Stanley, Falkland Islands
The ever-present wind carries the faint but unmistakably pungent aroma of burning peat. Although it is sunny, the temperature struggles to reach fifty degrees, so homes are kept cozily warm with the added boost from the fireplace.
Coming into town, the cheerful mosaic of red, blue and green roofs bring a smile. Originally, colorful roofs were used at the outlying settlements to help people find their way home. Today, the tradition continues, though more for the joy of the bright colors than for any utilitarian purpose.
With about two thousand inhabitants, Stanley, the capital of the Falklands, is home to more than three of four people living on this archipelago. For a town of its size, there is a fascinating history to tell. French settlers were the first to move in, though they were displaced by the British in 1844. Prosperity came shortly as ships stopped for supplies and repairs on their way around Cape Horn. Unfortunately, an unsavory reputation also grew as damaged ships were scuttled and cargoes condemned at an alarming rate. The advent of steam powered ships further diminished Stanley’s importance, as Cape Horn was replaced by the Straits of Magellan as the preferred route, and Punta Arenas,Chile became the preferred port.
Good times returned as Stanley became a center for the shipment of wool brought in from the settlements. As the value of this commodity fluctuated, so did the fortunes of Stanley. Today, wool has little value, but the Falklands are affluent again with revenues from the licensing of foreign ships involved in the rich deep-water squid fishery.
There are many points of interest here, including a fine museum, the memorial to the 1982 conflict, the Battle of the Falklands Memorial and the famous Whalebone Arch, which celebrates the centenary of British rule in the Falklands, 1833-1933. Christ Church Cathedral, in the background of this photo, was completed in 1892.
The ever-present wind carries the faint but unmistakably pungent aroma of burning peat. Although it is sunny, the temperature struggles to reach fifty degrees, so homes are kept cozily warm with the added boost from the fireplace.
Coming into town, the cheerful mosaic of red, blue and green roofs bring a smile. Originally, colorful roofs were used at the outlying settlements to help people find their way home. Today, the tradition continues, though more for the joy of the bright colors than for any utilitarian purpose.
With about two thousand inhabitants, Stanley, the capital of the Falklands, is home to more than three of four people living on this archipelago. For a town of its size, there is a fascinating history to tell. French settlers were the first to move in, though they were displaced by the British in 1844. Prosperity came shortly as ships stopped for supplies and repairs on their way around Cape Horn. Unfortunately, an unsavory reputation also grew as damaged ships were scuttled and cargoes condemned at an alarming rate. The advent of steam powered ships further diminished Stanley’s importance, as Cape Horn was replaced by the Straits of Magellan as the preferred route, and Punta Arenas,Chile became the preferred port.
Good times returned as Stanley became a center for the shipment of wool brought in from the settlements. As the value of this commodity fluctuated, so did the fortunes of Stanley. Today, wool has little value, but the Falklands are affluent again with revenues from the licensing of foreign ships involved in the rich deep-water squid fishery.
There are many points of interest here, including a fine museum, the memorial to the 1982 conflict, the Battle of the Falklands Memorial and the famous Whalebone Arch, which celebrates the centenary of British rule in the Falklands, 1833-1933. Christ Church Cathedral, in the background of this photo, was completed in 1892.
