Port Stanley, the capital of the Falkland Islands, is a quaint and picturesque town with a fascinating history. The town is home to some of the best-preserved Victorian architecture in South America, including the iconic Christ Church Cathedral, which was built in 1892. Visitors can explore the town’s rich history at the Falkland Islands Museum or take a stroll along the scenic waterfront. The town is also a popular spot for wildlife enthusiasts, with nearby beaches providing opportunities to spot penguins, sea lions, and various bird species.
With a mere 2,932 permanent residents, there are reputedly 167 sheep for every human in the Falkland Islands, making it the highest number of sheep per capita anywhere in the world. New Zealand can only look on enviously with a paltry seven sheep per head. Happily, there are more interesting pastimes in Stanley than counting its woolly inhabitants; a haven for marine wildlife and an ornithologist’s dream, expect to encounter seals, whales, and a huge penguin population. Possessing a roughhewn charm, Stanley offers the pleasantly disorientating feel of an eccentric British village, 8,000 miles from home. The fresh seafood and lamb are, of course, superb.
As a deepwater port, Stanley was a common ship repair stop. Ships traveling through the Strait of Magellan encountered rough seas and storms, and many sailed to Stanley Harbour for repair, making ship repair one of the main industries that grew the capital’s economy. Sealing and whaling ships also used Stanley as a base, and later it became a Royal Navy coaling station.
Natural disasters and war
In the late nineteenth century, two landslides damaged the town, both caused by excessive peat cutting. During the second landslide, in 1886, two people died.
In April 1982, Argentina invaded the Falklands and occupied Stanley, believing that Great Britain wouldn’t retake the islands by force. Britain, however, retaliated and sent warships to retake the islands. After losing a warship and all 300 crew on board, Argentina kept its ships in the safety of the port. Meantime, British forces were threatened from the air by the Argentinian air force and lost warships themselves.
In May 1982, British forces landed on the islands and engaged Argentinian troops on the ground. The battle to recapture Stanley began on June 11; three days later, Argentinian forces surrendered. Politics in Stanley.
