West Falkland
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West Falkland Isla Gran Malvina (Spanish) |
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| Island | |
West Falkland from Keppel Island
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Location of West Falkland (red)
in the Falkland Islands (red & white) |
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| Coordinates: 51°47′51″S 60°07′55″W / 51.79750°S 60.13194°WCoordinates: 51°47′51″S 60°07′55″W / 51.79750°S 60.13194°W | |
| Location | Atlantic Ocean |
| Archipelago | Falkland Islands |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4,532 km2 (1,750 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 2nd |
| Population (2001) | |
| • Total | 144 |
| • Rank | 2nd |
| • Density | 0.032/km2 (0.082/sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 700 m (2,300 ft) |
| Highest point | Mount Adam |
| Polity | Falkland Islands |
| Largest settlement | Port Howard |
| a. ^ All islands in the Falkland Islands. b. ^ All inhabited islands in the Falkland Islands. |
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in the Falkland Islands (red & white)
West Falkland (Spanish: Isla Gran Malvina) is the second largest of the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic. It is a hilly island, separated from East Falkland by the Falkland Sound. Its area is 4,532 square kilometres (1,750 square miles), 37% of the total area of the islands. Its coastline is 1,258.7 kilometres (782.1 miles) long.
The island has fewer than 200 people, scattered around the coastline. The largest settlement is Port Howard on the east coast, which has an airstrip. Other settlements include Albemarle, Chartres, Dunnose Head, Fox Bay, Fox Bay West, Hill Cove, Port Stephens, and Roy Cove, most of which are linked by road and also have airstrips and harbours. In 1986, the population was 265, in 2001, it had fallen to 144.
Because West Falkland is outside Stanley or RAF Mount Pleasant on East Falkland it is considered part of the "camp", a Falklander term for the area outside the main settlement.
West Falkland is hillier on the side closest to East Falkland. The principal mountain range, the Hornby Hills, runs parallel with Falkland Sound. Mount Adam, the highest hill in the islands, is 700 metres (2,300 ft) above sea level. Formerly it was thought that Mount Robinson at 695 metres (2,280 ft) above sea level was the highest point. However, a later survey found that Mount Adam was higher. At this, the Argentines transferred the name Monte Independencia from Mount Robinson to Mount Adam. The major industry on the island is sheep farming, while it is also known for its penguin and cormorant colonies. Fishing is also popular in the two main rivers, the Warrah and the Chartres.
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Wikipedia