Geography of Falkland Islands
| Location: | Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of southern Argentina |
| Geographic coordinates: | 51 45 S, 59 00 W |
| Map references: | South America |
| Area: | total: 12,173 sq km land: 12,173 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and about 200 small islands |
| Area - comparative: | slightly smaller than Connecticut |
| Land boundaries: | 0 km |
| Coastline: | 1,288 km |
| Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm |
| Climate: | cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more than half of days in year; average annual rainfall is 24 inches in Stanley; occasional snow all year, except in January and February, but does not accumulate |
| Terrain: | rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m |
| Natural resources: | fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss |
| Land use: | arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (99% permanent pastures, 1% other) (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | NA |
| Natural hazards: | strong winds persist throughout the year |
| Environment - current issues: | overfishing by unlicensed vessels is a problem; reindeer were introduced to the islands in 2001 for commercial reasons; this is the only commercial reindeer herd in the world unaffected by the 1986 Chornobyl disaster |
| Geography - note: | deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season |