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Falkland islands (islas malvinas)

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World Regional Geology

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Earth Science ((EESS))

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The Falkland Islands (a British dependency, claimed by Argentina) have an area of 16,655 km2 (6430 sq mi). Situated in the South Atlantic Ocean, around 52°S, 60°W, they lie approximately 800 km NE of Cape Horn. There are some 100 islands in the Falklands proper, but 200 islands in the administrative group, which includes not only the major islands of East Falkland and West Falkland, but also islands of the Scotia Arc, notably South Georgia and South Sandwich (for the last two, see Subantarctic Islands).

In the Falklands proper, the topography is low, up to 705 m (2315 ft, Mt. Adam); the islands are rocky, treeless, and climatically are harried by strong winds and cold rains. Mean temperature is 5.0°C, with a range from 0.5°C in August to 10.5°C in January.

There are many peat swamps and much peaty soil, which provides for a rich growth of tussock grass, supporting a limited economy of sheep farming. The population is largely of Scottish and Welsh origin.

Geomorphologically the islands...

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References

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© 1975 Dowden, Hutchinson & Ross, Inc.

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Fairbridge, R.W. (1975). Falkland islands (islas malvinas) . In: World Regional Geology. Encyclopedia of Earth Science. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-31081-1_46

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-31081-1_46

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-4702-5145-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-31081-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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