Language: English
Currency: U.S. dollar (USD)
Calling code: +1- 340
The Virgin Islands of the United States, the US Virgin Islands are a group of islands dependent on the United States of America located in the Caribbean Sea. These islands are part of the archipelago of the Virgin Islands. This territory is composed of three main islands: (Saint Thomas, Saint John, Saint Croix) and some smaller islands. It is one of the seventeen Non-Self-Governing Territories under the supervision of the Decolonization Committee of the United Nations Organization, in order to eliminate colonialism. It is the only US territory where you drive on the left.
Cristóbal Colón named the archipelago as the "Islands of the Eleven Thousand Virgins", in reference to the legend of Saint Ursula and the Eleven Thousand Virgins; eventually, the name was shortened to the "Virgin Islands." To differentiate them from the British territory that shares half of the archipelago (whose official name is simply Virgin Islands), the title "of the United States" was added to the official name of the islands (Virgin Islands of the United States).
Buck Island Reef National Monument is a nature marine reserve situated around Buck Island in the US Virgin Islands. It covers a total area of 880 acres.
Coral World Ocean Park is a biosphere marine preserve situated 4 mi (6 km) Northeast of Charlotte Amalie, Saint Thomas.
Fort Frederiksted is a colonial stronghold situated 12 mi (19 km) Southwest of Christiansted, Saint Croix.
Saint John's Island is included in archipelago of US Virgin Islands in the Caribbean Sea.
Whim Plantation Museum is a historic area that protects ruins of the colonial complex on Saint Croix.
The first inhabitants of the Virgin Islands were Siboneans, Caribs
and Arawaks. In 1493, the islands were discovered by Christopher
Columbus, who gave them their modern name.
In 1625, English and
French colonists settled on the islands, taking up agriculture. Then the
islands were successively owned by Great Britain, Spain, France and the
Order of Malta.
In 1666, Denmark took possession of the island of
St. Thomas, which soon captured the island of St. John, and in 1733
Denmark bought the island of Santa Cruz from France. The Danes tried to
establish a plantation economy on St. Thomas, but it was not successful
due to the low fertility of the land, and the island became one of the
centers of the rum and slave trade. The port of St. Thomas became a base
for pirates. Santa Cruz Island had more fertile land, and after the
transition to Denmark, about 200 sugar cane plantations were established
there. The Black Slave Revolt of 1848 led to the promulgation of the
Emancipation Act by the Governor-General of the Danish West Indies,
Peter von Scholten. However, only 20% of the slaves then received
freedom, the rest continued to work on plantations in difficult
conditions.
By the beginning of the 20th century, sugar
production on Santa Cruz had declined, and in the spring of 1917 the
islands of the Danish West Indies were sold to the United States for
$25,000,000 (87 million Danish kroner), which amounted to half of the
annual budget of the Danish kingdom. Many Europeans left their estates
and went to Denmark. The remaining inhabitants of the islands were
granted US citizenship in 1927.
A group of islands located 60 km east of Puerto Rico. Three
relatively large islands - St. Thomas, St. John and Santa Cruz. There
are also many small islands. The total area is 346.36 km².
The
islands are hilly (the highest point is 475 m), composed mainly of
limestone, there are outcrops of ancient crystalline or volcanic rocks.
The climate is tropical, trade winds, hot and humid with two dry
seasons. Hurricanes and earthquakes are frequent. The absence of rivers
and lakes, as well as the deep occurrence of groundwater, greatly
complicated the problem of water supply, despite the rather large amount
of precipitation. Rain water was collected in special tanks. After the
construction of desalination plants, this problem has been largely
solved.
The flora and fauna of the islands are largely destroyed
by people. The remains of evergreen tropical forests are preserved
mainly on the island of St. John, two-thirds of the territory of which
is occupied by a national park. On the island of St. Thomas there are
woodlands and shrubs on the site of former plantations. Sea waters near
the islands are rich in fish, crustaceans and molluscs.
As of July 2010, the population was estimated at 106,405.
The
annual population decline is 0.06%.
Birth rate - 11.6 per 1000
(fertility - 1.81 births per woman);
Mortality - 7.0 per 1000;
Emigration - 5.3 per 1000.
Average life expectancy: 76 years
for men, 82 years for women.
Ethno-racial composition: blacks -
76%, whites - 15.7%, Asians - 1.4%, mestizos and others - 6.9%
(according to the 2010 census). Hispanics make up 17.4% (of which blacks
- 9.9%, whites - 2.2%): mostly Puerto Ricans (10.3%) and Dominicans
(5.4%).
Languages: English - 74.7%, Spanish or Spanish-Creole -
16.8%, French or Franco-Creole - 6.6%, other - 1.9% (according to the
2000 census).
Religions: Baptist 42%, Catholic 34%, Episcopal
17%, other 7%.
The chief executive of the territory is the governor, who is elected
by popular vote for a 4-year term. The territory's Senate is also
elected by popular vote - 15 members, for a two-year term. In addition,
the residents of the territory elect one member of the US House of
Representatives (non-voting). Residents of the Territory are not
eligible to participate in US presidential elections, but may
participate in the primary elections of presidential candidates
(primaries) from the US Democratic and Republican parties.
Political parties (according to the results of the elections in November
2008):
Democratic Party (10 deputies in the territory's Senate)
Movement of Independent Citizens (2 deputies in the Senate of the
territory)
Republican Party (not represented in the territorial
Senate)
There are also 3 independent deputies represented in the
Senate of the Territory.
Economy
The economy of the territory
is based on tourism - 80% of GDP and employees. The islands are visited
annually by more than two million tourists.
In industry - oil
refining (one of the world's largest oil refineries is located on Santa
Cruz Island), as well as the production of rum, textiles, pharmaceutical
products, the assembly of electronic devices and watches.
Agriculture is poorly developed, most of the food is imported.
Sugarcane, citrus fruits and vegetables are grown.
Attempts are
being made to develop the sector of international financial and
commercial services.
Transport
Historically, left-hand traffic
has developed on the islands.