STANLEY

also called Port Stanley only town and, since 1842, capital of the Falkland Islands, a British dependent territory in the South Atlantic Ocean. It lies on the northeast coast of East Falkland Island, along the southern shore of Port William inlet. Its fine inner and outer harbours attracted the early British settlers because of the protection afforded their sailing vessels. Stanley was an important base for Antarctic whaling operations and a British naval base during World War II, but its port now serves mostly merchant ships. About one-half of the people of the Falklands reside in Stanley. It exports wool, sheepskins, and seal oil and imports foodstuffs, coal, oil, clothing, and timber. External communications are via Stanley Airport and a wireless station maintained by the British government. The town is the site of Christ Church Cathedral (1892) and the islands' only hospital. The Town Hall houses a library, as well as public offices and a chamber for the Town Council; the latter levies rates (taxes) to meet the cost of public services. A large garrison of British troops was stationed near Stanley in 1983 after the defeat of invading Argentine forces the previous year. In the environs are penguin rookeries. Pop. (1986) 1,232. town, northwestern Tasmania, Australia, on the eastern shore of Circular Head, a promontory extending into Bass Strait. Originally a penal colony, it was the first (1826) settlement of the Van Diemen's Land Company in that part of the state. First called Circular Head, the town was renamed in 1833 for Lord Stanley, then colonial secretary. Just off the Bass Highway and terminus of a rail line from Launceston (105 miles southeast), Stanley serves a region yielding timber (milled in the town), dairy products, potatoes, and turnips. Crayfish and shark are processed by a local packing plant. Pop. (1986) 588.