Click image to enlarge map |
VIRGIN ISLANDSThe BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS is comprised of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabited islands; includes the islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, Jost van Dyke. First inhabited by Arawak and later by Carib Indians, the Virgin Islands were settled by the Dutch in 1648 and then annexed by the English in 1672. The islands were part of the British colony of the Leeward Islands from 1872-1960; they were granted autonomy in 1967. The economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is the legal currency. U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS - During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into two territorial units, one English and the other Danish. Sugarcane, produced by slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish portion, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848. WHEN TO GO The peak season is from December to May when rates are high. Prices drop by one-third to one-half half during hurricane season from June to November. FACTS ABOUT THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS - Location: Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
- Geographic coordinates: 18 30 N, 64 30 W
- Area: 153 sq km
- Coastline: 80 km
- Max elevation: 521 m
- Population: 24,004
- Capital: Road Town
- Government: Overseas territory of UK
- Currency: US Dollar
- Internet Country Code: .vg
- Calling code: 284
- Ethnic groups: black 83%, other 17% (includes white, Indian, Asian and mixed)
- Languages: English (official)
- Religions: Protestant 86% (Methodist 33%, Anglican 17%, Church of God 9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 15%), Roman Catholic 10%, other 2%, none 2%
- Major Industries: Tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center
- Natural resources: sun, sand, sea, surf
- Environmental issues: limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchments)
- Climate: Subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
- Average sea surface temp: 27 °C
- Average annual rainfall: 1,250 mm
- Average tourist arrivals: 820,000
FACTS ABOUT THE US VIRGIN ISLANDS - Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
- Geographic coordinates: 18 20 N, 64 50 W
- Area: 346 sq km
- Coastline: 188 km
- Max elevation: 475 m
- Population: 108,612
- Main cities: Nassau and Freeport
- Government: Territory of the U.S.
- Currency: U.S. Dollar
- Internet Country Code: .vi
- Calling code: 340
- Ethnic groups: black 76.2%, white 13.1%, Asian 1.1%, other 6.1%, mixed 3.5%
- Languages: English 74.7%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 16.8%, French or French Creole 6.6%, other 1.9%
- Religions: Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%
- Major Industries: Tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics
- Natural resources: sun, sand, sea, surf
- Environmental issues: lack of natural freshwater resources
- Climate: Subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September to November
- Average sea surface temp: 27 °C
- Average annual rainfall: 1,250 mm
- Average tourist arrivals: 2.6 million
|
