gps coordinates / -51.3494936,-60.7127392
Falklands West Point Island Scenery 360 Area Places
Falklands West Point Island
West Point Island, FIQQ 1ZZ, Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
As with many locations around the Falkland Islands, in the early 19th century West Point was a popular site for slaughtering seals and penguins for oil. Literal overkill ended this industry in the area. The island was established as a sheep farm in 1879 by Arthur Felton, great uncle of Roddy Napier, the present owner.
Gps coordinates / -51.3494462,-60.7135135
In February 1968, the late Lars-Eric Lindblad brought the Chilean government vessel Navarino to the Falklands with the first cruise tourists. This is widely recognized as the birth of Falklands tourism. The Navarino visited West Point Island and Mr. Lindblad started a long, close friendship with the Napier family. He also fell in love with their island and over the following 25 years helped turn it into one of the most popular cruise ship destinations outside the capital Port Stanley.
Gps coordinates / -51.3494336,-60.7125405
Today West Point receives many expedition vessels every summer, their passengers taking Zodiacs and tenders ashore to explore this magnificent island. Large colonies of Black-browed albatrosses and Southern Rockhopper penguins, and the highest sea cliffs in the Falklands are the main attraction. Legendary West Point hospitality also awaits.
Gps coordinates / -51.3486521,-60.712513
Gps coordinates / -51.3459209,-60.6895126
Gps Coordinates / Link Gps -60.6913154 / Link Gps -60.6867341 / Link Gps -60.685196
Gps Coordinates / -51.3477438,-60.6913154 / -51.3492934,-60.6867341 / -51.3494759,-60.685196
The Falklands endemic Felton's flower, which was named after the current owner's great uncle who discovered it, occurs in relative abundance. The island gardens have a fairly wide selection of introduced plants including roses, foxgloves, daisies, red hot pokers etc. Unusually for the Falklands, there are also a few trees.
Gps Coordinates / Link Gps -60.6845012 / Link Gps -60.6838038 / Link Gps -60.6821379
Gps Coordinates / -51.3495925,-60.6845012 / -51.3497655,-60.6838038 / -51.3500976,-60.6821379
The West Point Island group, which includes nearby Gibraltar Rock, Low Island and Dunbar Island, has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA). Birds for which the site is of conservation significance include Falkland steamer ducks, ruddy-headed geese, southern rockhopper penguins, Magellanic penguins, black-browed albatrosses, striated caracaras, blackish cinclodes, Cobb's wrens and white-bridled finches. The waters around the islands are home to Commerson's dolphins.
Gps coordinates / -51.3505118,-60.679802
