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East Falkland (Spanish: Isla Soledad) the largest of the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic, has an area of 6,605 square kilometres ((2,550 sq mi) [1]. Its population of more than 1,600 represents a large majority of the population of the Falklands. Almost all of this is in the northern half. The southern half, joined by a narrow isthmus, is known as Lafonia.

Contents 1 History 2 Geography 3 Population and infrastructure 4 Economy 5 Wildlife 6 References 7 External links

Although there is possible evidence of Yahgan (Patagonian native) landings, such as the warrah, the first accepted settlement was during the 18th century when East Falkland was settled by the French, with Louis de Bougainville establishing Port Louis in 1764.

East Falkland was also the location of the bulk of the action in the Falklands War. As a result, a number of parts of the "Camp" in East Falkland are still heavily mined. Areas that saw intensive action included Goose Green, San Carlos, and the Two Sisters ridge.

The island's highest point is Mount Usborne (705m (2,313 ft)) in the Wickham Heights, the highest point in the whole island group. However, much of the land is low, rolling scenery, forming bogs and pastures. The geology is mostly sandstone, with some quartzite and slate, and the soil often poor and acidic.

The island is almost bisected by two deep fjords, Choiseul Sound and Brenton Loch-Grantham Sound which leaves the northern and southern portions connected only by an isthmus a mile and a half wide. The island contains many smaller bays, inlets and headland.

The northern portion is hilly, and is crossed by a rugged range, the Wickham Heights, running east and west, and rising in some places to a height of nearly 2000 ft. The remainder of the island consists chiefly of low undulating ground, a mixture of pasture and morass, with many shallow freshwater tarns, and small streams running in the valleys. Two fine inlets, Berkeley Sound and Port William, run far into the land at the northeastern extremity of the island.

Other scenery includes stone runs covered with snake plant, heathland, and bogs. Gypsy Cove is noted as a beauty spot.

East Falkland is home to Stanley, the capital of the islands and the main seaport. The islands' (Anglican) Christchurch cathedral is also in Stanley.

Port Louis, formerly the seat of government, is at the head of Berkeley Sound, but the anchorage there having been found rather too exposed, about the year 1844 a town was laid out, and the necessary public buildings were erected on Stanley Harbour, a sheltered recess within Port William.

Other settlements include Port Louis, Darwin, Port San Carlos, San Carlos, Salvador, Johnson's Harbour, Fitzroy, Mare Harbour, and Goose Green.

The island is also home to two airports with paved runways, Port Stanley Airport and RAF Mount Pleasant. There is a lighthouse at Cape Pembroke near Stanley. The island contains most of the archipelago's road network, which is none the less, scanty.

The main industries on the island are fishing, sheep farming, government, and tourism. Some oats are also grown, but due to high humidity and acidic soil, the land is mainly used for grazing.

Smaller industries include horse and cattle farming, and there is also recent evidence to suggest possible valuable mineral deposits on the island.

Due to more intensive human settlement, East Falkland has the corresponding conservation problems. The warrah was one of the first casualties, and rats have also been introduced, but despite this, the island has a great deal of marine life, including penguins of various kinds.

Guanacos were unsuccessfully introduced in 1862 to East Falkland south of Mt Pleasant where Prince Alfred hunted them in 1871 [2]. They have since become extinct, but are still on Staats Island

• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.

• British Triumph on East Falkland
• Pictures of East Falkland

Coordinates: 51°48′22″S, 58°47′14″W