The Falkland Islands (Malvinas) is an archipelago in the southern Atlantic, approximately 470 kilometers east of the Argentinean coast of South America. The English-language component of the name of the islands comes from the name of the strait between the largest islands of the archipelago, which, in turn, was named after the British navigator John Strong in honor of his patron Anthony Carey, 5th Viscount Falkland. The Spanish-language component comes from the French name for the islands (Îles Malouines), which was given by Louis Antoine de Bougainville in honor of the first settlers in the archipelago who arrived from the French port city of Saint-Malo.
The archipelago consists of two islands: West and East Falkland, separated by the Falkland Pass Strait, and more than 770 small islands and rocks, among which the largest are Pebble, Weddell, Saunders, Lively, Beaver, Speedwell and several others. The total land area of \u200b\u200bthe islands of the archipelago is more than 12 thousand square kilometers.
Currently, the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) are united into a territorial entity called the British Overseas Territory of the Falkland Islands. Possessing relative autonomy, this territorial formation is quite densely dependent on the mother country in the main directions of its political life. The ownership of the islands by the British crown is disputed by Argentina, which considers the islands to be part of its territory and stubbornly includes them in the provinces of Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica and the islands of the South Atlantic.
View of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) from space.
Story.
Since there was no indigenous population on the islands before their discovery, the history of the archipelago should be calculated precisely from this event. British historians believe that the islands were discovered between 1591 and 1592 by the English captain John Davis, who, under his command, had a ship included in the expedition of the British pirate Thomas Cavendish. Argentines believe that the Spaniards were the discoverers of the islands.
In the period 1763-1765, the islands of the archipelago were explored by the French navigator Louis Antoine de Bougainville. In the middle of 1764, he founded a settlement on the island of East Falkland, which was named Saint Louis and is considered the first settlement on the islands. In early 1765, the British captain John Byron, who was not aware of the presence of the French on the islands, explored the island of Saunders, which he immediately declared possession of the British crown. Byron called Port Egmont a small settlement of sailors of the British ship, and in 1766 the British captain McBride, who arrived here with the settlers after Byron, founded here a full-fledged English settlement. At the end of the same year, Spain bought from France their possessions on the islands and appointed its governor. In the middle of 1770, a small Spanish fleet attacked Port Egmont and captured it. Port Egmont was nevertheless returned to the British in 1771 under the terms of a peace treaty, which marked the beginning of a dispute over the possession of the islands at that time.
In the middle of 1774, the British left Port Egmont, which was caused by the US War of Independence, but did not give up the rights to own the islands. This took advantage of Spain, which is fully established on the islands, including them in its governorate of La Plata.
In 1832, Argentina, which gained independence from Spain, captured the islands, establishing a penal colony for especially dangerous criminals on the island of East Falkland. The riot that broke out in the colony turned into a massacre, as a result of which the Argentine governor and part of the island garrison died. Taking advantage of the situation, under the guise of restoring order on the islands, the British landed here in late 1933, who finally declared them their territory.
Sinking British destroyer Sheffield, hit by an anti-ship missile from an Argentine attack aircraft during the 1982 Anglo-Argentine war.
During the First World War, namely on December 8, 1914, a British military base in Port Stanley was attacked by a German squadron under the command of Vice Admiral Maximilian von Spee. The British squadron of Vice Admiral F. D. Sterdy, located in Port Stanley, consisting of more modern ships, defeated the Germans, sinking them two of the largest cruisers Scharnhorst and Gniesenau.
During the Second World War, the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) served as the base for the British fleet in the South Atlantic. After the battle of the British squadron with the German pocket battleship Admiral Count Spee in La Plata Bay, the seriously damaged British cruiser Exeter entered Port Stanley and was being repaired for a long time.
In the post-war period, the islands of the archipelago became the subject of a fierce dispute between Argentina and Great Britain, which escalated into armed conflict in 1982. On April 2 of this year, Argentina occupied the islands, as well as the island of South Georgia, disarming the British garrisons on them. Great Britain, not accepting this, sent a fleet and landing units from bases on the Ascension and St. Helena islands to the Falklands, which eventually captured the islands and restored the British crown’s power to them. Both sides suffered heavy losses during the war, in particular, Argentina lost the General Belgrano cruiser and the Santa Fe submarine, and the United Kingdom lost the Sheffield and Coventry destroyers, the Antilope and Ardent frigates, and the landing assault transport. "Ser Halahad", also transport "Atlantic Conveyor".
Currently, the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) continue to be a bone of contention between the two countries. But at the same time, British power on the islands is constantly being strengthened, and the British fleet squadron, which uses Port Stanley as its base, is constantly being strengthened by modern ships.
View of the Hornsby Highlands on the island of West Falkland.
The origin and geography of the island.
West Falkland Island has the geographical coordinates of 51 ° 47′51 ″ S. w. 60 ° 07′55 ″ s e. The entire coast of the island is heavily indented by bays and fjords, which quite systematically cut into land. The coast of the island is replete with cliffs and reefs, which seriously complicate the approach to the island. The relief of the island is hilly, the low mountain range of Hornby stretches from south to north along the Falkland Pass. In the Hornsby ridge are located the highest mountain of the island of Adam, towering 700 meters above sea level. Hornsby also includes the second highest mountain, Robinson, which has a height of 695 meters. Several small streams flow on the island, among which are Charters and Ouarra. The total area of \u200b\u200bthe island exceeds 4500 square kilometers.
East Falkland Island has the geographical coordinates of 51 ° 48′22 ″ s. w. 58 ° 47′14 ″ s The shape of the island is such that in fact it consists of two parts (South and North Lafonia), connected by a narrow isthmus with a width of just over 2 kilometers. Northern Lafonia has a more hilly relief, the highest point of the island is located here, as well as the entire archipelago - Mount Asborn, rising 705 meters above sea level. Southern Lafonia is more flat and low. The coast of East Falkland, as well as the West, is also heavily indented by bays and strewn, especially in the north, with coastal cliffs and reefs. The total land area of \u200b\u200bEast Falkland is more than 6,600 square kilometers, which makes it the largest in area in the archipelago.
Weddell Island has the geographical coordinates of 51 ° 52′43 ″ s. w. 61 ° 00′24 ″ W The island is located southwest of West Falkland Island by an average of 5 kilometers. The island got its name in honor of the British whalers and Antarctic explorer James Weddell, who visited the Falkland Islands in the early 19th century. By its relief, the island is flat and mostly lowland. The highest point of the island is Heaver Hill, located in its central part and reaches a height of no more than 390 meters. The coast of the island is also heavily indented with small coves and bays. The land area of \u200b\u200bWeddell Island is just over 265 square kilometers.
Saunders Island has geographical coordinates 51 ° 18′11 ″ S. w. 59 ° 37′46 ″ s The island is located north of West Falkland Island and has an elongated shape from east to west, consisting of two parts connected by an isthmus. The relief of the western part of the island is mostly hilly, the highest point of the island is here - Settery hill with a height of 277 meters. The eastern part is mostly low-lying and swampy. The land area of \u200b\u200bthe island does not exceed 132 square kilometers, which puts it in fourth place in the archipelago by this indicator.
Pebble Island has geographical coordinates 51 ° 20′24 ″ S. w. 60 ° 10′50 ″ s The island is located northwest of West Falkland Island and has a complex curved shape with a practically inland bay deeply protruding into the land. The relief of the island is mostly flat, but low mountains are also found here. The highest point of Saunders Island - Mount Richard reaches a height of 457 meters above sea level. The land area of \u200b\u200bPebble Island is approximately 103 square kilometers.
By their origin, the islands are attributed by many experts to the class of volcanic-tectonic, which were formed as a result of the eruption of prehistoric volcanoes and underwater earthquakes that raised sections of land above sea level.
View of the north coast of Saunders Island.
Climate.
The climate on the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) is classified as temperate, fairly cool, oceanic type. Throughout the year, westerly winds prevail here. The air temperature does not change too much depending on the season. In the summer period from January to February, the average monthly temperature here is about + 9-10 ° С, and in the winter period from June to July it does not drop below + 2 ° С. The average annual temperature on the islands of the archipelago is about + 5-6 ° С. The reason for such low temperatures on the islands is the close proximity of powerful cold currents that form the weather in the South Atlantic and Antarctic. The most powerful current in this region is the Falkland (Malvinas), which follows from the islands of the archipelago of the same name to La Plata Bay. The average annual rainfall is approximately 570 millimeters, which fall almost evenly throughout the year in the form of rain (sometimes snow falls in winter), drizzle and frequent fogs.
View of the north coast of Weddell Island from the central part of the island.
Population.
The population of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) archipelago, according to the census in 2012, is more than 2800 people. Most of the population is concentrated on the islands of West and East Falkland, but there are small settlements on the islands of Weddell, Saunders, Pebble and others. By ethnic composition, for the most part, these are descendants of the English, Spanish, and French settlers. On the islands there are quite a lot of immigrants who have arrived over the past two decades from the British Isles, the islands of St. Helena and Ascension, Chile and even from Russia. A large number of islands and rocks in the archipelago are uninhabited. English is the official and official language on the islands, but Spanish and French are also commonplace besides it.
The administrative center of the islands is the city of Stanley (which was originally called Port Stanley, and in the Argentinean version, Puerto Argentino), located on the northeast coast of East Falkland. Stanley currently has over 2,100 residents. Other large and significant settlements of the islands include Walker Creek, San Carlos, Port San Carlos, Port Louis, Chartres, Port Stefan and others.
The territorial entity, which operates on the islands of the archipelago and is officially called the British Overseas Territory of the Falkland Islands, has relatively autonomy, but is controlled by the metropolis through the appointed Governor General.
The main activity of the population of the islands is the maintenance of British military bases and agricultural activity, which mainly consists of raising sheep. In addition, significant attention on the islands is given to fishing and tourism, which has begun to develop recently.
The currency in circulation on the territory of the Falklands is the pound of the Falkland Islands or, as it is also called in some sources, the Falkland pound (FKP, code 238), which consists of 100 pence.
Panorama of the city of Stanley.
Flora and fauna.
The flora and fauna of the Falklands is close in type to Patagonian, which is facilitated by the practical identity of the climate. The only native mammal on the archipelago was the Falkland fox, which the colonists mercilessly destroyed in the 19th century. Currently, mammals introduced by humans live on the islands with their majority of domesticated mammals.
In addition, about 14 species of marine mammals live on the coast and in the coastal waters of the islands of the archipelago, including fur seals and seals, which establish their rookeries mainly on small uninhabited islets and rocks.
About 60 species of seabirds nest on uninhabited islands and rocks, including black-browed albatross, which is almost endemic in this region. There are also 5 species of penguins on the islands of the archipelago, the most interesting and endemic is the Rockhopper penguin, which is unusually numerous on the island of Saunders.
There are a lot of insects on the islands, about 200 of their species are officially registered, 13 species of them are recognized as endemic (the most interesting for naturalists are the beetles Morronia, Malvinius, Falklandius and others). They are also of interest because they are currently poorly understood.
In the rivers and lakes of the islands inhabited by 6 species of freshwater fish. In coastal ocean waters, a large number of species of commercial fish and crustaceans, which are caught by islanders industrially, also live.
The flora of the islands of the archipelago is represented mainly by plants classified as cereal and heather. More than 360 species of vascular plants, more than 20 species of ferns and about 290 species of flowering plants grow in the Falklands.
Tourism.
Tourism in the Falklands began to develop relatively recently. The main obstacles to the implementation of the island’s tourism program were the Anglo-Argentine conflict and the relative closeness of the islands due to the deployment of British military bases on them. Currently, tours to the islands are organized by British and American tour operators who organize for the few tourists and guests of the islands, mainly ecotours.
In December 2004, a large group of German and British tourists visited the islands, honoring the memory of those killed in the 1914 Falkland Sea Battle. A monument dedicated to this historic event was unveiled on the coast of the bay near Stanley.
The islands are also visited by Argentine tourists, but these visits are mainly of a political and propaganda nature.
Typical landscape of the island of West Falkland.
General information
Official name - Falkland Islands (Malvinas). Archipelago in the southwestern part of the Atlantic Ocean. This British overseas territory is an important transit point on the way from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific and allows you to control the South Atlantic. The area is 12 173 km 2. The population is 3,140 people. (for 2008). The official language is English. The capital is Mr. Stanley. The monetary unit is the pound of the Falkland Islands.
The Falkland Islands consist of two large islands (West and East Falkland) and about 776 small islands and rocks. The archipelago is located at a distance of 343 km from the Argentine island of Estados, 463 km from the coast of South America and 1078 km from the cliffs of Step (). The total area is 12 173 km 2. The total length of the coastline is about 1300 km, the coast is heavily indented. The islands of West and East Falkland are separated by the Falkland Strait. The highest point of the archipelago is Mount Usbourne (705 m, located on East Falkland Island), Mount Adam on West Falkland Island has a height of 700 m.
The climate of the islands is characterized as temperate, cool, oceanic. Westerly winds prevail. Temperature changes during the year are relatively small. Monthly average temperatures vary from + 9 ° С in January and February to + 2 ° С in June and July. The average annual temperature is about + 6 ° C.
Story
The Falkland Islands in the 17th century were discovered by the British, and then almost immediately by the French. However, she believed that this was their territory. In 1833 conquered the Falkland Islands. Since then, in the eyes of Argentines, Britain is an invader. In 1982, the Argentinean military junta, in order to distract the population of its country from human rights problems and the difficult economic situation, developed an operation to invade the Falkland Islands. Perhaps this was also done to enhance national pride.
In April 1982, Argentine troops landed on the Falklands, occupying them in two days. The resistance of the small garrison of the Marine Corps was short-lived. In response, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher ordered the Navy to return the occupied territories. A group of troops and warships, which included two aircraft carriers, advanced to the islands. Already on April 25 one of them was recaptured. After that, the British Navy blocked the occupied territories with submarines and ships. The aircraft made successful raids, as a result of which three Argentine sides were shot down. The Argentines had a light cruiser sunk, and the British lost the destroyer.
British troops of 4,000 men landed on the west coast near the city of San Carlos on the night of May 23. The group included the Marines, paratroopers and special forces SAS. The commander of the troops was Julian Thompson. SAS commandos attacked an airfield on Pebble Island. The paratroopers liberated the villages of Guz Green and Darwin. SAS Special Forces destroyed a unit of Argentine commandos at the height of Kent. In June, the British landed another 5,000 people on the Falkland Islands. After that, the assault on the city of Port Stanley began from the adjacent heights, which was released on June 12. The commander of the Argentine forces, General Mendes, surrendered on June 14, realizing the hopelessness of his situation.
During the battle of the Falkland Islands, England lost two frigates, two destroyers, a couple of auxiliary vessels and 258 people. Argentine casualties: one submarine, 75 aircraft, light cruiser, 649 people dead and 11,313 prisoners. As a result of the defeat, power changed in Argentina - the junta fell. Britain has established its international image. However, despite this, Argentina has not abandoned claims to the Falklands so far. In 2013, the inhabitants of the islands in almost the absolute majority (99.8%) confirmed their belonging to Britain in a referendum.
The Falkland Islands is a UK territory that is self-governing. They are also claimed by Argentina.
Falkland Islands Attractions
Port Stanley (Stanley or Puerto Argentino) really reminds a village. Historically, it acquired its political status only because of its larger size than other settlements of the archipelago. Since many of his houses were built of stone and wood, "saved" from the wreckage of numerous shipwrecks, the city has some charm, emphasized by its brightly colored buildings, traditional English lawns and the constant smell of burning peat, carried by the sea breeze. The most attractive object of the city is Government House, which has been the seat of the governor of the islands since the mid-19th century. Mandatory ceremony for visiting - entry in the "register of visitors", a tribute to the tradition and government of the islands.
Not far from the residence christ Church Cathedral - A massive building made of brick and stone with a colorfully painted metal roof and impressive stained glass windows. The building was built in 1892 and now houses a museum and several memorial plaques in memory of the Falkland soldiers who died in battles of world wars.
In a small square next to the cathedral stands a recently restored whalebone archestablished in 1933 in honor of the centenary of British rule in the Falkland Islands.
Port louis - the oldest settlement of the Falkland Islands and, accordingly, the oldest buildings on the islands. This is an ivy-covered farm of the 19th century, the ruins of the residence of the French governor and estate Louis Vernet nearby Port Louis lies at the very back of the Berkeley Sound, the largest bay on East Falklands, 35 km away. northwest of Port Stanley. The surroundings of the city are very picturesque and with their green low mountain slopes resemble the landscape of northern Scotland.
Volonter Beach, lying east of Port Louis on the Johnson Harbor, provides excellent conditions for the existence of more than 150 breeding pairs of king penguins, the largest colony of these birds on the islands. A few hours on foot east of the beach, in the area of \u200b\u200bVolunteer Noynt, there is a large colony of southern fur seals, and in the area of \u200b\u200bVolunteer Lacun, elephants.
Sea Lyon Island located east of the south coast of Falkland, has less than a mile in diameter, but is replete with wildlife. Among its usual inhabitants - five species of penguins, a huge colony of fodders, giant pigeons and almost tame "Johnny Rook" - this is how the locals call striped karakara. Hundreds of elephant seals literally fill the sandy and pebbled shores of the island’s southern pool. Thanks to progressive farming methods by local landowners, the flora and fauna of the island thrive here in close proximity to sheep farms, and the island itself is considered the only Falkland island with preserved natural grass cover.
Sanders Islandlying north of the western coast of Falkland, is the site of the first British garrison in the Falkland Islands, built in 1765. It was the expulsion by the Spaniards of this tiny garrison in 1767 that caused the war between the two countries. After 1774, the Spaniards demolished this settlement, and all that remains today are several marinas, blocks from the foundations of houses and the garden terrace of the British Marines.
Falkland Islands Cuisine
The cuisine of the Falkland Islands is based on Latin American and British traditions. Typical foods include lamb, pork, fish, beef, poultry, seafood and vegetables.
In local cooking meat is widely used. Traditional dishes include: fried sausages; meat pies; steaks, steaks; roast beefs in all its forms; various dishes of lamb meat; roast goose with spices and other very simple, but hearty dishes.
Not without menu and seafood. The surrounding waters supply oysters, mussels, snow crab meat, trout, Atlantic cod and squid on the table. Seafood is baked, fried, made from them amazing salads and very rich rich soups. One of the main traditional dishes is British fish and fried potatoes.
Local chefs use fresh vegetables to garnish dishes, which are often grown right in the gardens adjacent to the cafe or restaurant. Vegetables are combined with a unique local red berry "Tiberri".
In everyday life, the islanders drink a huge amount of tea and coffee. Various herbal infusions are also popular among residents.
For dessert, you can order delicious homemade cakes according to the "grandmother's recipe".
Falkland Islands map
8 717January 3rd, 2013
Read today's news: Argentinean President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner sent an open letter to British Prime Minister David Cameron calling for negotiations to return to the Falkland Islands, Argentina reported on Thursday.
The letter is dedicated to the 180th anniversary of the annexation of the Falklands, located off the coast of Argentina. Kirchner uses the Spanish name for the islands and argues that "as a result of British colonial policy, the Malvinas Islands were forcibly taken from Argentina," which, in her opinion, dealt a blow to the territorial integrity of the country. The President is guided by the fact that in 1965 the UN General Assembly "unanimously, without a single vote against adopted a resolution recognizing the annexation of the Malvinas Islands as the result of British colonialism and calling on countries to resolve the territorial dispute through negotiations."
Argentinean cruiser General Belgrano crashes after being hit by a torpedo British nuclear submarine HMS Conqueror, May 1, 1982. Argentine and Chilean courts managed to save 770 people, while 323 were killed. (AP Photo)
In response to the letter, a copy of which was sent to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, David Cameron said that in this matter "the three thousandth population of the Falklands mostly supports Britain." At a referendum planned for March this year, it will be decided whether the Falklands remain overseas territory of Great Britain. Cameron assured that Britain will "respect and protect" the interests of the local population. Barry Elsby, a member of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly, supported the prime minister, saying Britain was the Falklandians' choice. Argentina also accuses Britain of expelling its citizens from the islands, while the second side rejects such accusations.
The Falkland Islands (Malvinas), which are 14 thousand kilometers away from Britain, are actually gates to the Antarctic, giving control over the extremely rich natural resources of the ocean. Disputes between Argentina and Great Britain about the ownership of the islands began at the beginning of the 19th century, when the first British settlers appeared on the islands. The fighting between Great Britain and Argentina over the Falkland Islands began on April 2, 1982, lasted 74 days and ended with the victory of the British crown. In 2010, British oil companies unilaterally began exploring oil fields near the archipelago, which exacerbated the conflict.
Argentine soldiers make military supplies shortly after the invasion of the Falkland Islands, April 13, 1982. (Daniel Garcia / AFP / Getty Images)
What really caused the conflict? It would not be a big mistake to state that he owes his origin to a game of great political ambitions. In Argentina, the next paramilitary regime came to power with electoral slogans and promises of a nationalist nature, among which was the return of Malvin (disputed territory).
Militarily, the regime felt confident: the newly acquired French aircraft carrier as part of its wing included not only Skyhawks with bombs, but also the latest French Super Etandars with Exoset anti-ship missiles, capable of entering the warship’s air defense zone, inflict a serious defeat on him. The success of aviation was ready to develop destroyers (EM) and guided missile frigates (FR URO). The military aviation group of Argentina totaled up to 200 units. The preparedness of the crews has traditionally had a high reputation. All this looked solid and could not help pushing Argentinean strategists to “tickle” old England.
At this time, the military-political leadership of Great Britain sought to improve the strategic nuclear forces based on Trident missiles at the expense of the Navy. Because of this, the fleet is barely making ends meet. In 1982, both active aircraft carriers, several main-class ships, the most important infrastructure elements, and a significant part of the personnel fell under reduction. And without that, the positions of the “Lady of the Seas” did not look convincing in comparison with France, and with respect to a number of positions (in the quality and quantity of surface ships of the main class) - with Japan. In this regard, the leadership of the military department did not find it possible either to defend, much less conquer the Falklands. There is no doubt that these difficulties and moods in the UK were known to the Argentinean side. Nevertheless, in April 1982, a substantial contingent of British troops landed on the archipelago with light attack aircraft and helicopters. At the same time, the British captured South Georgia.
Gunsmiths prepare torpedoes on the British aircraft carrier HMS Hermes, while Sea King helicopters, meanwhile, are monitoring the possible emergence of Argentinean submarines, May 26, 1982. (AFP / Getty Images)
The archipelago was less than 400 miles from mainland Argentina, while it was 8,000 miles from the metropolis. Antarctic winter was approaching, before its onset, no more than two months remained. In a word, not the best time and place for military operations and even ordinary navigation. But, despite inappropriate conditions, the first naval lord of Great Britain, Admiral Henry Leach, requested permission from Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to begin forming an operational formation (OS) for shipment to the South Atlantic.
English ships had to overcome 6000-8000 miles to areas completely devoid of any signs of coastal basing. About the middle of the deployment route was the last piece of land used as the rear base point - Ascension Island. Here the main forces of the 317th Royal Navy OS gathered, after which Rear Admiral John Woodward reported to the Navy Commander Admiral J. Fieldhouse, who headed the specially created headquarters, the decision on the operation, later known as the Corporation. At the same time, planning, briefings on all types of databases, support, briefings, orientation, preliminary tasks for the forces, final acceptance of reserves in the conditions of parking at the roads were carried out. Then all the work took place in the open ocean, usually on the go.
A British soldier checks the area with binoculars, next to him is a missile defense battery in case of an air attack, May 25, 1982. (AFP / Getty Images)
On April 18, the fleet continued to deploy. Admiral Fieldhouse will fly to London to defend, at the highest level, the plan of the operation adopted near the “front line”, defending every point of it, without which it is impossible to control the war, which takes place 8,000 miles from the Admiralty.
The basis of the intent of the decision of the OS commander was that all actions, including the capture of the Falkland Islands, must be completed no later than mid-June. Later, hydrometeorological conditions were not compatible not only with maintaining a database, but simply with the presence of naval personnel and aircraft in these waters carrying out fire support and providing forces on the shore. By counting down, taking the minimum necessary time for landing operations on the shore, the limiting date of the start of landing on May 20-21 was determined.
The timing of the arrival of the British OS on the theater of operations (in the general exclusive zone) on May 1 was determined in the same way to gain supremacy at sea and air superiority.
The first shots of this war sounded, and the account of losses opened on South Georgia Island, where a specially designated tactical group of ships disabled and captured the Argentinean Santa Fe submarine and hoisted the British flag.
The completion of the deployment is marked by a series of airstrikes at Port Stanley and Goose Green airfields. First, the Vulcan strategic bomber from Ascension Island bombed Port Stanley from high altitude on the night of May 1. Success with the dawn developed deck "Sea Harrier". Surface ships at this time conducted shelling of coastal targets and a control search for enemy submarines. In the ensuing air battles, the Argentinean aviation had an almost 10-fold superiority, but the British Sea Harrier was superior in efficiency to the Sidewinders, which are in service with the Argentine Air Force. The main task of the first day was the secret landing of the special forces task force to reconnoiter the enemy’s positions and select a place for the future landing.
The struggle for supremacy at sea unfolded according to classical canons and with great acuteness. The Argentinean fleet, having completed the combat deployment in advance, encompassed the British operating system that arrived from two sides — from the north-east and from the south-west. Massive use of coast-based aviation was also envisaged as distracting and providing blows.
English submarines could not detect enemy surface ships. When, finally, the Conkeror submarine discovers the Argentine cruiser, the overlays associated with the imperfect control of the submarine, as well as the difficulty of tracking surface ships in shallow water begin. Yet the Argentine cruiser as a result of a torpedo attack was sunk.
It is believed that it was the loss of the cruiser that made the Argentinean command return the fleet to the base. In fact, the Argentine sailors were thirsty for revenge, but the weather prevented a mortal blow to the English OS. The Argentine fleet returned to base and did not leave more territorial waters.
Thick smoke rises above the British frigate HMS Antelope in Ajax Bay, May 24, 1982. Four Argentinean Skyhawks A-4B attacked the British frigate on the eve. During the attack on the ship, a bomb was dropped, which British technicians unsuccessfully tried to defuse. It exploded, resulting in a fire and 2 crew members were killed. (AP Photo / Tom Smith)
Formally, the struggle for supremacy at sea on this could be considered finished, but the fierceness in the confrontation of forces does not subside. Argentine strike aircraft comes to the fore, and the English fleet begins to suffer significant losses. The Sheffield destroyer can be considered to have been lost due to the headwind of his command. Being in the air defense missile defense patrol, the radars were turned off on it, readiness was reduced, the ship did not rotate in the information exchange and warning networks in order to obtain good quality radio communications with London. As a result, the Argentines shot him with cruise missiles from low-flying Etanders. After 10 days, the survivor of that attack and proved to be from the very best side of the same type “Glasgow” was badly damaged. After that, the OS command had doubts about the effectiveness of their best Sea Dart and Sea Wolf air defense systems.
Judging by the losses, the DBs reached the highest intensity with the beginning of the landing, because before gaining superiority in the air it was far away and the problem was solved by simply “grinding” the Argentinean aircraft, tearing to the landing area and the anchorage of landing ships and transports.
An Argentine soldier walks past the wreckage of a downed British military plane in Darwin. (Reuters / Eduardo Farre)
The landing itself on May 21 went smoothly and without loss, but by May 25, the total number of sunk British ships reached four units, almost all other ships had multiple combat damage. The price is quite high, although it was possible to save all the landing and transport ships, especially with the landing, as well as aircraft carriers. The losses were also due to the inefficiency of the Rapira air defense system. The losses of the British in the ship’s composition here could be incomparably more severe, if the Argentine air command showed more skill and enterprise in command and control.
At the same time, this air assault in the anti-airborne direction, as well as previous airborne databases, cost the Argentine Air Force and Navy at least a third of all combat-ready aircraft and the loss of the most experienced pilots. It was at that moment that the Argentine Air Force command declared its aviation forces to be undermined, and a similar price for the Falklands was unacceptable. When leaving, the Argentine aviation, as they say, loudly slammed the door.
We are talking about the defeat of the Atlantic Conveyor container ship converted into air transport. In a beautifully planned Argentinean Super Etandar raid, timed to coincide with Argentina's national holiday, a container ship with radar signature similar to Hermes took the blow of two Exocets. One rocket immediately aimed at him, the second, being withdrawn from the Hermes, also aimed at the container ship and finished it off. The ship was packed full of valuable cargo for the expeditionary force: three heavy Chinook helicopters, five Wessex helicopters, a solid supply of cluster bombs for the Harriers, equipment for quickly creating a take-off strip in Carlos Bay, a huge number of spare parts for helicopters, stocks and equipment. In addition, the container ship, being specially converted according to the mobilization plan, served as the third flight deck in the OS.
However, the bridgehead was already captured, the troops and equipment on the shore, as for the loss of the Atlantic Conveyor, it was an unpleasant, but not decisive moment. We managed to save the aircraft carriers - and this is the main thing. Despite the delays, the actions of the British troops on the coast developed successfully, and by mid-June the enemy capitulated.
Argentine soldiers occupy positions in Port Harvard. (Reuters / Eduardo Farre)
The Falkland War occupies a unique place in military-political history. During the comparative short period of crisis (74 days), the opposing sides fought a fierce battle in a remote area of \u200b\u200bthe Atlantic Ocean using the most modern weapons and a large number of troops and equipment. In total, up to 60 thousand personnel, over 180 ships and vessels, 350 combat aircraft and helicopters took part in the hostilities on both sides. Moreover, the warring parties had to literally "go" to adapt to the conditions of the war, because even Argentina never seriously prepared for a possible war for the Malvins, not to mention Britain. Nevertheless, a miracle did not happen: the regional "superpower" could not prevail over one of the leading world powers. Although the Argentines and the war itself brought the British a number of unpleasant surprises. In the end, “this is a disgusting little war,” as some in the UK called it, turned out to be very bloody and not easy. As Admiral Sir John Woodward noted: “Someone heard that in Ulster, Malaya, Korea, Kenya, etc. it was much worse, there the losses reached eight hundred people, while in the Falkland Islands war in 1982 they died two hundred and fifty Britons. But the difference is that we lost these two hundred and fifty people in six weeks, and not in many years. During this time I lost almost half of my destroyers and frigates. And the casualties were ten times more than in all our armed forces (apparently meaning the Navy) since the Second World War . "
Even after two decades, there is no complete clarity on the loss of Britain and Argentina. We are not talking about absolute accuracy - it would be good to determine at least the order of losses.
A frigate pours water on a damaged HMS Sheffield, May 28, 1982. At this time, the Sea King helicopter soars in the air, ensuring safety. Two Argentinean Super Etendard attack aircraft attacked a ship with missiles, and a fire broke out that lasted several days until the HMS Sheffield completely sank, killing 20 people. (AP Photo / Press Association / Martin Cleaver)
On May 27, the UK Department of Defense announced that 109 people had died by that date. The Argentines recognized the loss of only 92, although one Belgrano killed three times more. At the end of the war, the British stated the following figures: about 200 British were killed and about 300 wounded. The Argentinean armed forces lost about 1,300 people killed. In the future, the losses of the British “grew”, the Argentines accordingly “decreased”.
There was a figure of 230-236 British dead including 120 in the ground forces, the number of dead Argentines is estimated at 750 people, and this number has "fixed" in all Western sources. Then the "final" number of British deaths was called the figure of 250 people, more precisely 255-256 people, including: the Royal Navy lost eighty-seven people, the Royal Marines - twenty-six, the merchant fleet - nine and the Royal auxiliary fleet - seven.
15-20 years after the war, 258 people were declared dead by the UK, including 3 inhabitants of the islands. The maximum number of British losses I met was 286 people.
Argentine POWs walk past a burning building in Port Stanley in the last days of the Argentine occupation of the southern islands. (AP Photo / J. Leonard)
Argentinean losses are sometimes estimated at 712 and 700 people killed, there were 690 killed and 176 wounded, but the official Argentinean figure is 655 dead.
Complete statistics on losses in manpower and equipment
The Falkland War was literally a gift for Prime Minister Thatcher. Rather, not the war itself, but its result. In the early 1980s, the UK economy was in a fever and victory in the war greatly strengthened Thatcher's popularity and allowed him to hold on to power until 1990. The war was no less a gift for the military: defense spending rose sharply. There was a decisive rejection of the previous military doctrine, thanks to it, if Argentina attacked in 1983, Britain would lose the war. Aircraft carriers would be sold, massive cuts that had already begun in November 1981 and peaked in the spring of 1982 would have made the Royal Navy incapable of winning the Falkland battle. At least the way it actually happened.
Immediately after the war, the government relieved itself of responsibility for the war that began so timely. On July 6, 1982, Lord Frankke was appointed chairman of the Privy Council special committee to investigate the causes of the armed invasion of the Falkland Islands. On January 18, 1983, a Franks report was published that relieved Margaret Thatcher of government responsibility for deciding the Argentine military junta to invade the Falkland Islands on April 2, 1982.
Another echo of the war in the South Atlantic was the process of disclosing documents that shed light on the events of May 2, 1982. On February 11, 1985, a former British Department of Defense official Clive Ponting was acquitted by a court hearing a case disclosing documents related to the sinking of the Argentinean cruiser General Belgrano during the Falkland War.
Argentine prisoners of war at Port Stanley, June 17, 1982. By the end of the conflict, more than 11 thousand Argentines were captured.
The war on Argentina had much more serious consequences. Already on June 17/18, 1982, General Galtieri resigned. A political crisis is beginning in the country. But July 1, 1982 at the head of the fourth and last military government of Argentina becomes General Benito Renaldo Bignone (Bignone, Reynaldo Benito).
Unable to stop the political and economic crisis in the country, the general began to prepare for the departure of the military and destroy all evidence of repression, as well as demand from the democratic forces an amnesty for all war crimes.
The first, over many years, the democratic president of Argentina was Raul Alfonsin. He began trials of the military, almost all the highest ranks received a term. But the army was not about to give up: the first rebellion against President Alfonsin was raised by Colonel, a member of the Falkland War, Aldo Rico on April 15, 1985 at a military base in Campo Mayo. Although the instigators of the riot were arrested, the military managed to achieve a law according to which all persons implicated in repression, with a rank below the colonel, were declared "executing the order." The concessions provoked the military to new appearances. Only Aldo Rico was under house arrest, he immediately raised a new rebellion in mid-January 1988. On January 17, Rico gave up, but they treated him rather softly: a term with the ability to communicate by phone and good conditions of detention. The uprising in December 1988 ended with an increase in military salaries and no one was even arrested.
Finally, the new president of Argentina, Carlos Menema, will sign an amnesty order on October 5, 1989, and many generals will be free. The uprising of December 3, 1990 was suppressed, but Menema signed a general amnesty on December 29, 1990.
On July 11, 1982, Argentina, and the next day Great Britain de facto announced the end of the war. About 5 thousand British soldiers were left on the islands. June 27, 1983, the British Secretary of Defense announces the allocation of 215 million pounds for the construction of an airport in the Falkland Islands.
In October 1989, consular relations were restored between Great Britain and Argentina, and since February 1990, diplomatic relations in full.
Mass grave of 30 Argentinean soldiers after the battle of Darwin. On June 14, 1982, Argentine troops left the island, defeated by the British. (AP Photo / Martin Cleaver)
On September 27, 1995, Great Britain and Argentina entered into an agreement to develop oil and gas fields in the South Atlantic, southwest of the Falkland Islands. Supervision of mining is entrusted to a joint commission.
The conflict flared up with renewed vigor when huge raw material deposits were discovered in the contested area. Oil reserves are estimated at 60 billion barrels of oil, and natural gas reserves at 9 trillion cubic meters. In February 2010, British oil companies began exploration and production of oil from the Ocean Guardian offshore drilling platform, located 100 km north of the islands. This caused a wave of protest from Argentina and the economic response from her side.
Jose Luis Aparacio, an Argentine Falkland war veteran, holds a picture of him (right) and his comrade (left) after they were captured by British troops in the battle on Mount Longdon on June 12, 1982. The photo above was taken in La Plata, Argentina, March 20, 2007. (Reuters / Enrique Marcarian)
Among the latter are the December decision of the countries of the South American Common Market (MERCOSUR) to ban ships flying the flag of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) from entering their ports.
Soon after, on January 19, British Prime Minister David Cameron accused Argentina of colonizing the Falkland Islands, to which Buenos Aires indignantly said that the words about “colonialism” from the lips of the British sound especially insulting, because “history perfectly demonstrates their attitude towards everything the world ”(today about 50 of the approximately 200 countries of the world annually celebrate Independence Day from British domination). At the same time, Cameron approved an urgent plan to strengthen the country's military grouping.
sources
http://nvo.ng.ru
http://historiwars.narod.ru
http://m.ria.ru/world/20130103/917061244.html
---
And I want to remind you again, as a result of the war.
The Falkland Islands could be called Antisland, by analogy with the Antarctic, which means "Land opposite the Arctic." Falklands are also located in the Atlantic Ocean and about the same distance from their pole as they are. The same strong winds blow here, causing rare trees to grow in bizarre shapes. And most importantly, everyone here also speaks English, since the Falklands are a small piece of Great Britain, lost at the other end of the world.
The entire population of the Falkland Islands is 3,000. This is the only country where all residents are familiar with each other. At the same time, 500,000 sheep and 770,000 penguins live on the islands. I spoke about penguins in detail in, and today we’ll talk about the Falkland capital - Port Stanley, where 2/3 of the country's population lives.
You can walk the city from one edge to another in 20 minutes. All buildings are low and wooden:
There are only a couple of brick buildings in the city. One of them is located near the pier and meets all guests. It was built for the golden anniversary of Queen Victoria and is already over 100 years old:
And the second brick building is a Protestant church:
An interesting sculpture in front of her is nothing more than 2 giant jaws of a blue whale, composed with each other:
Church inside:
This is not the only church in the city. In addition to the English Protestant church, there is also the Catholic:
Editorial office of the local newspaper:
Almost all tourists without fail go to the post office and send themselves a postcard with the stamp of the Falkland Islands:
There are 8 pubs and 2 restaurants in the city. The best pub, according to the local taxi driver - Deano's Bar:
Second most popular Globe Tavern:
Local gulls are happy to clean dishes here for fastidious visitors:
A few more views of the city:
The city has many monuments to sailors and fallen soldiers in the 75-day war against Argentina, which took place in 1982. At that time, England was economically weak and Argentina decided to capture the islands, hoping that Margaret Thatcher would not be able to recapture them. They were very mistaken. It took the British 2 and a half months to fully regain control of the islands:
During the war, the Argentines tightly mined almost the entire area of \u200b\u200bthe islands. Until now, not all of these fields have been cleared. Vast territories surrounded by fences with signs: Danger! Minefields! Already cleared areas located next to un-cleared areas are also indicated by signs, but of a milder content:
More monuments:
In the city there are several shops selling food, clothing and even electronics:
A very strong wind constantly blows here. This is clearly seen in the shape of the trees:
But even such a strong wind does not stop local "English" from street football:
Oil and gas have not yet been found here, so the local population drowns peat with houses. It burns poorly, but fish without fish and cancer:
It is cut in cubes directly from the ground along the road:
Most cars in the Falklands are English Land Rovers. There are practically no roads here and you can only move around the country on an SUV:
All rooms are very basic. F - means Falklands:
You can also take a double-decker bus around the city:
The Falkland Islands are located very convenient for sailors. As everyone knows, near Cape Gorn the weather is always very bad and the sea, to put it mildly, “not calm”. By the way, I will be there in 4 days. Ships that suffered damage while passing Cape Horn took refuge in the Falklands for repair and refueling with water and food. Those ships that could no longer be repaired were thrown right here. Therefore, around the city there are a lot of dilapidated cores:
Geographical position
They lie in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean, 480 km east of the coast of Argentina, 1080 km west of the Shag rock (South Georgia Islands) and 940 km north of the island of Elephant (Antarctica).
The archipelago consists of two large islands - East Falkland (Soledad) and West Falkland (Gran Malvina), as well as many (about 770) small islands and rocks.
total area a territory of about 12.2 thousand square meters. km
Capital - Stanley (Port Stanley).
How to get there
By plane
Getting to the Falkland Islands from Moscow will not be easy: first you have to fly to Chile with a change in Paris or Madrid, and from Santiago already to Port Stanley.
Visa
Rules of entry. A UK visa is required for entry. Visas for stays of up to 4 months are required by everyone except citizens of Andorra, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cyprus, Iceland, Israel, Liechtenstein, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, San Marino, Switzerland and Uruguay. Citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are generally allowed to remain on the islands for up to six months without a visa.
In other cases, to obtain a visa you must submit application form in English, valid for at least 6 months passport, 2 passport-sized photographs and provide evidence of the availability of sufficient funds for an extended stay, as well as present a progressive ticket.
Document processing time - within 24 hours for direct contact with the embassy and 2-4 weeks for mail.
Note: all island visitors, even nationals of the above countries, must obtain permission to visit Falkland from the Falkland Islands Government Office in London or the nearest British consulate.
In case of a tourist trip permission is available upon arrival at the Falkland Islands Immigration Office (Ross Road, Port Stanley, telephone: 27340; fax: 27342).
For permission round-trip tickets, proof of the availability of sufficient financial funds and confirmation of the obligations of accommodation on the island are required.
For all types of travel one type of visa is provided for a cost of £ 5, valid for a period of 6 months from the date of receipt for a stay of up to 4 months. Instructions and visa requirements are subject to change without notice, so it is recommended that you contact the appropriate diplomatic or consular authorities before traveling.
Customs regulations. There are no restrictions on the import and export of local and foreign currency. Duty-free import is allowed: cigarettes - up to 200 pcs., Or cigars - up to 50 pcs., Or tobacco - up to 250 gr., Alcoholic beverages with a strength of more than 22 "degrees" - up to 1 liter, with a strength of less than 22 "degrees" - up to 2 l., perfumes - up to 50 ml., Eau de toilette - up to 250 ml., souvenirs and gifts - in the amount of not more than 32 pounds. It is forbidden to import drugs, weapons (including knives with popping up blades), counterfeit coins and banknotes, obscene materials, meat, poultry and articles thereof, radio transmitters, plants, all types of live birds and bird eggs.
Climate
Climate and weather: Oceanic, cool and evenly moist. The average annual temperatures do not exceed +10 C, January (summer) - +18 C, July (winter) - +3 C. Precipitation falls about 1500 mm. per year, December and January are also the wettest months. The best time to visit the islands is from October to April.
Video
Population
Population of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) archipelagoAccording to the census in 2012, it is more than 2800 people. Most of the population is concentrated on the islands of West and East Falkland, but there are small settlements on the islands of Weddell, Saunders, Pebble and others. By ethnic composition, for the most part, these are descendants of the English, Spanish, and French settlers. The islands are home to quite a few immigrants who have arrived over the past two decades from the British Isles, the islands of St. Helena and Ascension, Chile and even from Russia. A large number of islands and rocks in the archipelago are uninhabited. English is the official and official language on the islands, but Spanish and French are also commonplace besides it.
The administrative center of the islands is the city of Stanley. (which originally had the name Port Stanley, and in the Argentine version Puerto Argentino), located on the northeast coast of East Falkland. Stanley currently has over 2,100 residents. Other large and significant settlements of the islands include Walker Creek, San Carlos, Port San Carlos, Port Louis, Chartres, Port Stefan and others.
The territorial entity, which operates on the islands of the archipelago and is officially called the British Overseas Territory of the Falkland Islands, has relatively autonomy, but is controlled by the metropolis through the appointed Governor General.
The main activity of the population of the islands is the maintenance ofritanian military bases and agricultural activities, which mainly consists of raising sheep. In addition, significant attention on the islands is given to fishing and tourism, which has begun to develop recently.
Monetary unitin circulation on the territory of the Falklands is the pound of the Falkland Islands or, as it is also called in some sources, the Falkland pound (FKP, code 238), which consists of 100 pence.
Nature
Falkland Islands (Malvinas) - One of the few large land areas in the southern Atlantic. The relief is hilly - almost the entire territory of the central islands is occupied by ridges of hills, dissected by two low mountain ranges (the highest point is Mount Asborn, 705 m, located on East Falkland Island). The surface of the islands is replete with stone placers and clusters of boulders, covered with cereal meadows, moorlands and peat bogs. In the southern part of the large islands there are small marshy plains (the largest is the Lafonia Valley in East Falkland). At the same time, almost the entire territory of the islands is used as a pasture for sheep, and the strongly rugged coast provides good natural harbors.
Small islands (Barren, Beaver, Blaker, Boshen, Carcass, Jason, George, Kappel, Livley, New, Pebble, Sanders, Sea Lyon, Speedwell, States, Weddell, West Point and others) surround the main islands like
a necklace. For the most part, these are solitary lifeless rocky massifs towering above the water by no more than 300 meters.
The natural flora and fauna of the islands is rather scarceHowever, various birds are abundant here, and the waters around are inhabited by a variety of marine animals and fish.
Dangerous plants and animals
In the Falklands, there is a fairly diverse fauna, the danger of a collision with representatives of which should be taken into account when moving around the archipelago. Many even completely harmless animals can pose a serious danger if they guard offspring or are cornered. Elephant seals, lions and seals are especially dangerous during the breeding season, so you should not get closer to these animals closer than 6 meters.
Hotels, hotels, prices
Hotel Alto Andino Hotel ***
The location. Alto Andino is located in Ushuaia, close to Doomsday Museum. Additional area points of interest include Glaciar Martial. Hotel Features. Alto Andino features a restaurant and a grocery store. There is a bar in the hotel lobby. Room service is available. Free Wi-Fi in public areas. In addition to tour assistance, tour / ticket assistance is available. Guest parking is complimentary. Additional property amenities include a rooftop terrace and an elevator (lift). The rooms. The 18 guestrooms at Alto Andino include safes. Wireless internet access is available. Each room has a TV. Featured amenities include complimentary Internet access.
Price from 4955 rub. for 1 night.
Hotel Del Bosque Apart Hotel ***
The location. Del Bosque Apart Hotel is located in Ushuaia, close to Doomsday Museum. Additional area points of interest include Glaciar Martial. Hotel Features. Del Bosque Apart Hotel features a restaurant and a bar / lounge. Room service is available. Additional hotel services include the following: ski storage and laundry services. The rooms. Guestrooms. 0 guestrooms at Del Bosque Apart Hotel feature safes. The rooms have a refrigerator and kitchen facilities. Wireless internet access is available. Each room has a TV.
The following is suggested: free internet access.
The hotel offers transfers from the airport (additional charges may apply). Guests must inform about their arrival 48 hours prior to arrival using the contact details from the booking confirmation email.
There are no room charges for children 3 years old and younger who occupy the same room as their parents or guardians, using existing beds.
No pets, including service animals, are allowed in the hotel.
Price from 6849 rub. per night.
Hotel Hosteria Les Eclaireurs **
The location. Hosteria Les Eclaireurs is located in Ushuaia, close to Doomsday Museum and Glaciar Martial. Additional area points of interest include Tierra del Fuego National Park. Hotel features. Hosteria Les Eclaireurs features tour / ticket assistance, concierge services, and tour assistance. Free Wi-Fi in public areas. The hotel has specialized smoking areas. Deadline for the complete renovation of the hotel: May 2011. Rooms. The 14 guestrooms at Hosteria Les Eclaireurs include minibars and safes. All rooms are accessed from an external corridor. Beds come with down comforters and premium bedding. Bathrooms feature shower / tub combinations with rainfall showerheads. Bathrooms also include bidets, complimentary toiletries, and hair dryers. Complimentary high speed wired and wireless Internet access is provided. Guestrooms provide desks and phones. Each room has 26 cm LCD TVs. Televisions are equipped with cable channels and complimentary TV Internet access. Guests may request irons / ironing boards and wake up calls. Room service is available daily. All guestrooms are non-smoking.
Price from 3749 rub. per night.