STANLEY, Falkland Islands (AP) — Attention in Argentina returns each April 2 to the Falkland Islands, a wind-swept South Atlantic archipelago whose sovereignty Argentina has long claimed. The islands' ties with the mainland remain limited, decades after the 1982 war with the U.K. ended in a British victory.
Islanders often describe themselves as culturally distant from Argentina despite the islands' proximity to the South American coast, and voted in a 2013 referendum to remain a British overseas territory.
The local economy relies heavily on commercial fishing — especially squid — while tourism drawn by wildlife and rugged landscapes has grown steadily in recent years.
Maria Eugenia Budic, a visitor from Argentina, pays her respects at the cemetery for Argentine soldiers killed during the Falklands War between Britain and Argentina in Darwin, on the Falkland Islands, also known as Islas Malvinas, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Maria Eugenia Budic, a visitor from Argentina, pays her respects at the cemetery for Argentine soldiers killed during the Falklands War between Britain and Argentina in Darwin, on the Falkland Islands, also known as Islas Malvinas, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
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A cruise ship crew member who ferries passengers waits on a last passenger to take to a cruiser departing Stanley on the Falkland Islands, also known as Islas Malvinas, Thursday, March 19, 2026.
A cruise ship crew member who ferries passengers waits on a last passenger to take to a cruiser departing Stanley on the Falkland Islands, also known as Islas Malvinas, Thursday, March 19, 2026.
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King penguins stand in a rookery at Volunteer Point on the Falkland Islands, also known as Islas Malvinas, Thursday, March 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
King penguins stand in a rookery at Volunteer Point on the Falkland Islands, also known as Islas Malvinas, Thursday, March 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
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An artillery piece from the 1982 Falklands War between Argentina and Britain lies on Mount Longdon on the Falkland Islands, also known as Islas Malvinas, Monday, March 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
An artillery piece from the 1982 Falklands War between Argentina and Britain lies on Mount Longdon on the Falkland Islands, also known as Islas Malvinas, Monday, March 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
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A visitor looks at photos of British soldiers who were killed during the 1982 Falklands War between Britain and Argentina at a museum in Stanley, Falkland Islands, also known as Islas Malvinas, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
A visitor looks at photos of British soldiers who were killed during the 1982 Falklands War between Britain and Argentina at a museum in Stanley, Falkland Islands, also known as Islas Malvinas, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
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Elephant seals interact on the beach at Kelp Point on the Falkland Islands, also known as Islas Malvinas, Tuesday, March 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Elephant seals interact on the beach at Kelp Point on the Falkland Islands, also known as Islas Malvinas, Tuesday, March 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
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Argentine visitors look at ammunition cases from the 1982 Falklands War between Argentina and Britain scattered on the slopes of Mount Tumbledown in the Falkland Islands, also known as Islas Malvinas, Monday, March 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Argentine visitors look at ammunition cases from the 1982 Falklands War between Argentina and Britain scattered on the slopes of Mount Tumbledown in the Falkland Islands, also known as Islas Malvinas, Monday, March 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
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Christ Church Cathedral, an Anglican church, stands in Stanley on the Falkland Islands, also known as Islas Malvinas, Monday, March 16, 2026.(AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Christ Church Cathedral, an Anglican church, stands in Stanley on the Falkland Islands, also known as Islas Malvinas, Monday, March 16, 2026.(AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
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King penguins walk along the shore at Volunteer Point on the Falkland Islands, known also as Islas Malvinas, Thursday, March 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
King penguins walk along the shore at Volunteer Point on the Falkland Islands, known also as Islas Malvinas, Thursday, March 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
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A bust of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher stands near a memorial to British soldiers who fought in the 1982 Falklands War between Britain and Argentina in Stanley on the Falkland Islands, also known as Islas Malvinas, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
A bust of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher stands near a memorial to British soldiers who fought in the 1982 Falklands War between Britain and Argentina in Stanley on the Falkland Islands, also known as Islas Malvinas, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
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An elephant seal lies on the shore at Kelp Point on the Falkland Islands, also known as Islas Malvinas, Tuesday, March 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
An elephant seal lies on the shore at Kelp Point on the Falkland Islands, also known as Islas Malvinas, Tuesday, March 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
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Headstones for British military personnel killed during the 1982 Falklands War between Britain and Argentina stand in Blue Beach Military Cemetery in San Carlos on the Falkland Islands, also known as Islas Malvinas, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Headstones for British military personnel killed during the 1982 Falklands War between Britain and Argentina stand in Blue Beach Military Cemetery in San Carlos on the Falkland Islands, also known as Islas Malvinas, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
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This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
