Geography and Environment

Geography and Environment of Falkland Islands

Terrain, climate, natural resources, hazards, and environmental conditions of Falkland Islands.

Terrain: rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains
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
Weather Patterns: http://voap.weather.com/weather/oap/FKXX0001?template=TRVLH&par=1003114983&unit=0&key=5b85ae1d85877a1b34827fba743e2133
Highest Point: 705 — Mount Usborne 705 m
Lowest Point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Natural Resources: Fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss, and hydrocarbons. The Falkland Islands' surrounding South Atlantic waters are among the most productive in the world, supporting substantial commercial fisheries centered on squid, finfish, and krill. Offshore hydrocarbon exploration has identified significant oil and gas deposits in the surrounding basins, with ongoing development activity positioning petroleum as a potentially transformative resource for the islands' economy. Traditional land-based resources include peat, used historically as a fuel source, along with calcified seaweed harvested for agricultural and industrial purposes and sphagnum moss collected for horticultural use.
Natural Hazards: strong winds persist throughout the year

Current Environmental 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 Chornobyl disaster

Detailed geography