Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The sheep boom in Tierra del Fuego and Patagonia owes its origins to the cluster of is-
lands known as Las Islas Malvinas to the Argentines or the Falkland Islands to the Brit-
ish. They had been explored, but never fully captured the interest of either country until
Europe's mid-19th-century wool boom. After the Falkland Islands Company (FIC) be-
came the islands' largest landholder, a population of stranded gauchos and mariners grew
rapidly with the arrival of English and Scottish immigrants.
Argentina's claim goes back to 1833, but it wasn't until 1982 that Argentine President
Leopoldo Galtieri, then drowning in economic chaos and allegations of corruption,
gambled that reclaiming the islands would unite his country. British Prime Minister Mar-
garet Thatcher (also suffering in the polls) didn't hesitate in striking back, thoroughly hu-
miliating Argentina in the Falklands War (Guerra de las Malvinas).
In 2010 Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner made statements that re-
newed Argentina's claim on the Falklands, diffusing the progress that had been made in
the previous decade for increased cooperation between British, Falkland Islands and Ar-
