East Falkland
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East Falkland (beige) shown within Falkland Islands |
East Falkland, the largest of the
Falkland Islands in the
South Atlantic, has an area of 6,605 square kilometres. Its population of more than 1,600 represents a large majority of the population of the Falklands. Almost all of this is in the northern half. The southern half, joined by a narrow
isthmus, is known as
Lafonia.
East Falkland is home to
Stanley, the capital of the islands and the main
seaport. Other settlements include
Port Louis,
Darwin,
Port San Carlos,
San Carlos,
Salvador,
Johnson's Harbour,
Fitzroy,
Mare Harbour, and
Goose Green. The island is also home to two
airports with paved runways,
Port Stanley Airport and
RAF Mount PleasantThe main industries on the island are
fishing,
sheep farming,
government, and
tourism.
The island's highest point is
Mount Usborne in the
Wickham Heights, the highest point in the whole island group. Other scenery includes
stone runs covered with
snake plant,
heathland, and
bogs.
East Falkland is known as
Isla Soledad in Spanish.
