Diver in the underwater snorkeling trail, Buck Island Reef National Monument, United States Virgin Islands. PubMed Google Scholar, SQUIRE, F. Influence of the Geology of the Virgin Islands on Local Agricultural Practices. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(script); Its coastline is indented with forests and many fine, sheltered bays. The main islands include Tortola (54 square kilometers / 21 square miles), Anegada (39 square kilometers / 15 square miles), Virgin Gorda (21 square kilometers / 8 square miles), and Jost Van Dyke (9 square kilometers / 3.4 square miles). the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. While there are several rivulets on the island, it is generally poorly watered. Pull out your passport and travel your way through Europe in this quiz that will have you hopping across the continent. Agric, Trinidad (1938). Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily. The area comprises 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabited islands; includes the islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda and Jost van Dyke. Please select which sections you would like to print: Corrections? The largest, St. Croix, is 28 miles long, 84 square miles in area, and lies about 40 miles south of the other islands. Geology of the British Virgin Islands. The highest point on … In addition, water is imported in barges to meet the needs for fresh water—needs now rapidly increasing in proportion to population and industrial growth. Cottage industries produce woven baskets and other items that appeal to the tourist trade. English is the official language; far more frequently used in practice, however, is an English-based creole, Virgin Islands Creole English. The islands are administered in two groups—the British Virgin Islands and the United States Virgin Islands. Many archeologists believe the rock carvings were made by the Tainos, one of the first inhabitants of the island about 3,000 years ago. Why are there two tides each day? Nature Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Of all the islands, Tortola has by far the largest population, some four-fifths of the total. more, #2 of 63 Nature & Parks in British Virgin Islands, #15 of 63 Nature & Parks in British Virgin Islands, #18 of 63 Nature & Parks in British Virgin Islands, #53 of 63 Nature & Parks in British Virgin Islands, #55 of 63 Nature & Parks in British Virgin Islands. Only Road Town in the British group has a piped supply. Omissions? https://doi.org/10.1038/145071a0. USVI has a total of 133 square miles, while the BVI only have a total of 59 square miles. Vegetation is tropical. document.cookie = "__adblocker=; expires=Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 GMT; path=/"; Virgin Islands, group of about 90 small islands, islets, cays, and rocks in the West Indies, situated some 40 to 50 miles (64 to 80 kilometres) east of Puerto Rico. British Virgin Islanders have long depended almost entirely upon their own cisterns and wells, and nearly all buildings, both private and public, have their own water catchments. British Virgin Islands, British overseas territory in the eastern Caribbean Sea.It is part of an island chain collectively known as the Virgin Islands, which makes up the northeastern extremity of the Greater Antilles. Temperatures average 78 °F (26 °C) annually, and humidity is low. Their total area is 59 square miles, and they lie to the north and east of the U.S. islands. There are a number of springs on the island’s northern side but only one small stream. The island of St. Thomas, 32 square miles in area, is the site of the territory’s capital, Charlotte Amalie. It is part of an island chain collectively known as the Virgin Islands, which makes up the northeastern extremity of the Greater Antilles. More than three-quarters of its area, about 23 square miles (60 square km; including Hassel Island in St. Thomas harbour), is preserved as Virgin Islands National Park. Water scarcity is a serious problem. Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Cacao and wild orchids grow in the hills, while cactus, acacia, grass, and sugarcane flourish in the lowlands. Director General, UNESCO, 1953–58. Search for Library Items Search for Lists Search for Contacts Search for a Library. Puerto Rico lies to the west. There is in most cases a long narrow backbone rising to about 1,000 ft. … The landscape of the islands offers scenes of dramatic contrast, varying from craggy cliffs and mountaintops to small lagoons with coral reefs and barrier beaches, from landlocked harbours to unprotected bays, and from small, level plains to elevated plateaus with rolling lands and junglelike regions. There is 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). Hardy, F., “Notes on the Geology and Soils of the British West Indies”, Imp. Agriculture was the backbone of the economy until tourism replaced it in the 1970s. var setNptTechAdblockerCookie = function(adblocker) { Its terrain consists of coral islands, and is relatively flat. Spring Bay on the coast of Virgin Gorda Island, British Virgin Islands. Although the island chain comprises Saint Croix, Saint Thomas and Saint John, the most research has focused on the origins of Saint John. https://www.britannica.com/place/British-Virgin-Islands, CIA - The World Factbook - British Virgin Islands, Official Tourism Site of British Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Port Purcell and West End, both on Tortola, are deepwater ports. Oceans Across the World: Fact or Fiction? Nature 145, 71 (1940). Geology & Landforms. But rainfall is erratic, varying widely from year to year. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. The economic mainstays of the British Virgin Islands are tourism and financial services. Google Scholar. The island’s only urban centres, Christiansted and Frederiksted, lie on the flat land. It has a tropical, humid climate, with temperatures moderated by trade winds. Among the tree species are mangoes, soursop (a small tropical tree with a large, succulent fruit), coconut palms, and breadfruit. Exports, mainly to the U.S. Virgin Islands, include fresh fish, rum, sand and gravel, charcoal, fruits, and vegetables. The lava was hot and when it came into contact with the cool seawater, it solidified into granite. The first flash-type evaporator for the desalination of seawater in the Western Hemisphere was installed in St. Thomas, where the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority, established in 1965, now operates several saltwater-distillation plants. Manufacturing is restricted to the production of rum, paint, and building materials (sand and gravel). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles British Isles: A geographic term for all islands in the archipelago. Imports—mostly from the United States, Puerto Rico, and the United Kingdom—consist chiefly of foodstuffs, beverages, machinery, motor vehicles, building materials, and petroleum products. The total area of the colony is 59 square miles (153 square km). There is also a small airport on Anegada that receives connecting flights from Beef Island, and there is plane service to the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Antigua. Like many of the neighbouring islands, it is volcanic in origin and mountainous. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. The British Virgin Islands - about 60 islands, cays, and rocks - are located in the Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico. Their combined land area is about 195 square miles (505 square kilometres). Sightseeing at Virgin Islands National Park. The dry season lasts from February to July and the wet season from September to December. Where is the highest mountain in Europe? St. John—three miles east across Pillsbury Sound from St. Thomas and lying closest to the British Virgin Islands—has steep, lofty hills and valleys but little level, tillable land. The islands are administered in two groups—the British Virgin Islands and the United States Virgin Islands.The former is a British colony consisting of four larger islands—Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke—and 32 smaller islands and islets, of which more than 20 are uninhabited. The predominant vegetation is dense secondary bush in various stages of seral development. }, Page last modified: Cacao and wild orchids grow in the hills, while cactus, acacia, grass, and sugarcane flourish in the lowlands.  A number of small streams on the south side of St. John, together with a multitude of springs, make it the best-watered island of the U.S. group. Influence of the Geology of the Virgin Islands on Local Agricultural Practices. St. John is a volcanic island, part of a submarine mountain range which includes the larger islands of the Greater Antilles, the Virgin Islands and the Lesser Antilles. The British Virgin Islands have a subtropical climate that is pleasant and mild for most of the year, a factor in the islands’ important tourist industry. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Can you name the colors of the French flag? It has strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Coral Bay, on the eastern end, whose steep shores allow large vessels to come close in, has been described as the best natural harbour in the Virgin Islands. Jost Van Dyke, named after a famous Dutch pirate, has been a sailor's mecca for years. St. John has an area of 20 square miles. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. Anegada is the only flat island of the group. Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 First Edition with your subscription. Rainfall is erratic, however, varying widely from year to year. Jost Van Dyke Island, British Virgin Islands. Author of. Trunk Bay: One of the Caribbean's most photographed beaches, Trunk Bay has a self-guided underwater snorkel trail that shouldn't be missed. Weird & Wacky, Copyright © 2020 HowStuffWorks, a division of InfoSpace Holdings, LLC, a System1 Company. Even though the woodlands are not dense, there are numerous species of birds and small game, such as deer. Puerto Rico lies to the west. Owing to centuries of cultivation and charcoal burning, there is no virgin forest. The Virgin Islands are noted for their inviting subtropical climate, which attracts a large number of tourists each year to swim in the warm aquamarine waters and frequent the sandy beaches and harbours. Create lists, bibliographies and reviews: or Search WorldCat. 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