Although there are no resorts, in the usual sense of the word, on the archipelago, it is becoming increasingly popular with tourists thanks to its distinctive natural riches, as well as the vibrant historical events that took place on the islands. Despite the islands’ modest size and low population, the history of the archipelago is fascinating-there is plenty to see here. Visitors are drawn by the many representatives of the animal world, both land and marine. The islands are famous for their abundance of feathered inhabitants, among which the most interesting are numerous penguin colonies. In general, the archipelago’s unique nature is undoubtedly worthy of attention. As such, there is no beach holiday on the islands because the water temperature near the shore is quite low. For tourists, walking, horseback, and car excursion routes are organized here.
Getting to know the islands begins with the capital city. The amazing city of Stanley is a small, modest town-one could even call it a village. Most of the houses in the city are built from local stone and wood, which is mainly made from shipwreck debris washed ashore by the sea. The residents themselves call their city Town (Engl. Town - “main city”), because on the Falkland Islands there are simply no cities larger than it.
Among Stanley’s main attractions, you can note a fairly attractive architectural landmark-the amazing Government House complex (Engl. Government House - “Government House”), which serves as the residence of the Governor of the Falklands. When visiting the complex, it is customary to sign in to the “visitors’ register,” which is a kind of tribute to local traditions.
Not far from the complex there is the beautiful Anglican Cathedral of “Christ Church” (Engl. Christ Church College; 1892), a solid brick-and-stone structure with delightful stained-glass windows and a brightly colored metal grille. Today it houses a museum, and memorial plaques have been installed in honor of Falkland soldiers who died in battles.
In the city, there is another interesting museum that tourists visit-the Falkland Islands Museum, which features an extensive exhibition devoted entirely to the islands. The museum brings together collections related to the archipelago’s history and culture, as well as exhibits that tell of the islands’ rich nature, along with many documentary testimonies reflecting all the events that took place on the archipelago at different times.
On the small main square of Stanley, not far from the Cathedral, an unusual Arch Welbon (Engl. Аrch Welbon) rises, erected in 1933 to mark the 100th anniversary of British rule in the Falklands.
The town hall building is used simultaneously as a post office, city court, public library, and even a dance hall. In a police station branch located nearby, there is another local attraction-the prison, the only one on the archipelago, with as many as 13 (!) cells.
Nearly all the capital town’s cultural life is concentrated in a special Public Center, where there are a school, a library, and a swimming pool (the only one on the archipelago).
Not far away is the Memorial Falkland Hospital-a “King Edward-VII” clinic-the headquarters of the Antarctic Research Centre (United Kingdom), as well as greenhouses where various vegetables are grown. Nearby there is also a decent golf course, and a small stadium that locals simply call the “Track” (Engl. Тrack - “course, track”).
In addition, tourists can visit places of battles that took place on the archipelago comparatively recently: an excursion to Goose Green (Engl. Goose Green), where the first major battle of the Falklands War occurred (28 May 1982), or to Mount Tumbledown (the battle of 13-14 June 1982).
For guests visiting the islands, there are several hotels in the city-small, comfortable mini-hotels.
Perhaps the archipelago’s main pride is one of the most accessible nesting sites for royal (Emperor) penguins. A walk to the snow-white sandy beaches of “Volunteer Point,” beloved by these friendly, trusting birds, will prove both exciting and unforgettable. In addition, from Port-Stanley you can set off to meet dolphins and sea lions. Transportation between the islands is carried out mainly by air: passengers are transported on small 9-seat aircraft. The pilots of these planes are also the mail carriers.
Usually, tourists are offered to visit the headland of Cape Pembroke (Engl. Cape Pembroke; the easternmost point of the Falkland Islands), located east of the capital, where you can see huge bird bazaars and marine residents. You can also take part in coastal excursion tours on inflatable boats; visit Kidney Island (Engl. Kidney Island) and Sparrow Bay (Engl. Bay Sparrow), which is famous for excellent diving conditions; and take a walk to Gypsy Cove (Engl. Bay Gypsy Cove; 6 km from Port-Stanley), famous for large Magellanic penguin colonies.
A must-have item in any tourist program on the Falkland Islands is a visit to the local villages-“camps” (from Spanish “el campo” - the countryside), which are usually located not far from the ocean shore. Here you can stay at a typical island farm, where they raise sheep and process sheep’s wool and milk.
