Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas): Geography#
Location | Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about 500 km east of southern Argentina |
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Geographic Coordinates | 51 45 S, 59 00 W -51.75,-59.0 |
Land boundaries | 0 km |
Coastline | 1,288 km |
Elevation Extremes | lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m |
Highest Mountains | |
Terrain | rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains |
Natural Hazards | strong winds persist throughout the year |
Natural Resource | fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss |
Land Use | arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (99% permanent pastures, 1% other) (2011) |
Climate | cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more than half of days in year; average annual rainfall is 24 inches in Stanley; occasional snow all year, except in January and February, but typically does not accumulate |
Irrigated Land | NA |
Renewable Water Resources | NA |
Environment_CurrentIssues | overfishing by unlicensed vessels is a problem; reindeer were introduced to the islands in 2001 for commercial reasons; this is the only commercial reindeer herd in the world unaffected by the 1986 Chornobyl disaster |
Environment - international agreements | NA |
Large Cities | |
Geography-note | deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season |