- Lafonia
Lafonia is a
peninsula forming the southern part ofEast Falkland , the largest of theFalkland Islands .Geography and geology
Shaped like the letter "E", it is joined to the northern part of the island by a 4 km narrow
isthmus ; were this isthmus to be severed, Lafonia would be the third largest of the Falkland Islands.Falkland Sound runs to the west between Lafonia andWest Falkland .Choiseul Sound divides Lafonia from the northern part of East Falkland.Barren Island,
Bleaker Island ,George Island ,Lively Island ,Sea Lion Island andSpeedwell Island are all off Lafonia.The geology of north west Lafonia is
Permian , and similar to that of parts ofEcca Pass inSouth Africa [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3721/is_200201/ai_n9034193] . The plain of Lafonia is constituted by arenaceous sediments of the Lafonia Group. Depressions in the sediments formed where they were cut vertically by basalt dikes. The plain of Lafonia is constituted by arenaceous sediments of the Lafonia Group. Depressions in the sediments formed where they were cut vertically by basalt dykes.In the 21st century, Lafonia has seen gold prospecting [http://www.falkland-malvinas.com/Detalle.asp?NUM=5431] by Falkland Gold and Minerals Ltd.
History and Population
The land is gentle and low-lying, but almost uninhabited, falling into the "camp" category. Most of its settlement occurred in the mid 19th century.
In 1845, Mr Samuel Fisher Lafone, a wealthy cattle and hide merchant on the river Plate, obtained from government a grant of the southern portion of the East Falkland, which was a peninsula 600,000 acres (2,400 km²) in extent, and possession of all the wild cattle on the island for a period of six years, for a payment of £10,000 down, and £20,000 in ten years from January 1, 1852. In 1851, Mr Lafone's interest in Lafonia, as the peninsula came to be called, was purchased for £30,000 by the
Falkland Islands Company , which had been incorporated by charter in the same year.It has been used for
sheep farming since the earlynineteenth century and is run from Darwin (founded 1859) andGoose Green , both of which are located on the narrow isthmus that separates Lafonia from the rest of East Falkland.North Arm Settlement is the only substantial settlement in Lafonia (not counting offshore islands), along with Walker Creek. Attractions include theBodie Suspension Bridge , built in 1925 and said to be the southernmost in the world. There is also a shop here.Listed building s in Lafonia include The Galpon and Stone Corral in Darwin, The Stone Cottage and Goose Green Hall (owned by Falklands Landholdings) in Goose Green and Paragon House. [http://www.falklands.info/background/listedb.html]The first battles on land during the
Falklands War took place on Lafonia (seeBattle of Goose Green ), where over a thousand Argentine personnel were stationed and around one-hundred locals were imprisoned in the community hall. The area is now home to an Argentine military cemetery. Parts of Lafonia, especially near Darwin and Goose Green, are still heavily mined.Other settlements include Port King, Egg Harbour and the abandoned
Hope Place .Wildlife
Charles Darwin surveyed the area's wildlife during his now-famous voyage on HMS "Beagle".Lafonia's wildlife includes the
Chiloe Wigeon ,Silver Teal andYellow-billed Pintail . Introducedbrown trout are found in at least one stream [http://www.falklandsconservation.com/wildlife/conservation_issues/fish_article.html] flowing intoChoiseul Sound . There is also a population ofZebra trout .References
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External links
* [http://www.latintravel.com/wtv/falkland/fiphotos.cfm Pictures of Lafonia (top), and other parts of Falklands]
* [http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/falklands/falklands-map.jpgMap of Falklands with Lafonia clearly marked]Template group
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