Situated between the latitudes of 51° and 53° south and 57° and 62° west in the South Atlantic Ocean, the Falkland Islands are approximately 650 kilometres (400 miles) from the south-eastern tip of South America.
The Falklands appear dwarfed by their large neighbour but have a total land area of around 12,000 square kilometres (4,700 miles) equivalent to about half of Wales or the state of Connecticut in the USA. With a permanent population of around 3,600 there is a lot of land for everyone to enjoy.
The archipelago consists of over 740 islands. The two main islands are East Falkland and West Falkland, with other smaller islands of varying sizes, some just tiny rocky outcrops or tussac-covered flatlands. East Falkland is home to the capital, Stanley, and most of the Island’s people. East and West Falkland, along with some of the small islands offer visitor accommodation as well as opportunities for day-trippers from cruise vessels.
Coastline varies from rugged coastal cliffs to long miles of undisturbed white sand beaches interspersed with rocky headlands and large kelp forests. Many sheltered harbours are found around the coast. Hills, wide open plains and stone runs characterise different parts of the Islands. Mount Usborne on East Falkland is the highest peak at 705 metres (2,312 feet).
The Falklands have an oceanic climate with temperatures ranging from 25°C to -5°C. Prevailing westerly winds lower temperatures and have created a notable difference between the east and west both in terms of climate and flora. Islands of the west are significantly drier and experience more sunshine than those on the east. Higher rainfall on the east encourages the growth of ferns and tussac grass.
Hours of sunshine are similar to the south coast of England (over 1,700 hours on average each year).
A typical summer day will be windy with blue sky and sunshine.
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