Camp (Falkland Islands)
The Camp is the term used in the Falkland Islands to refer to any part of the islands outside the islands' only town, Stanley, and often the large RAF base at Mount Pleasant. It is derived from the Spanish word campo, meaning "countryside", used by the Chilean guacho herders hired in the 19th century.[1]
The Camp contains various small settlements, such as Fox Bay, Goose Green, Darwin, and Port Howard, which are usually little more than several houses. Port Louis in the north of East Falkland is the oldest permanent settlement in the islands, established by the French in 1764. Port Egmont on Saunders Island, now abandoned, is the oldest British settlement. The majority of the Camp population lives on East Falkland, followed by West Falkland. Outlying islands such as Pebble, Sea Lion, West Point, Weddell and Carcass Island are inhabited as well.
The name 'Camp' is used in formal contexts, for example the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly has just two constituencies: Stanley and Camp.[2]
There are also some British military installations such as RAF Mount Pleasant, Mare Harbour, and Mount Alice, and there is also the Bodie Suspension Bridge, the southernmost of its kind in the world. Many parts are still landmined from the time of the Falklands War, particularly just outside Stanley.
Camp time
Officially, time in the Falkland Islands is set at 3 hours before Greenwich Mean Time ('UTC-3'); originally this was in the summer months but since September 2010 the islands have been on UTC-3 permanently. However many residents of Camp use UTC-4, an hour behind, all year round, which is known on the Falklands as "Camp Time".[3] This caused confusion in 2009 when a team of Royal Engineers working in Hill Cove did not realise West Falkland was on a different time zone from Stanley.[4]
Sheep farming is the main industry. Others include fishing, and tourism (particularly wildlife or war-related tours).
The Camp is represented by three members of the Legislative Assembly of the Falkland Islands.
See also
References
- ↑ Stay with us » Camping: Falkland Islands Tourist Board
- ↑ Falkland Islands News Network: Eighteen Stand for Falklands' Elections
- ↑ "Essentials A-Z - Falklands". Foot Printtravel Guides. http://www.footprinttravelguides.com/latin-america/falkland-islands/essentials/essentials-a-z/. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
- ↑ Juanita Brock (4 April 2009). "Hill Cove Repairs". Falkland Islands News Network (sartma). http://www.sartma.com/artc_6373_FI_760_2.html. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
