FALKLAND ISLANDS

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Context:

Researchers have found evidence that the treeless, rugged, grassland landscape of the Falkland Islands was home to a lush, diverse rainforest up to 30 million years ago.

Details

The Falkland is an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean on the Patagonian Shelf. The archipelago, with an area of 12,000 km2, comprises East Falkland, West Falkland, and 776 smaller islands.

Administration

As a British overseas territory, the Falklands have internal self-governance, but the United Kingdom takes responsibility for their defence and foreign affairs. The capital and largest settlement is Stanley on East Falkland.

• Dispute: The UK and Argentina both assert sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.
• Ethnic groups: Falkland Islander 48.3%, British 23.1%, St. Helenian 7.5%, Chilean 4.6%.
• Languages: English 89%, Spanish 7.7%, other 3.3%
• Religions: Christian 57.1%, none 35.4%.
• Culture: Falklands culture is based on the cultural traditions of its British settlers but has also been influenced by Hispanic South America.

Geographical aspect

The islands are predominantly mountainous and hilly, with the major exception being the depressed plains of Lafonia (a peninsula forming the southern part of East Falkland). The Falklands consists of continental crust fragments resulting from the break-up of Gondwana and the opening of the South Atlantic.

The archipelago's highest point is Mount Usborne. The climate of the islands is cold, windy, and humid maritime. Strong westerly winds and cloudy skies are common.

Biodiversity

The Falkland Islands are biogeographically part of the Antarctic zone, with strong connections to the flora and fauna of Patagonia in mainland South America, it holds a significant proportion (between 30 and 50%) of the world populations of gentoo and rockhopper penguins.

Land birds make up most of the Falklands' avifauna. The only endemic bird species on the Falkland Islands are the flightless Falkland steamer duck and Cobb's wren. There is also abundant arthropod diversity on the islands.

Recent findings

Tens of millions of years ago the climate in the South Atlantic was much warmer and wetter than today and capable of supporting a rainforest environment. Many of the tree species growing on the Falklands are now extinct but would have seeded on the islands by being carried on the prevailing westerly winds from rainforests that covered much of the southern hemisphere.

Source:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falkland_Islands

https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/falkland-islands-islas-malvinas/#energy

https://epaper.thehindu.com/ccidist-ws/th/th_delhi/issues/100428/OPS/G8ADC332D.1+GSBDC4V3B.1.html