San Carlos Water

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

San Carlos Water and Britishlanding sites in Falklands War
San Carlos Water and Britishlanding sites in Falklands War

Not to be confused with San Carlos River

San Carlos Water is a bay/fjord on the west coast of East Falkland, facing onto the Falkland Sound.

[edit] Name

Despite its Spanish sounding name, there is a wide descrepancy with the Spanish usage, for in Spanish "Estrecho de San Carlos" refers to all of the much larger Falkland Sound, which runs between the two main islands of West Falkland and East Falkland.

The settlements of San Carlos and Port San Carlos on the Water, as well as San Carlos River all take their name from the ship San Carlos which visited in 1768.

[edit] Settlements

  • Ajax Bay
  • Campo Verde
  • San Carlos
  • Port San Carlos

[edit] History

Landing site of 2 Para at Blue Beach, San Carlos Water
Landing site of 2 Para at Blue Beach, San Carlos Water

San Carlos Water became notorious during the Falklands War as "Bomb Alley". The British forces routed the Argentine land forces, but British ships became pounded by air raids from Argentine planes. It was of crucial strategic value in the amphibious assault, and British invasion of Argentine occupied East Falkland.

Along with Grantham Sound, it is one of the proposed East Falkland termini for the anticipated ferry to West Falkland.