FALKLAND ISLANDS

The Falkland Islands are located in the South Atlantic Sea, approximately 500 km away from the most southern point of the South American Continent. The Falklands include two bigger islands, the East and West Falklands, and about 700 smaller Islands, covering an area of approx. 12.000 square kilometers with an expansion of 240 km from East to West. The Islands are very hilly with the highest peaks at 700 meters. After arriving at the (military) airport Mount Pleasant, the Falklands' capital Stanley can be reached within half an hour.
Traveling by air from South America, the airport Mt. Pleasant is served by Lan Chile. Another air-route is operated by the Royal Air Force, leading  from Europe (RAF Brize Norton in Oxfortshire) via Ascencion (an island western from Africa at the level of Congo) to Mt. Pleasant. Then the trip has to be continued with the island airline. In order to be sure to get a seat in one of the small red Falkland airplanes, early booking is recommended.

For a long time only known to wildlife fans, the Falklands became popular because of the sad dispute including military interaction between Argentina and England. Even today the ugly consequences of these days are obvious, as the widely locked minefields nearby Stanley till this days are combed for land mines as well as the airplane wrecks on Pebbles Island are bringing these saddening times to mind.
The fauna, however, seems to be totally unimpressed by all these events. The albatross colonies, the sea elephants on Sea Lions Island or the many kinds of penguins on all islands - very quickly you will grow fond of the Falkland Islands, last but not least due to the warm people giving to all visitors of the Islands the feeling of being very welcome.
 
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