Relative Location of the Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) are a remote South Atlantic archipelago located:

• 483 km (300 miles) east of mainland Argentina (Patagonia)
• On the Patagonian Shelf
• At the convergence of the South Atlantic and Southern Oceans
• Approximately 1,300 km (800 miles) north of Antarctica

The archipelago comprises two main islands—East Falkland and West Falkland—plus 778 smaller islands, with a total area of 12,173 km² (4,702 sq mi). The capital, Stanley, sits on East Falkland.

Politically, the islands are a British Overseas Territory with internal self-government; the UK handles defense and foreign affairs. Argentina maintains a sovereignty claim, leading to the 1982 Falklands War. The ~3,000 residents (mostly British descent) rely on fishing, sheep farming, and tourism.