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___ US Virgin Islands

Destination US Virgin Islands, a virtual travel guide to America's Caribbean Paradise. This page aims to give you a broad overview of US Virgin Islands' art, culture, people, environment, geography, history, economy and government.
Beside a country profile with facts and figures, the page contains links to sources which provide you with all the information you need to know about the Caribbean islands, e.g.: official web sites of US Virgin Islands, domestic airlines, islands guides with travel and tourism information on accommodation, tourist attractions, events and more like weather information, maps, statistics and local newspapers from US Virgin Islands.

US Virgin Islands - St_John
Leinster Bay and Water Lemon Cay, St. John
© Photo: Don Hebert
  

US Virgin Islands

Country Profile



Flag of Virgin Islands
Flag of US Virgin Islands

Background:
The U.S. Virgin Islands are located in the eastern Caribbean, just 1100 miles southeast of Miami.
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.
Today tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for 80% of GDP and employment. The islands normally host 2 million visitors a year, many of whom visit on cruise ships.



related countries: USA

neighboring islands: Antigua and Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis
 
where in the world are the Virgin Islands

Official Name:
United States Virgin Islands
short form: Virgin Islands
former: Danish West Indies

ISO Country Code: vi

Time:
Local Time = UTC -4h
Actual Time: Sat-July-4  04:05

Capital City: Charlotte Amalie (on St. Thomas)

Other Towns: Frederiksted and Christiansted on St. Croix.

Government: Organized, unincorporated territory of the USA with policy relations between the Virgin Islands and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior.

Geography:
Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico.
Area: 350 sq km
Terrain: Mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land.

Climate: subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September to November.

People:
Nationality: Virgin Islander(s)
Population: 100 000
Ethnic Groups: black 75%, white 13%, Asian 2%, other 6%, mixed 4%
Religions: Baptist, Roman Catholic, Episcopalian
Languages: English 76%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 17%, French or French Creole 7%
Literacy: NA

Natural resources: Sun, sand, sea, surf

Agriculture products: Fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle.

Industries: Tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics.

Exports partners: USA, Puerto Rico

Imports partners: USA, Puerto Rico

Currency: US Dollar (USD)


Note: External links will open in a new browser window.


Official Sites of US Virgin Islands

The Government of the United States Virgin Islands
The online edition of the Virgin Islands Blue Book.

Senate of the US Virgin Islands
Legislature of the Virgin Islands.


to U.S. Embassies around the world
U.S. representations in foreign countries, links to the American embassies.



Maps
Map of Virgin Islands
Political map of the Virgin Islands.
profile Map of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
Reference map of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Virgin Islands Maps
Map based Virgin Islands website.
Google Earth Google Earth Virgin Islands
Zoomable satellite view of Virgin Islands.

to Map of Central America and the Caribbean
Reference Map of Central America and the Caribbean. 

 

News

Virgin Islands Daily News
Virgin Islands Newspaper.

Island News and information
St. Thomas Source
St. Croix Source
St. John Source
 

 

Arts & Culture

Caribbean Island Art & Soul
Artists at Caribbean Museum Center. 
Reichhold Center for the Arts
Culture and performance center on the island of St. Thomas.
 

 

Business & Economy


St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce
Official site of the Chamber of Commerce.

U.S. Virgin Islands Yellow Pages


Transport
Cape Air
With a fleet of over 50 Cessna 402's Cape Air serves destinations at Cape & Islands, in the Caribbean, Key West and South Florida and Micronesia.
 
 

Destination US Virgin Islands - Travel and Tour Guides

Discover US Virgin Islands: America's Caribbean Paradise, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay, Salt Pond Bay, Crown Mountain, Coki Beach.
Accommodation, hotels, attractions, festivals, events, tourist boards, biking, hiking, boating, cruising, kayaking, scuba diving, parasailing, submarine rides and much more.

Virgin Islands Department of Tourism
Official travel guide for St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas.

United States Virgin Islands Tourist, Vacation and Business Guide
St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John: America's Caribbean Paradise.

Virtual VI Guide to St. John
All about the island of St. John.

Virtual VI Guide to St. Thomas
Site about the island of St. Thomas.


Coral World
Ocean Park a tourist attraction in St. Thomas.  
 Books about the Caribbean Islands

US books 

Travel Guides Caribbean Islands
   Travel Guides Caribbean Islands
   Guide de tourisme et voyages en Caraïbe (in French)
UK books  Caribbean Islands Travel Guides
fr books  Guide de tourisme et voyages en Caraïbe
German books  German Books: Reiseführer Karibik

Education

UVI Libraries
Site of the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) Libraries.

University of the Virgin Islands
A liberal arts, land-grant institution with campuses at St. Croix and St. Thomas.
 
 

Environment

Virgin Islands National Park
Virgin Islands National Park covers approximately 3/5 of St. John, and nearly all of Hassel Island in the Charlotte Amalie harbor on St. Thomas.
Virgin Islands National
A comprehensive guide to St John and the National Park.
 
 

History

Virgin Islands - History and Geography
Brief VI history at Congresswoman Donna Christian-Christensen site.
Virgin Islands Digital Collection
Sources of information on Virgin Islands' history and culture at UVI Libraries.
Virgin Islands History
Danish National Archives' website on the history of the Danish West Indies, 1671-1917.

 
 

Additional Information on US Virgin Islands

Governments on the WWW: US Virgin Islands
LANIC US Virgin Islands
Open Directory Project: US Virgin Islands
Wikipedia: US Virgin Islands
The World Factbook -- US Virgin Islands
 
 

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The US Virgin Islands page was last modified on: Tuesday, 14-Oct-2008 10:31:06 CEST


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