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British Virgin Islands:
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Other pages in this profile of the British Virgin Islands:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
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Background |
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. |
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Location |
Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico |
Geographic coordinates |
18 30 N, 64 30 W |
Map references |
Central America and the Caribbean |
Area |
total: 153 sq km land: 153 sq km water: 0 sq km note: comprised of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabited islands; includes the islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, Jost van Dyke |
Area - comparative |
about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC |
Land boundaries |
0 km |
Coastline |
80 km |
Maritime claims |
territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm |
Climate |
subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds |
Terrain |
coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly |
Elevation extremes |
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Sage 521 m |
Natural resources |
NEGL |
Land use |
arable land: 20% permanent crops: 6.67% other: 73.33% (2005) |
Irrigated land |
NA |
Natural hazards |
hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October) |
Environment - current 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) |
Geography - note |
strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico |
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Copyright 2008 World Sites Atlas (sitesatlas.com) |