Falklands recover 370 hectares of Stanley Common made minefields in 1982 by Argentine forces
Thirty years after the end of the Falkland Islands conflict, 370 hectares of Stanley Common south of Sapper Hill recently cleared by BACTEC (mine action and bomb disposal specialists), have been opened to the public, reports the Penguin News.
During the conflict the Argentine forces planted 20,000 anti-personnel mines and 5,000 anti-tank mines spread over 13 sq km in 117 locations in highly variable terrain.
Particularly strategic for the occupying Argentine forces were areas surrounding Stanley in an attempt to stop the British from recovering the town. Only recently has the onerous task of clearing some of the fields started as part of a UK effort.
However in spite of the major clearance in areas close to Stanley, Environmental Officer Nick Rendell said it should be noted that five smaller minefields remain and are clearly marked.
The accessible area contains the Stone Corral, an exquisite piece of early Falklands’ history as well as Eagle Rock, a notable landscape feature.
It also includes the two largest ponds in the Stanley area, Mile Pond and Round Pond. The latter attracts interesting waterfowl and rare vagrant bird species have been reported there in the past.
A three kilometre stretch of coastline is now accessible from Goose Green via Lake Point to the entrance to Mullet Creek, where a further two kilometres of shoreline offers additional fishing opportunities.
Mr Rendell explained that the best point to gain access to the Stone Corral is via the old Pump House track, and then by foot or vehicle through an access gate into the released area.
“As the corral is an important historic feature please refrain from climbing on or removing rocks from its walls,” he added.
The best vehicle access point to reach Mile Pond, Round Pond and the south coast is through the gate in the north east corner of the released area by the Sapper Hill water tanks although the area around the gate is quite damp and may become difficult to pass as it gets wetter over winter.
A temporary fence has been put in place between Mile Pond and the minefield to the east to restrict vehicles from travelling further south.
This area is also very wet and has been fenced to prevent damage to the ground. For access to the south coast the public should leave their vehicles at the gate, from which it is a 500 metre walk to Lake Point Beach and Round Pond. A key for the gate is available from the Environmental Planning Department for people with mobility difficulties. It is intended to remove the fence and gate when access to the coastal strip has been improved following further land releases.
A map of the area showing vehicle access points is available from the Environmental Planning Department website; www.epd.gov.fk
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43 comments Feed
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I was beginning to miss our monthly personal mine update…..
But I must say that I strongly disagree with Mr. Rendell……...............
“….The corral is an important historic feature please refrain from climbing on or removing rocks from its walls,” he says.
I think he should mind his own business….
If any Kelper wants some Argie stones for basing his garden gnomes, he is perfectly entitled to take some from that old Argie Corral!
We all know what Argie historical features deserve…
Let those stones go the same way this one went:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbjh2xjhIMA&feature=related
There is no recorded date of construction or builder of the Sapper Hill corral but it was referred to by Lafone, which could date it to mid 1800s. As it is a important part of our history we choose to preserve it, which really is none of your business.
Just teasing you, my musical mate.
Where is your British sense of humor ?
Everybody knows that this particular Corral was build by Napoleon! (Goss :-)
”I saw her as she inaugurated the Youth Room in the Lower House of Congress in May 2012 (addressing an auditorium with young militants from youth organizations, among which La Campora from her son Maximo Kirchner), I had been with the La Compare for just a year. I thought it was wonderful: that person with shining eyes. Shivers ran up our spines, because we were able to stand opposite the ‘beloved Führer’ . So we stood there – ‘The Führer is coming!' – and we waited in dutiful silence, shifting our weight on our feet. And then she came, and swept past in front of us. And if anyone had then said ‘Kill yourself for the Führer!’ we would have gone to our deaths without hesitation”
Anonymous
Don't forget the “To not quite be good enough to make the squad to play on English soil, we train on British war memorials and Falklands soil” athletes...
Only the RG trolls on this site would gloat at leaving unchartered landmines for children to step on. Beef burgers tonight Trolls, maximo's favourite mmmmmmmmmmmmm
@4 Doesn't “gaucho” translate as “cowman”? Suits you!
@7 Please sit on 12 foot steel sharpened pole and twirl. Do you have any high cliffs near you, Twinky? Have you tried diving?
they dont like it up em they do not like it up em! Gurkha's are waiting this time they want to meet your military..the only view they got was them running away.
See you managed to steal a video from the Taliban, did it give you a nice warm NAZI like feeling watching a world heritage site go up in a cloud of dust.
Just shows your worth to humanity!!
14 cLOHO
You're right there, As one officer said “All Gurkha's want to fight, Gurkha's love fighting the enemy, They don't like standing around on guard, they start feeling bored”
Argentine on going humiliation and pariah status is secured. jajajajajajaa or hahahahaha in anglais
walking safe , living safe,
thats what its all about,
is it not .
when trolling stop gibbering about my obsession for bananas and other phallic objects.
lesson number one: ja ja =ha ha Jua jua jua!!!=LOL!
lesson number two: i am angry= yo estoy enojado= tengo BRONCA or estoy recaliente! (arg)
lesson number three:Listen the nex song and associate the images of the first version with the lyrics written in the second version.
first version:www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KCkriJWgUI
second version:www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ks2njukxXs
This commission they are setting up to pursue the goal of achieving Argentinian Sovereignty. Can I suggest that the members positions are made hereditary, I have the feeling that some how they are going to have to be, as this is going to take a long time to achieve. Like for instance.................“ when hell freezes over.”................... Just a helpful suggestion.
Did you even read the first line? It says “A small group of Chilean supporters” Did you understand now? “A small group of Chilean supporters” I think the key word here is “Small” yeah?? You would do well to read the comments posted at 25 by reality check . Because they have a snowballs chance in hell of getting what they want.
You see you always get a bunch of idiots even in civilised countries. Take the USA for instance. There are still people there who don't like black people just because they are black. Then there those in the UK who haven't got two brain cells to rub together who think that it's ok to “Send them back where they came from” we call them the BNP and pity them and ignore them until such time as they grow up.
So I wouldn't pin your hopes on this “Small” group of people being taken seriously by anyone or shouting loud enough for right minded people to pay them any attention.
A small group of Chilean supporters of Argentina’s claim to the Falkland Islands held a meeting with their neighbour’s Committee on Foreign Affairs yesterday, to restate their support.
Only 3 members from a Legislature of 168 - not even 2%
They did recognise however that the issue was not of great concern to many Chileans.
Calm down people,
Lord Ton is normally on our side.
l think that he just meant to show how irrelevant Argentina's claim really is to Chilean people.
At least l hope thats what he intended!
Agree with you, that's how I read it too. My comment was not meant to be a pop at Lord Ton. The first part of the article was so out of touch with what I believe most Chileans think on the subject, it frankly was not worth mentioning here. The commission however, total waste of time and effort on their part, never going to happen.
Welcome back from your well deserved holidays.....
About (25), (26), (27)..........
www.youtube.com/watch?v=He82NBjJqf8
:-)
ALL THE ACTIONS OF A COUNTRY WANTING PEACE
We all know this all serves as the perfect distraction from the RG economic meltdown and trade problems with the rest of the world. Hilter used the jews , Kircher and previous governments the falklands.
Dont use to much gas it may be running quite low soon.
May 20th, 2012 - 12:06 am
It would be great idea if the FIG claimed sovereignty over Argentina, I'd love to live in a country without 30% inflation, practically no crime, sound education, a great future. It would be very nice indeed.
Did you not hear what Ali Castro said? Argentina does recognise the right to self determination for all people as stated in the UN Charter. All people that is except for the Falkland Islanders. Possibly because the peaceful, caring, loving Argentinians do not recognise the Falkland Islanders as people. Perhaps not even as human.
You do make me laugh. “Everybody” knows that do they? Why are we in the islands then? Why hasn't “everybody” forced us out? With the resources (quantitive not qualitive) that CFK is pouring into the situation surely “everybody” is aware of it and has made up their mind one way or the other.
Anyway, even if we aren't entitled to be here, according to “everybody”- and we are confident that we are- the UK sorted that out in 1982. If a war doesn't settle such matters is Argentina going to hand back all of the land it took from other countries with military force?
johnfarrel & his “everybody knows” is a bit of a giggle.
Sometimes its “the whole world knows”
l'm sure that they do, johnnyboy, l'm sure that they do, you plonker!
btw, Joe, are you related to Fred Bloggs? ha ha
In 1833 there were no Argentine authorities to expel. There was no such country as Argentina then.
Of the militia expelled (they had only been there TWO months, and Britain protested when they heard of their presence), 10 were murderers who were subsequently put on trial by authorities in BA and executed by firing squad. @38 does not mention this.
The civilian population in 1833 was not expelled. They were all asked whether they wanted to stay or leave, and four, yes that's right, four requested to leave. That is not the same as being expelled @38.
In fact Captain Onslow implored 10 gauchos to stay, who were not British, but since when have the people that have populated the Falkland Islands come from purely British stock? The implication that the Falkland Islanders have been made up entirely of emmigrants from the UK is an Argentine fairy story.
Another point @38 that you conviniently leave out of your poor generalisation of history. Two slaves that chose to stay were released from slavery by the British, one living until the 1870s in Stanley. If she was expelled, @38, explain to this post why she died there and not in SA?
The population of the Falkland Islands has not been controlled. A few ex servicemen colonised the islands, but the climate and living conditions were challenging so it was difficult to 'transplant' people there. Most settlers chose to go to the islands of their own accord, there was and never has been any attempt by HMG to artificially transplant people there. This is another Argentine fairy story of which, thanks to the past influence of Nazis on the country there are plenty, as Argentina ignores facts for thinly veiled, unconvincing, propaganda.
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