Volunteer Point

Volunteer Point is a headland on the east coast of East Falkland, in the Falkland Islands, to the north north east (as the crow flies) of Stanley, and east of Johnson's Harbour and Berkeley Sound. It is at the end of a narrow peninsula, which protects Volunteer Lagoon. At its landward end is Volunteer Shanty, a well maintained outhouse, which was used by trekkers until a few years ago.

trategic value in Falklands War

Volunteer Point is one of the easternmost points of the islands, but Cape Pembroke is the furthest east. During the Falklands War, Argentine commanders considered it a potential British landing point, because it was a) far from continental Argentine airbases (e.g. Rio Grande, Comodoro Rivadavia), and those at Pebble Island, but b) also a strategic foothold for any British force wishing to retake Stanley [Bicheno, Hugh (2006) "Razor's Edge: The Unofficial History of the Falklands War". London. Weidenfield & Nicholson. ISBN-13 978-0-7538-2186-2] . However, in the event, the British landings took place on San Carlos Water in the west of East Falkland, on Falkland Sound.

Wildlife

Volunteer Point is notable for having about 150 pairs of king penguins breed here, at the most northerly part of their range. King penguins were once nearly extinct in the Falklands, and Volunteer Point contains most Falkland specimens. There are also elephant seals here.

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