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Territory
Wonders of the Falkland Islands
  Highlights
These islands are British overseas territory under the jurisdiction of United Kingdom.
The landscape of the Falkland Islands is barren, with rocks and characteristic stone runs – stone-covered plains. In spite of this uninviting description, islands have their special charm. This is a land of wilderness and there is abundant life along its rugged coast and beaches.
Highlights of Falkland Islands are the enormous colonies of penguins, albatrosses, seals.
Map with the described wonders
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Top 14 wonders of the Falkland Islands
Geological wonders
Peat deposits of Beauchene island
East Falkland
11 m thick, extremely dense peat (lignite) layer formed by tussock-grass (Poa flabellata) over the last 12,500 years. Such speed of lignite formation some 10 times exceeds the formation of known deposits in the Northern Hemisphere. The mechanism for the formation of this lignite layer is not fully understood.
Big Arch Island
West Falkland
Large natural arch on an island. A large boat can pass through it if the weather allows it.
“Princess Street”
East Falkland
The longest stone run in Falklands – a plain covered with stones. “Princess Street” is 6 km long and 0.3 – 0.4 km wide. Formed by the weathering during the last Ice Age. The Falkland Islands have the most impressive stone runs in the world.
Biological wonders
Colony of albatrosses on Steeple Jason Island
West Falkland
The largest colony of black-browed albatrosses (Thalassarche melanophrus) in the world with some 157 000 breeding pairs.
Colony of albatrosses on Beauchene Island
East Falkland
On this small, rocky, and pristine island live some 100,000 pairs of black-browed albatrosses (Thalassarche melanophrus) and more than 60 000 pairs of rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome). The second largest colony in the world for both species.
Colony of thin-billed prions in New Island
West Falkland
The largest colony of thin-billed prions (Pachyptila belcheri) in the world with more than 2 million pairs. A huge number of other bird species.
Colony of albatrosses on Grand Jason Island
West Falkland
An enormous colony of black-browed albatrosses (Thalassarche melanophrus), with 52 7000 breeding pairs.
Volunteer Beach
East Falkland
The largest colony of king penguins in the Falklands, with some 750 breeding pairs. The beech has very white sand washed with the bright blue sea.
Colony of southern giant petrels in Elephant Cays
East Falkland
The most important breeding site for Southern Giant Petrels (Macronectes giganteus) with some 11 000 breeding pairs.
Architecture wonders
Body Creek Suspension Bridge
East Falkland
One of the southernmost suspension bridges in the world, built in 1925. Closed in 1997.
Falkland Islands Museum
East Falkland
A museum was officially established in 1991 and protects and collects the heritage of the Falkland Islands.
Government House, Stanley
East Falkland
The official residence of the governors of the Falkland Islands, constructed in 1845.
Christ Church Cathedral in Stanley
East Falkland
The southernmost Anglican cathedral, constructed in 1892 on the site of an earlier church. Next to it stands an interesting monument – Whalebone Arch, made from the jaws of two blue whales in 1933.
Central Store, Stanley
East Falkland
A large building from the middle of the 19th century. Possibly the oldest surviving wooden building in the southern part of South America.
Recommended books
Field Guide to the Wildlife of the Falkland Islands and South Georgia
Isolated in the south Atlantic between South America and the Antarctic Peninsula, the Falkland archipelago is one of the last unspoiled areas in the world and a region of wild beauty. Its very remoteness also makes the fauna and flora of these 420 islands unique. Here huge “rookeries” of penguins, elephant seals, and albatrosses make their homes, together with many other species which simply do not occur in the northern hemisphere.
Moon Patagonia: Including the Falkland Islands
Patagonia’s staggering landscapes, titanic glaciers, and rugged mountains evoke mystery and inspire self-discovery. Explore the ends of the earth with Moon Patagonia.
