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FALKLAND ISLANDS
Lying deep in the South Atlantic, the Falklands are
located 373 miles east of the Patagonian mainland. Engulfed by kelp and
centuries of controversy, the archipelago known as Islas Malvinas in Argentina
consists of two main islands, West and East Falkland. Hundreds of smaller
islands surround the capital of Port Stanley where most of the population of
2,000 reside. The remainder live on widely dispersed sheep stations.
The low rolling land is sparse and rugged and
windswept,
dominated by shrubs and tussock grass, no trees.
Beaches, headlands and offshore waters support one of the largest concentrations
of sub-Antarctic wildlife anywhere, rivaling even Galapagos. Five species
of penguins breed here regularly: Magellanic, rockhopper, macaroni, gentoo, and
king. A plethora of black-browed albatross, skuas, oystercatchers,
sheathbills, cormorants and ducks fill the air and cliffside rookeries.
Marine mammals inhabit the
islands in large numbers: elephant seals, southern sea lions and fur seals, six
species of dolphins, and killer whales. At the westernmost edge of the
archipelago, New Island is part of a unique wildlife reserve geared toward
conservation, research, and controlled tourism. Under protection of the
New Island South Conservation Trust,
the future of this reserve is assured in perpetuity. As a reminder of
more ruthless days, an abandoned American whaling station rusts away on the
island's southern shore.
Photographs © Walt Clayton III
All Rights Reserved
CLICK ON IMAGE FOR A LARGER
VIEW
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Port Stanley harbor
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Port Stanley church
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Derelict boat on New Island
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Derelict trawler on New Island
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Beaver floatplane destroyed in 1982 Falkland War
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Black-browed albatross
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Black-browed albatrosses preening
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Cliffside rookery on New Island
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Rockhopper king of the mountain
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Gentoo feeds chick
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Black-browed albatross nesting on New Island
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Blue-eyed cormorant
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Pensive rockhopper
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Rock cormorants
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Female Upland goose
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Oystercatcher
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Harpoon cannon
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Whale vertebrae and the harpoon that killed it
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Getting closeups of rockhoppers
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Old whaling station
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