Under the British Nationality (Falkland Islands) Act 1983, Falkland Islanders are British citizens. The islands lie at the boundary of the subantarctic oceanic and tundra climate zones, and both major islands have mountain ranges reaching 2,300 ft (700 m). An attempt made by Argentina to establish a penal colony in 1832 failed due to a mutiny. In 1833, the British returned to the Falkland Islands. Argentina invaded the islands on 2 April 1982. The British responded with an expeditionary force that forced the Argentines to surrender. Explore the Falkland Islands Government's official portal—your guide to services, information, and news in this unique British Overseas Territory. The Falkland Islands archipelago is made up of more than 700 islands and has a hugely varied coastline from rugged coastal cliffs to miles and miles of undisturbed, white sandy beaches. Argentina had claimed sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, which lie 300 miles (480 km) east of its coast, since the early 19th century, but Britain seized the islands in 1833, expelling the few remaining Argentine occupants, and since then consistently rejected Argentina’s claims. Discover the Falkland Islands—a self-governing British Overseas Territory with rich heritage, unique wildlife, and a strong local community. The most famous islands are East and West Falkland, two main islands about 480 km away from Argentina. These islands are called the Malouines in French, the Malvinas in Spanish, and the Falklands in English. The Falkland Islands (Spanish: Islas Malvinas) are a group of islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of South America. They are an overseas territory of the United Kingdom. There are a range of ways to reach the Falkland Islands, although due to the ongoing pandemic, visitors should check with their travel operator as some of the usual routes are not currently in operation. Comprising the larger islands of East and West Falkland, and 776 smaller islands (only fifteen of which are inhabited), the Falklands are one of the most remote and least densely populated places on Earth, with only around 3,500 residents.