Falkland Facts

• Geography and Location: The Falklands are a compact group of more than 740 Islands, situated approximately 650 kilometres (400 miles) off the south-eastern tip of South America, lying between latitude 51° and 53° S and longitude 57° and 62°W. The total land area is approximately 12,000 square km (4,700 square miles) comprising of mountain ranges and flat plains. The two main Islands are East Falkland and West Falkland. Mount Usborne on East Falkland is the highest peak at 705m (2,312 ft).
• Capital City: Stanley is the capital city of the Falklands, located on East Falkland around picturesque Stanley Harbour.
• Camp: Anywhere outside of Stanley is referred to as the Camp (from "campos" meaning countryside).
• Status: The Falkland Islands are an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom.
• Language: English is the official language of the Falkland Islands.
• Time Zone: GMT -4 hours (FI winter ), GMT - 3 hours (FI summer)
• Weather and Climate: Weather conditions are similar to the United Kingdom, with more hours of sunshine and less rainfall on average. Winters are generally mild with some light snow and summers are slightly cooler than in Britain. Temperatures range from -5°C to 25°C. The islands are relatively sunny in summer, with daily hours of sunshine similar to England's southern coastal regions. It is generally wetter on the east than the west of the islands.

Download our factsheet for more information about the Islands:

Falkland Islands Fact Sheet (970kb PDF) - essential visitor information including how to get here, travel around, money matters, communications, medical services etc.