Falkland Islands

After Antarctica, we head north, passing through the glaciers and icebergs that are never the same along the coast of Argentine Patagonia, we arrived at Elephant Island, Elephant Island, in the morning at 61 latitude in the northwest direction.

Elephant Island, Elephant Island;

The Elephant Islands started to appear. It got its name because the small islands made up of rocks resemble an elephant’s trunk and because elephant seals live here in colonies. There are many whale and penguin flocks diving in and out. We sail around with the big ship, observe, and are informed about what is where by the central system. The island consists of only high rocks and mountains. This is the last extension of the Andes Mountains, it is better perceived when looked at on a map.

The interesting story of this place is that in 1916, three British sailors whose ship sank in a storm somehow reached this island, and they managed to survive for three months until the boat that would dry them came, by achieving the impossible They succeed. This is the only incident that has happened in this region. Nature is cruel and unforgiving here, there is nothing but ice and deadly cold here

For about a week, depending on our geographical location, the weather has not darkened at night, we miss the darkness of the night. We are pulling north, in a few days everything will start to return to normal. We are in a state of isolation from the world, there has been no internet, no phone, no messages for 4-5 days, we have no information about what is going on, far from the filth of the world, maybe it is better this way.

Elephant Island is usually foggy and snowy, the wind speed can reach 180 km per hour.

In addition to having its own fauna on the island, it is home to many penguins and sea bears. Although it seems suitable for whaling and meteorological activities, since the island does not have any climate conditions, agriculture or similar life sources like Antarctica, there is no settlement here either. In addition, there is no safe harbor to anchor around.

We are heading north towards the Falkland Islands.

We left the Antarctic region in the early hours of the morning and arrived at the Falkland Islands in the Atlantic Ocean.

Its total area is 12,200 km2, its population is mostly of British origin, 4000, the capital of the parliamentary autonomous government governed by a monarchy and its largest settlement is Stanley in East Falkland. The Falkland Islands are a state consisting of a total of 776 small islands, divided into East and West Falkland at 52 degrees south latitude. The archipelago, located 480 km east of Patagonia in the South Atlantic Ocean, is an overseas territory of Britain, the Falkland Islands are free in their internal affairs and dependent on the United Kingdom in foreign affairs and defense. In other words, the United Kingdom assumes responsibility for the defense and foreign relations of these islands.

Apart from those of British origin, who are the majority, other important ethnic groups are the French, Gibraltarians and Scandinavians. The population is prevented from decreasing by the immigrants brought from Saint Helena Island, which is generally used by the United Kingdom for exile purposes, and from Chile. The official and most widely spoken language is English, and the people of the islands are citizens of the United Kingdom as a result of the British Nationality Act 1983. The islands’ main economic activities are fishing, tourism, sheep farming and the export of high-quality wool. The Falkland Islands are treeless and have a wind-resistant vegetation consisting mainly of various dwarf shrubs.

According to the 2007 Falklands GDP (Gross Domestic Product, income obtained from citizens and foreigners within the borders of a country) is 211,600 million dollars, annual income per person is 55,400 dollars. In our country, it is below 9,000 dollars! 1 FKP (Falkland Islands pound) is 36,339 TRY.

When we come here, the first thing that comes to mind is the Falklands War, let’s remember what it was;

The Falklands War started in 1982 when Argentina invaded the Falklands and South Georgia Islands. After the six-week war, Argentina surrendered, left the occupied territories and the junta regime in power in Argentina was overthrown. 640 people from Argentina and 255 people from England lost their lives in the war. The apparent reason for the war was that Argentina claimed that they had taken over the island from the Spanish in 1767 and that England had seized the island by force in 1833 and wanted to take it back.

If we look at why Argentina started the war; Argentina knew very well that it could not give in to England. During the military junta that was in power, more than 30 thousand people were disappeared or executed by leftists and pro-democracy supporters. In order to control the chaos in the country and to divert attention elsewhere, it declared war on England over the Falkland Islands. The result was the death of hundreds of people.

In the sovereignty referendum held in 2013, almost all of the Falklanders voted to remain as an overseas territory of the British Crown.

Let’s get back to our trip.

The ship cannot dock at the port, we will go to the island in lifeboats. We get a queue number early in the morning, which lifeboat we will get on, this time we are a little late, we are at the end. We are at the 52nd parallel, the latitude zone where life is more comfortable, we understand and see night and day now.

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First a walk on the beach, let’s look around, what’s there, who’s here. We visit the church, everyone prays in their own faith. A few people leave, take a tour, go to the penguins. There is a large penguin colony on the wide sand dune area on the ocean beach, they walk around in the area reserved for them. Öne çıkan görseli kaldırThere are also king penguins with flashy, different colored beaks and bright chest hairs. Those who return from the sea to feed their full babies, those who go to the sea to feed their stomachs, those who play, a great feast. We stayed longer than planned, it was very nice. We return, visit the museum in the center that tells the history and lives of this place. After a pleasant coffee break, we do some research on the stores and return to the ship.

Sydney, with a total population of 2500 people, is the largest city of the Falkland Islands and the majority live here.

Falkland is cold and windy in the winter, summer temperatures are around 28-30 degrees. Tourists come again in the summer, and the place becomes lively, albeit for a short time. However, life must be difficult in this place with such a small population, where half of the population is probably relatives or relatives in the winter. When there is little work to do, it is not easy to earn money or earn income. In a similar situation, especially in colonies or occupied islands with a small population, the state pays salaries to keep people there. For example, more than one person is employed for the jobs that one person should do. In general, there is not much other than tourism and fishing. This is a place of strategic importance for the Atlantic Ocean and its surroundings for England.

We are now returning to the ship. Returning is not so easy, this is considered English territory, you get in line, your ID is checked with the special card given to you, your ID is checked again with your registered photo when you board, everything in your hand and pocket is checked, then you enter the ship.

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A beautiful day, we set off, we return to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where we started. We are sailing in the vast Atlantic Ocean, the sea is apparently calm, the wave height is 12-13 meters, the wind speed is 30-40 km/h. It is not visible from inside, when you go out on the deck, it is almost impossible to walk because of the wind. It is better understood what 15-20 meter long boats go through while crossing the oceans.

We are on two ships for two days, we are bored with tea, coffee, food…

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We are in Buenos Aires, we depart at midnight, a long 18 hour flight begins. We are home with beautiful memories and new information.

With love

Hayrettin Kağnıcı

January 2024

www.hayrettinkağnici.com