Skip to main content

WFBThe World Factbook

Countries
Maps
References
About

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Photos

4 Photos

4 Photos

Filter Categories

All

Filters

All

A Stanley shoreline view with a cruise ship in the background. Stanley is the only "city" on the islands (population about 2,100) and is the main shopping area.

A Stanley shoreline view with a cruise ship in the background. Stanley is the only "city" on the islands (population about 2,100) and is the main shopping area.

A mid-summer Stanley neighborhood scene.

A mid-summer Stanley neighborhood scene.

Colorful blossoms brighten a park in Stanley.

Colorful blossoms brighten a park in Stanley.

The Falkland Islands lie about 600 km (400 mi) east of Argentina and 1,350 km (850 mi) north of the Antarctic Circle. There are 778 islands in this territory of the United Kingdom, but just two large islands - East Falkland and West Falkland - comprise the bulk of the Connecticut-sized landmass.

Few trees grow on the islands. Instead, grassland and heath - which is widely used as pastureland for sheep and cattle - dominate the landscape. The islands are home to nearly 500,000 sheep and 5,000 cattle, and the animals far outnumber the 2,600 permanent human residents. About 80% of the population resides in the capital of Stanley.

Farmers often burn pastureland in the early spring to encourage growth. When ewes and lambs are born, they move the young animals to recently-burned areas to graze. This satellite image captures a glimpse of a few agricultural fires west of Stanley. Image courtesy of NASA.

The Falkland Islands lie about 600 km (400 mi) east of Argentina and 1,350 km (850 mi) north of the Antarctic Circle. There are 778 islands in this territory of the United Kingdom, but just two large islands - East Falkland and West Falkland - comprise the bulk of the Connecticut-sized landmass.

Few trees grow on the islands. Instead, grassland and heath - which is widely used as pastureland for sheep and cattle - dominate the landscape. The islands are home to nearly 500,000 sheep and 5,000 cattle, and the animals far outnumber the 2,600 permanent human residents. About 80% of the population resides in the capital of Stanley.

Farmers often burn pastureland in the early spring to encourage growth. When ewes and lambs are born, they move the young animals to recently-burned areas to graze. This satellite image captures a glimpse of a few agricultural fires west of Stanley. Image courtesy of NASA.

Usage

Factbook images and photos — obtained from a variety of sources — are in the public domain and are copyright free.

View Copyright Notice

Agency

About CIA
Organization
Director of the CIA
CIA Museum
News & Stories

Careers

Working at CIA
How We Hire
Student Programs
Browse CIA Jobs

Resources

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
Center for the Study of Intelligence (CSI)
The World Factbook
Spy Kids

Connect with CIA

Instagram Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Youtube Flickr

Search CIA.gov Site Policies Privacy No FEAR Act Inspector General USA.gov Sitemap