Under the British Nationality (Falkland Islands) Act 1983, Falkland Islanders are British citizens. The islands lie at the boundary of the subantarctic oceanic and tundra climate zones, and both major islands have mountain ranges reaching 2,300 ft (700 m).

An attempt made by Argentina to establish a penal colony in 1832 failed due to a mutiny. In 1833, the British returned to the Falkland Islands. Argentina invaded the islands on 2 April 1982. The British responded with an expeditionary force that forced the Argentines to surrender.

The Falkland Islands archipelago is made up of more than 700 islands and has a hugely varied coastline from rugged coastal cliffs to miles and miles of undisturbed, white sandy beaches.

The most famous islands are East and West Falkland, two main islands about 480 km away from Argentina. These islands are called the Malouines in French, the Malvinas in Spanish, and the Falklands in English.

The Falkland Islands (Spanish: Islas Malvinas) are a group of islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of South America. They are an overseas territory of the United Kingdom.

Explore the Falkland Islands Government's official portal—your guide to services, information, and news in this unique British Overseas Territory.

Argentina had claimed sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, which lie 300 miles (480 km) east of its coast, since the early 19th century, but Britain seized the islands in 1833, expelling the few remaining Argentine occupants, and since then consistently rejected Argentina’s claims.

There are a range of ways to reach the Falkland Islands, although due to the ongoing pandemic, visitors should check with their travel operator as some of the usual routes are not currently in operation.

Plan your Falkland Islands visit: find accommodation, travel tips, and essential info for a memorable and respectful experience.

The Falkland Islands (Spanish: Islas Malvinas) are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located 300 miles from the coast of Argentina, 671 miles west of the Shag Rocks (South Georgia), and 584 miles north of Antarctica (Elephant Island).