve its objectives in the Beagle Channel area Approved For Release 2007/12/17: CIA-RDP83B00231 R000100180001-4 Approved For Release 2007/12/17: CIA-RDP83B00231 R0001 00180001-4 Falkland Islands Chronology ' 1592 English navigator John Davis reaches the Falkland Islands. 1598 Sebald van Weert, a Dutch navigator, sails along the northern shore of the Falklands and probably visits some of the islands, perhaps the Jasons. ,1690 Capt. John Strong makes the first recorded landing on the Falklands and names the sound between the two main islands "Fawkland Sound"-a name soon associated with the island group as a whole. 1764 Louis de Bouginville, sailing under a French flag, establishes a settlement on East 'Falkland. 1765 Capt. John Byron, sent out on a survey expedition, claims the islands for Great Britain and leaves a small party on Saunders Island. 1766 The French settlement on East Falkland is, under pressure, transferred to Spain. 1767 Spaniards raise flag on East Falkland; the French name for the islands, Malouines, is hispanicized on Spanish documents to Islas Malvinas. 1770 Spanish warships bombard the settlement on Saunders Island and force the British to abandon the islands. Spain maintains unbroken line of governors in Falklands from 1767 to 1810. 1810-20 Argentina gains independence from Spain and claims sovereignty over the Falklands; the first Argentine Government official is sent to the islands in 1820. 1828-31 Buenos Aires grants Louis Vernet, a Frenchman, certain rights over exploitation of resources on the island. Vernet seizes several US sealing vessels for alleged violations of fishing rights. 1831 US corvette Lexington lays waste to the Argentine settlement on East Falkland and proclaims the islands "free of all governance." 1833 Great Britain, which has never renounced its claims to sovereignty, sends warship Clio to retake islands. Argentine flag is lowered and long British rule commences. 1966 A group of Argentines, apparently acting without the approval of their govern- ment, attempt unsuccessfully to invade the islands. When they return to Argentina, they are greeted as heroes. 1982 Argentina invades the Falkland Islands. ' The historical record on which this chronology is based is incomplete and subject to dispute. Approved For Release 2007/12/17: CIA-RDP83B00231 R000100180001-4 Approved For Release 2007/12/17: CIA-RDP83B00231 R0001 00180001-4 Confidential Confidential Approved For Release 2007/12/17: CIA-RDP83B00231 R000100180001-4