(French Malouines, Spanish Malvinas), a group of islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, belonging to Britain, and lying about 250 miles E. of the nearest mainland of South America, between 51° and 53° S. Lat., and 57° and 62° W. Long., or in precisely the same latitudes south as London and the midland counties are north. The group consists of two principal islands, East and West Falkland, with several hundred others of different sizes clustered around and in the strait between them. East Falkland is about 85 miles in length by 40 in breadth, and West Falkland 80 miles long by 25 to 30 miles wide. They are separated from each other by Falkland Sound. The other islands range in size from 16 miles by 8, to mere islets of half a mile across. The whole group is deeply indented by numerous harbours and creeks, which, if they diminish the area, produce more than counterbalancing ad- vantages. Very little is known of West Falkland. It is uninhabited, but at certain seasons is visited by whaling and other vessels. East Falkland is nearly divided into two unequal portions by the estuaries called Breton Sound and Choiseul Sound, the two parts of the island being con- nected by an isthmus not more than a mile and a half across. The northern portion is crossed by a chain of rugged hills, called the Wickham Heights, extending due E. and W., from Port William to Port Sussex, and varying in height from 800 to 2000 feet. This range consists chiefly of quartz rock, which crops out with great irregu- larity, so that it can be crossed only at certain passes. South of this range it is one continued undulating plain, few of the heights rising to more than 60 feet above the level of the sea, and the ridges running nearly N.W. and S.E. Through every little valley a stream of fresh water flows into one or other of the numerous creeks and inlets of the sea. Besides these rivulets, there are numerous Falkland fresh-water ponds or lakes, varying from 30 yards to 3 or 4 miles in circumference. North of the Wickham Heights the surface is hilly, some of its elevations rising to the height of upwards of 1000 feet. The side of the heights contains slate, some of which is suitable for building and roofing purposes; and limestone has been discovered on and about the foot of Mount Osborne. From certain parts of these upper regions there descend into the valleys streams of stones, from 20 or 30 feet to a quarter of a mile wide, and below these stones there usually flows a stream of water. These stones are frequently of considerable size, and have not moved far, as their angles are generally but little broken. The climate is said to be very mild and salubrious. The temperature is more equable than that of England, being rarely so hot in summer or so cold in winter. The ice is seldom more than half an inch thick, except in very severe winters, and snow lies but a short time on the ground. Light showers are frequent, but a day of heavy rain never occurs. Excessive winds are common, but thunder-storms are extremely rare. The hottest months in the year are December and January. The soil is of a deep brown, almost black, compact, peaty quality, lying upon a strong clay subsoil, and from 6 inches to 2 feet deep. North of the Wickham Heights the soil is lighter, more peaty, rank, and on an inferior subsoil (a red gravelly clay), and in the neighbourhood of the quartz rock formations, on a stiff dirty-white clay.

There are few wild animals indigenous to the Falklands. The only quadruped is the warrah or wolf-fox (Canis Magellanicus), rather taller, but not much heavier, than our fox. The other animals which are found in a wild state are those which have been left there by Europeans, as horned cattle, horses, sheep, wild hogs, and rabbits, all of which are very abundant. There is a plentiful supply of excellent fish in all the creeks, and of small trout in the lakes and rivulets. Hair and fur seals abound, and the black whale is still numerous about these coasts. The wild fowl are also numerous, as swans, geese, ducks, snipes, &c. There are few land birds or insects, and no reptiles.

A gigantic sedgy grass, called tussock, of the genus Carex, is very common on most of these islands. Its blade averages seven feet in length by about three-quarters of an inch in width, is extremely nutritious, and admirably adapted for fattening cattle. Turnips, carrots, potatoes, and vegetables thrive well, and barley and oats have been successfully cultivated. Furze and other shrubs grow well, but there are as yet no trees. Peat is abundant, and some of it is highly bituminous. Coal has been discovered, but whether it can be profitably worked has not yet been ascertained.

The discovery of these islands has been by many attributed to Amerigo Vespucci, in 1502; but it is more probable that they were first discovered by Davis in 1592. In 1594 Hawkins sailed along their north shore; and in 1690 Strong sailed through the channel which separates East from West Falkland, and called it Falkland Sound, whence the group afterwards took its name. During the earlier parts of the eighteenth century these islands were frequently visited by French vessels; and in 1764 a French colony was established at St Louis, on East Falkland. Two years later the English planted a colony at Port Egmonton, West Falkland. In 1767 the Spaniards took possession of the French settlement, and three years later of the English. In consequence of this step, some negotiations were entered into, the result of which was that the sovereignty of these islands was ceded to the English, who, however, some time afterwards abandoned them. Though frequently visited by whaling vessels and others, they continued without permanent inhabitants till 1820, when they were taken possession of by the republic of Buenos Ayres. A settlement was formed at Port Louis, which rapidly increased until 1831, when, in consequence of a dispute with the United States, it was destroyed by the Americans. In 1833 the English again assumed possession of the Falklands, and stationed an officer and boat's crew at Port Louis. In 1840 the government resolved to colonize these islands, and sent out for that purpose a governor and a small establishment, who settled at Port Louis. A more advantageous situation for a settlement was subsequently found on the south side of Stanley Harbour, where, in 1844, a town was laid out. Mr Lafone, a wealthy merchant, obtained from government an extensive tract of land, and possession of all the wild cattle and other wild stock for six years, from 1st January 1848, in consideration of a payment by instalments of L60,000. Mr Lafone's interests have recently been purchased by a chartered company, which now possesses, in East Falkland, all the southern peninsula called Lafonia, consisting of about 600,000 acres, besides 138 islands and islets, with an aggregate area of about 200,000 acres, until January 1856. The company possesses absolute right to all the wild cattle or other wild stock which may be found upon any of the islands, but after that period this right ceases except as to stock, &c., then in actual possession of the company. In 1847 the population of the colony was 270. The governor of these islands, in January 1853, reports the colony to be steadily progressing. In 1851, the number of tons of shipping that entered the port of Stanley was 17,538, and in 1852 it was 22,024, being an increase of 4,486 tons. This necessarily produces a demand for produce and labour. Unskilled labourers earn from 3s. to 5s. a day, and skilled from 6s. to 10s. Provisions are abundant, and at reasonable prices.

"The transference to the Falkland Islands Company of the large interests held by Mr Lafone, and the commencement by that corporation of a more comprehensive system of operation, supported by a large capital, gives me very favourable hopes of benefit to the colony, and, I trust, to the shareholders." (Report.) In 1849, twelve allotments of one acre each, near the town, were put up for sale, and were sold on an average at L9 per acre; and eleven similar allotments, sold in 1852, brought on an average L12 per acre, or six times the usual government price. "The master of a barque, the Record, lately in the harbour, publicly notified that he would take passengers to the gold diggings in Australia at L10 per head, and it gives me much pleasure to add that not a person could be found in the colony to accept his proposition." (Report.) Being chiefly dependent upon the ships that call here to refit or for refreshments, the opening of a ship canal between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans would affect this settlement very much, and might probably lead to its abandonment.