Virgin Islands
 |
Map of the Virgin Islands |
The
Virgin Islands are an
archipelago in the
Leeward Islands in the
Caribbean Sea. The islands are divided into two parts, one of which, the
British Virgin Islands to the east and north, is an
overseas territory of the
United Kingdom. The other, the
U.S. Virgin Islands to the west and south, is an
unincorporated and
organized United States territory.
Christopher Columbus named the islands
Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Vírgenes (shortened to
Las Vírgenes), after
Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virginal handmaidens. They were inhabited by
Arawak and
Carib Indians, all of whom died out during the colonial period due to disease, harsh labor conditions, and murder.
The islands were later peopled by Africans who were enslaved on sugar plantations, and on at least one
indigo plantation. The
sugar plantations are now gone, but the descendants of the slaves are still there, sharing a common
West Indian culture with the other English-speaking islands of the Caribbean.
On
both the British and the U.S. Virgin Islands, vehicles are driven on the left-hand side of the road, yet most cars on the islands have their steering wheels on the left side (usually common for drive-on-the-right localities). Also on both the British and the U.S. Virgin Islands the
United States dollar is the official currency.
From the CIA World Factbook 2000.The islands just to the east of the main island of
Puerto Rico (and territorially part of it) are locally called the
Spanish Virgin Islands. Although often not included on maps of the Virgin Island archipelago, they are actually closer to St. Thomas than is St. Croix (both U.S. Virgin Islands territory).
*
Music of the Virgin Islands*
Virgin Islands CreoleFor details about the
British Virgin Islands see
*
British colonization of the Americas*
History of the British Virgin Islands*
Geography of the British Virgin Islands*
Demographics of the British Virgin Islands*
Government of the British Virgin Islands*
Economy of the British Virgin Islands*
Communications on the British Virgin Islands*
Transportation on the British Virgin Islands*
Military of the British Virgin Islands*
Transnational issues of the British Virgin IslandsFor details about the
United States Virgin Islands see
*
Danish West Indies*
Danish colonization of the Americas*
History of the United States Virgin Islands*
Geography of the United States Virgin Islands*
Demographics of the United States Virgin Islands*
Politics of the United States Virgin Islands*
Economy of the United States Virgin Islands*
Communications on the United States Virgin Islands*
Transportation on the United States Virgin Islands*
Archie Alexander*
Tim Duncan*
Alexander Hamilton*
Peter von Scholten*
Raja Bell*
Emile Griffith*
Camille Pissarro
