10 cose da scoprire alle Isole Falkland

Here it is...10 THINGS TO DISCOVER ON THE FALKLAND ISLANDS!

Le Falklands sono un gruppo di 200 isole situate nell'Oceano Atlantico Meridionale all'incirca tra i 51°-53° S e i 57°-63° O. Sono conosciute anche come Islas Malvinas, nome con il quale sono rivendicate dall'Argentina che ancora oggi le considera parte integrante del proprio territorio nazionale.
Le Isole Falkland possiedono una fauna meravigliosa ed abbondante, in gran parte facilmente avvicinabile.
Noi pinguini sostiamo sulle spiagge solitarie e, siccome siamo molto curiosi, veniamo a guardare i visitatori abbastanza da vicino. Li salutiamo poi ci dedichiamo di nuovo alle nostre attività favorite: guardateci qui come zampettiamo in mare durante un tramonto rosa e bellissimo...sì,mi avete riconosciuto, sono proprio io in prima fila!!! Oltre a noi pinguini ci sono colonie di amici albatri, che volano e si posano tutto intorno.Non potete immaginare...è davvero un paradiso. La fauna qui è davvero unica al mondo: 59 specie di uccelli, elefanti marini, leoni marini, foche, balene e delfini.

Ho scovato per voi una chicca, le 10 cose che non si devono perdere alle Falkland: leggete e procedete a farle, almeno una volta nella vita!

10 things which you might not know about the Falkland Islands, and why it deserves to be at the top of any intrepid traveller's wish list.

1. Not one, not two but.... Over 740 individual land masses make up the Falkland Islands archipelago. Calculating the exact number of islands is tricky due to water levels fluctuating throughout the year. The largest islands are East and West Falkland. The majority of the population (almost 3,000) live in the capital Stanley, located on East Falkland.

2. Poles apart! The Falklands are the same distance from the South Pole as London is from the North Pole. The Islands lie between latitude 51º and 53 ºS and longitude 57º and 62ºW.

3. Sunnier spots. The Falklands enjoy more sunshine than the UK (on average). The weather in the Falklands is warmer in winter and cooler in summer in comparison to the UK; the annual rainfall is lower.

4. King of the "most southerly"! The world's most southerly capital is home to an array of southern most events and attractions in the world. Visit the world's most southerly cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral, or take part in the most southerly AIMs certified marathon, the challenging Stanley Marathon which takes place every March.

5. Camping? Anywhere outside the Falkland's capital of Stanley is known locally as ‘camp' derived from ‘el campo' which means countryside in Spanish. The countryside is home to some stunning beaches, historical attractions and working sheep farms.

6. Ppppick up a penguin holiday... There are more than 300 penguins per Islander in the Falklands! The main species of penguin on the Islands are gentoo, rockhopper, king and Magellanic. King penguins cut a classic ‘ppppick up a penguin' form – tall and regal, gentoos are a little smaller, Magellanic have a distinctive horseshoe stripe across their front, while rockhoppers have the most unique hairstyle in the penguin family. Macaroni penguins can be found at some tourist destinations. Over 770,000 penguins reside in the Falklands.

7. Darwin. Charles Darwin visited the Falklands twice - in 1833 and in 1834, on board the HMS Beagle. Darwin undertook surveys of the natural environment. East Falkland has a settlement named after him.

8. Feathered flocks. Over 65 per cent of the global population of black-browed albatross reside in the Falkland Islands, known locally as the ‘mollymawk'. Steeple Jason, northwest of West Falkland, boasts the largest black-browed albatross colony in the world. There are over 227 listed species of bird that reside in the Falklands, making the Islands a top spot for wildlife enthusiasts.

9. Sound as a pound! The Falklands pound is the official currency for the Islands and has the same value as UK sterling. Falklands coins depict a range of Falklands animals including the penguin, upland goose, albatross, Sea Lion, sheep and the now extinct Warrah. UK sterling is accepted on the Islands as valid tender and some retailers and attractions accept Euros and US dollars.

10. Hey Diddle Diddle... Diddle-dee berries are endemic to the Falkland Islands. These tiny, red, bittersweet berries grow on the Diddle dee shrub which bears fruit in the autumn. These are often used to make jam which may be served with smoko in many places around the islands and can be purchased in shops in Stanley.

For a full list of practical advice visit www.falklandislands.com.

E ancora...dove piace andare a me, le mie spiagge preferite!

The Best for nature lovers

Bluff Cove Lagoon beach, Falkland Islands
"Few beaches are remoter, but you still won't have Bluff Cove to yourself. Some 3,000 gentoo penguins stake out the white sands of this pristine bay, pacing well-trammelled ‘highways' between their raucous rookeries and the South Atlantic surf. Sit on the beach and the curious creatures will waddle up to you. Magellanic penguins and sea lions frequently surf onto the scene, too. Insider tip: See the Bluff Cove Museum near Sea Cabbage Café to discover how people, as well as penguins, fare in this far-flung outpost."

"Penguins, on the other hand, don't appreciate low-flying jets. They get flustered and scatter, stumbling into each other like skittles. It's one of the things Hattie Kilmartin is keen to impress on the British Armed Forces whenever she can. Not only is her farm at Bluff Cove (south-west of Stanley) home to 2,000 gentoo penguins, but kings are also starting to breed there. When I arrived, one of the dapper adults was admiring its reflection in the shallow lagoon behind the beach. I have to confess it was my belly, as much as my binoculars, that lured me to Bluff Cove. Sitting right on the beach, Hattie's Sea Cabbage Café serves the best cream teas south of Torquay: home-baked scones, farm-fresh cream and jam made from locally harvested diddle-dee berries. It seemed rude not to stay for dinner as well – after all, where else can you eat sea trout and slowroasted lamb, sip a decent Chilean chardonnay and gaze through picture windows at a penguin panorama? Birdwatching just doesn't get any more civilised."

Will Gray, Wanderlust Magazine, March 2009

from: http://bluffcovelagoon.com/visitorcomments.asp