Bertha's Beach. 24/09/01; 4,000 ha; 51°55'S 058°25'W. Sandy beach on the northern shore of Choiseul Sound, East Falkland, connecting former islands to the mainland, and surrounding marine waters. The site is a good representative example, in relatively natural state, of several different wetland habitat types found along this coast, including shallow marine waters, kelp beds, rocky shores, peatlands, and coastal freshwater lagoons, as well as tussac vegetation on two islands. The site supports appreciable numbers of threatened fauna and flora. The endemic Falkland Steamer Duck (Tachyeres brachydactyla) and several endemic subspecies, such as Upland Goose, Kelp Goose, and Tussacbird, are also present. Breeding Southern Sea Lion (Otaria flavescens) and colonies of Gentoo Penguins (Pygoscelis papua) are supported at a critical stage in their biological cycle (Criterion 4). Direction Island, 1km offshore and part of the site, presents a magnetic anomaly which affects ships' compasses and caused the wreck of the Norwegian barque Bertha in 1892, thus naming the site. Livestock grazing is practiced in the area, and overgrazing is a potential problem as elsewhere on the islands. Disturbance caused by construction and military activities has decreased markedly in recent years, and the farm manager and military authorities control access to the site. Ramsar site no. 1103. Most recent RIS information: 2001. [Note: On 24 October 2001, the Argentine Republic made a diplomatic protest to this designation.]