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All about the Falklands War

O

n 14 June, it will be 40 years since the end of the

Falklands War. This was a 74-day conflict

between the UK and Argentina over the Falkland

Islands (or Islas Malvinas as they are called by

Argentina). Both the UK and Argentina believed that

they should be in charge of the islands.

What are the Falkland Islands?

The Falklands are an archipelago (group of islands)

in the South Atlantic Ocean. They are about 300

miles from the coast of South America and about

8,000 miles from the UK. People from Britain

first went to live on the islands in 1765 but

they only stayed for a few years. Spain then

controlled the territory but in 1820, Argentina,

which had recently become independent

from Spain, claimed the islands. In 1833,

British troops came to the Falklands and took

control. Argentina never gave up its claim.

How the war started

On 2 April 1982, Argentina’s president

Leopoldo Galtieri – an army general –

ordered an invasion of the Falklands, which

had a population of about 1,800 people.

There were only 57 British soldiers on the

islands and they were quickly defeated. The

Falklands were among the last remaining parts of

the British Empire, a collection

of countries ruled by

the UK. Margaret

Thatcher, the UK’s

Prime Minister,

sent the armed

forces to the

Falklands to

fight for the

islands.

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Remembering a fa

The war between the UK and

Argentina ended 40 years ago.

Penguins

The islands are home to

five species of penguin.

Three of these – the

rockhopper, the

Magellanic and the king

penguin – aren’t found

in Antarctica. The other

two are the gentoo and

the macaroni.

Animals of the Falkland Islands

Seals and sea lions

There are lots of seals

and sea lions on the

islands. Breeds that live

there include southern

sea lions, South

American fur seals and

southern elephant seals.

They sunbathe and float

in shallow water.

The Week Junior • 11 June 2022

Colourful homes on

the Falkland Islands.

Margaret

Thatcher

King penguins.

United

Kingdom

Falkland

Islands

West

Falkland

Fox Bay

East

Hill Cove Port Howard

A Sea Harrier fighter

plane during the war.

The Argentinian Military

Cemetery near Darwin.

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