A campaign has finally cleared the Falkland Islands of thousands of mines laid during the war there almost 40 years ago. Despite their proximity to mainland Argentina, the islands have been a British dependency since the mid-19th century. A sign warning of mines on the Falkland Islands – a common sight since the war in 1982. Despite the restoration of British rule, the sovereignty of the islands remains a source of tension between the countries. Since the war ended, no-go areas have been a feature of life on the sparsely populated islands.