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General Information
Area: 12,173 sq km (4700 sq miles).
Population: 2826 (official estimate 2000).
Population Density: 0.23 per sq km.
Capital: Stanley. Population: 1636 (1996).
GEOGRAPHY: The Falkland Islands are located 560km (350 miles) off the east coast of South America and consist of two main islands and hundreds of small outlying islands, amounting to approximately three million acres (1.2 million hectares). Generally the main islands are mountainous, with low-lying and undulating terrain in the south of East Falkland. The highest mountain is Mount Usborne at 712m (2312ft).
Government: British Dependent Territory since 1833. Not recognised by Argentina, which considers the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) to be part of Argentina. Existing Constitution adopted in 1985. Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor Howard Pearce since 2002. The Governor presides over the Executive Council, the country’s ruling body. The Executive Council consists of two official members and three elected members. Elections are held every four years.
Language: English.
Religion: Christian.
Time: GMT - 3 (GMT - 4 from third Sunday in April to first Saturday in September).
Electricity: 240 volts AC, 50Hz.
Communications:
Telephone
IDD available. Country code: 500. Outgoing international code: 00. External communication links and Internet services are provided by Cable & Wireless plc. Telephone links to the Islands, which are by satellite, provide clear and rapid links to the outside world. The Cable & Wireless office is open daily 0800-2000 for acceptance of traffic and sale of phone cards for use in the international telephone service booths situated in the office.
Mobile telephone
There is currently no network coverage on the Falkland Islands.
Fax
A system spans the Islands providing international direct-dialling facilities, together with high-speed data services. Radio: Remote areas still keep in contact by radio.
Internet
There is an Internet cafe in Stanley. The main ISPs are U-Net and Cable & Wireless plc.
Post
Airmail to Europe takes four to seven days.
Press
There are no daily papers on the Falkland Islands, but Penguin News (weekly) and Teaberry Express (weekly) are published in Stanley and all British national newspapers are also available. The Falkland Islands Gazette is a government publication. The Falkland Islands News Network relays news daily via fax.
Media
Satellite television channels are widely available.
BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change.
BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice):
Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov):
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
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