Information About Virgin Islands

History of Virgin Islands

Foreign disease and enslavement brought by the European colonies are the factors which led to the perishing of the Arawak and the Carib communities who were the first inhabitants of the Virgin Islands. Many European powers from the Spain to France ruled over the highlands after Christopher Columbus together with his virgin followers named them. The name of the islands was later changed to Danish-westindian islands after the royal Danish colonies acquired them in 1754 and the enslaved people provided the labor in the sugarcane plantation which improved the economy of the islands and led to the importation of more slaves from Africa. The number of the slaves outnumbered the Danish and the slavery ended in 1848. The treaty of the Danish west Indies signed in 1916 led to the agreement between the Danish and the united state where the united state purchased the island from the Danish at a price of 541.82 united states dollars and took possession of the islands in 1917 and renamed the region to its current name, the Virgin Islands of the United States. In 1927, the inhabitants of the Virgin Islands were given the United States citizenship and the day the islands were possessed by the united nation is usually celebrated as a holiday.

Geography of Virgin Islands

The Virgin Islands are in the Atlantic Ocean between Puerto Rico and the British Virgin Islands to whom they share the same Virgin Islands archipelago. The territories of the Virgin Islands are made up of four main islands with the combined area almost two times the size of the Washington DC. The islands cover a total area of 1, 910 square kilometers with 346 square kilometers being the dry land while the rest of the islands are covered by water. The state has a coastline but doesn't have any land boundaries. Saint Thomas and some other island within the territories are covered by mountains and hills which are of volcanic origin with the highest mountain within the region-crown mountain, located within the Saint Thomas Island. The flat terrain is found within the Saint Croix Island which is the largest island within the virgin territory. The Virgin Islands are found within the North American and the Caribbean plate; earthquakes and tropical cyclones in form of the hurricanes are the frequent natural hazards encountered within the territory of Virgin Islands. The Caribbean Sea at zero meters below the sea level is the lowest point in the territory, while the crown mountain at 474 meters above the sea level is the most elevated region in the Virgin Islands.

Climate of Virgin Islands

The territories of Virgin Island experience the tropical climate where there are very little changes of the climate during the several seasons of the year. The summer periods which run from May to October are usually sunny and high amounts of rainfall fall during that period, while north-east trade winds dominate the periods of the winter. The sub tropical climate is usually interfered with by the easterly trade winds resulting to relatively low humidity and the rainy seasons are usually expected from September to November.

Natural Resources in Virgin Islands

The Virgin Islands are highly blessed with the mangrove forests and the coral reefs which support the ecosystem of both the plants and the fish including the shellfish within the coastal regions. The coral reefs also act as a magnetic tourist sites thus earning revenue for the government. The sand in most parts of the islands are usually harvested and used in construction while there are several firms which have ventured into energy generation from the sun.

Tourist Attraction in Virgin Islands

The more than 50 islands and cays owned by the Virgin Islands, the turbulent history and the natural beauty makes it a top tourist attraction region within the Caribbean regions. The Charlotte Amelia which is the capital city of the Virgin Islands located within the Saint Thomas Island makes the island be the most visited among the other islands within the state. The virgin island national park in the Saint John Island is the most visited place for its hiking trails and the protected bays together with stunning beaches, the Cruz bay in the down town of saint john set in a yacht-filled harbor and the trunk bay nested within the virgin island has creamy sand and turquoise waters which make the place be one of the most photographed beaches within the islands; make the major attractive sites within the Virgin Islands. The major cities include:

• Saint Croix
• Charlotte Amalie
• Cruz Bay

Famous Hotels in Virgin Islands

The famous hotels of Virgin Islands are

• The Ritz Carlton
• Westin saint john resort and villas
• Gallows point resort
• Marriott's Frenchman's cove
• Caneel bay resort
• The buccaneer

Virgin Islands Culture and Cuisine

The Caribbean dishes are the assortments that make up the cuisine of the Virgin Islands. Rum distilled from the sugarcane, is the common drink within the islands. The fish soup and the callaloo soup are eaten almost in every meal in the islands. Stewed goat, beef and chicken are also popular while the grained meals of rice and beans along with fried plantains are also featured in the hotels.

International Airports in Virgin Islands

• Cyril E. King airport
• Henry E. Rohlsen airport
• Charlotte seaplane base
• Christiansted seaplane base