FALKLAND ISLANDS. - An archipelago composed of two larger islands (West Falkland and East Falkland) and a few hundred islets, facing the eastern mouth of the Strait of Magellan. Plains and elevations (700 m. at most) alternate there.

The distinctly oceanic climate (with mild winters and cool summers) makes them suitable for pastoral farming. A great resource is provided by whaling. In 11,060 sq km live 2,350 inhabitants, all English. It is a possession of the English crown, contested by Argentina and Chile. Dependent on it are South Georgia (4,075 sq km, 360 inhabitants), the South Sandwich and South Orkney Islands (1,858 sq km), the South Shetland Islands (2,220 sq km) and Graham Land, in Antarctica. Until 1947 the Falklands formed part of the apostolic vicariate of Magellan, which in that year was elevated to a diocese. These islands, however, were not included in the territory of the new diocese and currently still depend on the S. Congregation of Propaganda Fide, which provides for the assistance of the 300 Catholics residing there.

Giuseppe Ceraci

@incollection{ec5_falkland_isole, author = {Caraci, Giuseppe}, title = {Falkland, isole}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {V}, pages = {963}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1950}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/falkland-isole} }

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Falkland Islands

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