The Falkland Islands

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The Falklands lie isolated in the South Atlantic some 300 miles east of the tip of South America. Today sheep-farming is the principal occupation, and the extremely active community are very conscious of their identity and their islands’ history. Famous people and events have long been associated with the Magellan was probably the first man to sight the islands, Darwin landed from the "Beagle," and great naval actions took place in the vicinity during both world wars. In spite of fairly modern communications, life on the islands has not changed radically over the last hundred years. There is a very active social and cultural life, and local customs are maintained in a very live way. As small as the population is, however, the islands’ defence force holds military parades on Remembrance Sunday and other anniversaries. The islands in fact offer a surprising number of local pursuits as well as being interesting geographically and ecologically speaking. It is undoubtedly significant that the great liner “Ile de France” called at Port Stanley on a recent world cruise, for the richness of bird and sea-mammal life alone makes the islands worth a visit, be it by air or steamer from Montevideo. This first full account of the group by an author, who is himself a Falklander and a naturalist, has indeed really strong interest for historians and biologists as well as the growing body of island enthusiasts.