Stanley, Falkland Islands
Before the opening of the Panama Canal, Stanley was an important port for provisioning and repair of ships going “round the Horn.” Ships in need of repair limped into the harbor, many never to leave. Such was the case with the Lady Elisabeth. She left Vancouver with a load of lumber bound for Mozambique on December 4, 1912 and was not heard of again until reaching Stanley on March 14, 1913. After being battered by storms, losing four sailors and sustaining severe damage, she headed for Stanley. Fifteen miles out she hit a rock, broke her keel and opened a gash along her bottom. She reached Stanley Harbor but was deemed too expensive to repair.
Of roughly 2,900 Falklanders, about 2,000 live in the capital city, Stanley. During breakfast, the Endeavour entered this scenic port. Our tour’s stop at the excellent Britannia House Museum provided insights into local history, natural history and lifestyle. The “Totem Pole” is a unique and fascinating relic of the 1982 conflict with Argentina. Standing near the airport, it is a tall post onto which British soldiers tacked directional arrows with distances to their hometowns or favorite pubs. At Whalebone Cove we had a view of town and the Endeavour as we looked over the wreck of the Lady Elisabeth.
Before the opening of the Panama Canal, Stanley was an important port for provisioning and repair of ships going “round the Horn.” Ships in need of repair limped into the harbor, many never to leave. Such was the case with the Lady Elisabeth. She left Vancouver with a load of lumber bound for Mozambique on December 4, 1912 and was not heard of again until reaching Stanley on March 14, 1913. After being battered by storms, losing four sailors and sustaining severe damage, she headed for Stanley. Fifteen miles out she hit a rock, broke her keel and opened a gash along her bottom. She reached Stanley Harbor but was deemed too expensive to repair.
Of roughly 2,900 Falklanders, about 2,000 live in the capital city, Stanley. During breakfast, the Endeavour entered this scenic port. Our tour’s stop at the excellent Britannia House Museum provided insights into local history, natural history and lifestyle. The “Totem Pole” is a unique and fascinating relic of the 1982 conflict with Argentina. Standing near the airport, it is a tall post onto which British soldiers tacked directional arrows with distances to their hometowns or favorite pubs. At Whalebone Cove we had a view of town and the Endeavour as we looked over the wreck of the Lady Elisabeth.
