Darwin, Falkland Islands facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Darwin
Darwin in 2003
Location of the Falkland Islands
Darwin, Falkland Islands Location in Falkland Islands
British Overseas Territory	Falkland Islands
Region	East Falkland
Settled	1859
Population
• Total	7
Climate	ET

Darwin is a small place in the Falkland Islands. It is located in Lafonia on East Falkland. You can find it on Choiseul Sound, which is on the east side of the island's central narrow strip of land, called an isthmus. Darwin is about 2.5 miles (4 km) north of Goose Green. Sometimes, it is also called Port Darwin.

Even though it's small, Darwin has some interesting spots. There's a corral, which is a pen for animals. The old Galpon building was once home to 19th-century gauchos, who were South American cowboys. You can also find the Argentine Military Cemetery here. The area is great for birdlife, both in the Sound and in the local pond. There's even a small racecourse where local people enjoy horse riding.

History

Naming and Early Settlement

Darwin is named after Charles Darwin, a famous scientist. He explored the Falkland Islands on the ship Beagle during its second journey. It is said that Darwin spent a night in this area.

About 25 years after Charles Darwin's visit, the settlement of Darwin was started. The first building, a vicarage (a church house), was built in 1859. Darwin became an important center for sheep farming in the Lafonia area. It remained so until 1922.

Later, the main sheep farm moved to Goose Green, which is south of Darwin. A natural wall of peat called the Boca Wall separates the two places. At first, Darwin was a place for gauchos and cattle farmers. But over time, sheep farming became the main activity. Many Scottish shepherds came to work in the area.

In 1874, the Falkland Islands Company (FIC) set up a large factory here. This factory made tallow, which is animal fat used for things like candles and soap. In 1880, it processed nearly 16,000 sheep.

Healthcare and Communication

From the 1880s until 1972, Darwin and Fox Bay had their own doctors. Today, most medical care for the islands is based in Stanley.

A telephone line was built between Darwin and Stanley in 1906. A ship called the Consort helped by landing the telephone poles on the coast. The line to Darwin was finished in 1907 and was about 49.5 miles (79.7 km) long. At first, it was mainly for business calls. However, people could sometimes use it for public calls. The line had some problems and broke a few times in its early years.

Local Activities and Important Buildings

The Darwin Harbour Sports Association organized one of the first recorded Cricket matches in the Falkland Islands. This happened on February 7, 1912. The game was played between teams of married men and single men. The single men won that day!

There are two buildings in Darwin that are considered important historical sites. These are the galpon (the old cowboy building) and the Stone Corral (the animal pen). They are both listed buildings in the Falkland Islands.

The Falklands Conflict

Darwin and the surrounding areas saw a lot of fighting during the Falklands War. This was part of the Battle of Goose Green. Many soldiers who lost their lives during the conflict were buried near Darwin.

On the morning of May 28, British troops from the 2nd PARA Regiment advanced on Darwin Hill. They faced strong resistance from Argentine forces.

During the battle, Argentine forces used their defenses to stop the British advance. This caused many injuries to the British troops, including their commander. The fighting was intense, and a school building in Darwin, which British troops had taken, was damaged and caught fire.

Eventually, the British advance was paused to allow their troops to regroup. The Argentine position then came under attack, and their equipment was damaged. With their position surrounded, the Argentine commanding officer decided to surrender the next day.

See also

In Spanish: Puerto Darwin para niños