The earliest human settlements in the Virgin Islands date back to approximately 1500 BC. e, although there is evidence of the presence of people here at least a thousand years earlier. The Chiboni, Arawak and Carib Indians successively replaced each other for almost three thousand years. In 1493, Columbus's ships approached the eastern part of the archipelago, known today as the British Virgin Islands, and after him a wave of European settlers poured into the islands - the British, French, Danes, Spaniards and Knights of Malta attempted to take possession of the islands for almost two centuries . It was not until 1672 that the Danish West India Company established its presence on St. Thomas, and in 1694 on St. John. In 1733, the same company acquired the island of Santa Cruz from the French, uniting all three islands under Danish jurisdiction. The sugar industry that developed here was completely dependent on slavery, so African slaves were intensively imported to the islands, and the largest slave auctions in the world are held in Charlotte Amalie (suffice it to say that in 1797, for example, out of a population of thirty thousand on the islands, slaves accounted for 25.5 thousand !). After the abolition of slavery in 1848, the sharp rise in labor costs of freed slaves, drought, hurricanes and falling sugar prices led to a sharp deterioration in economic situation the Danish West Indies, and the rapidly growing United States turned its attention to these conveniently located islands and their deep-water harbors. Just the beginning Civil War did not allow the Senate to allocate the required $7.5 million for the acquisition of St. Thomas and St. John from Denmark. After the outbreak of World War I, when there was a real threat of occupation of the islands by German troops and thereby establishing control over the eastern entrance to the Panama Canal, Denmark sold its possessions in the Virgin territory for $25 million in gold - the highest price the United States had ever paid for Caribbean land.

Nowadays, this small piece of land is a recognized center duty free and tourism. Despite the fact that the government of the US Virgin has never sought to give tourism a dominant position in the economy, it employs more than a third of the entire working population of the islands, and the development of recreation infrastructure continues at a rapid pace. The landscape of the Virgin Islands is very colorful and includes the dense subtropical forests of the St. John Hills, barren and arid areas of succulent vegetation along the coastal hills, extensive mangrove swamps and beautiful beaches - according to this parameter, the Virgin Islands are among the best beach areas in the Caribbean. Luxurious resorts, armada cruise ships, who regularly visit the islands, excellent conditions for diving, windsurfing and mass yachting regularly attract more than one and a half million tourists a year.

St. Thomas

St. Thomas Island occupies a strategic location in the Anegada Channel, a key shipping lane Panama Canal. Boasting one of the best deep-water harbors in the Caribbean, St. Thomas, with its picturesque capital and extensive duty-free shopping area, is well developed as a resort area and is literally oversaturated with shops, hotels and restaurants. The island itself is strikingly beautiful - the forested slopes of picturesque hills form numerous capes separating beautiful bays and coves filled with turquoise blue water. There are more than forty beautiful beaches, and excellent dive sites are found at almost every turn.

Charlotte Amalie

The capital of the dominion, Charlotte Amalie, was founded by the Danes in 1672, and received its modern name from the Danish queen, wife of King Christian V, in 1691. Today it is a lively and bustling city, with extremely polite locals (this property is considered a national characteristic islanders), always crowded with tourists and very hectic. The center of the city, as you might guess, is its port, which in some incomprehensible way has preserved the Danish style and is constantly filled with giant cruise ships. Framed by a string of duty-free shops, tidy old warehouses painted in pastel colors, green parks and service buildings, it is topped by the modest building of Fort Christian, the city's main historical landmark. The fortress was built in 1672 as a joint post for guarding the port from attacks by pirate armadas, a government house, a church and a meeting room for the city community at the same time. When the threat of pirate invasion disappeared, the fort became a prison, and since 1987 has housed the Museum of the Virgin Islands with an extensive collection of natural heritage region and art (open from Monday to Friday, from 8.00 to 16.30, on Saturdays from 10.00 to 15.00). The fort complex is now considered the oldest European structure on St. Thomas.

On nearby Government Hill looms the medieval skyline of Skatesborg, better known today as Blackbird Castle. One of many fortresses built by the Danes in the 17th century to protect the island, Skatesborg is the only fortification of its kind and age in the Caribbean. Local legends give this building a special flavor, according to which it was here that the famous pirate of the 19th century lived, who served as the prototype for the famous literary character - the misogynist Bluebeard (which is why it is often called Bluebird Castle).

A little further south, on Veterans Drive, stands the green Legislative Building (open daily, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), which today houses the islands' government office. And to the north, on Norre Gade, stands the Gregorian church Frederick Lateran Church (built in 1850 on the site of the first Danish church in the Virgin Islands, which was destroyed by fire and hurricanes). To the north-east of the church, on Köngens Gade, stands the imposing white mansion Government House (1866, open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, free entry), which originally housed the Danish Colonial Council. Now here is the office of the administration of the US Virgin Islands and Art Museum featuring works by renowned local artists. Somewhat to the west, the palm-lined Ninety Nine Steps stairs (as if in defiance of its name, it has not 99, but 103 steps) begins, leading north to the top of Government Hill, from where a beautiful panorama of the harbor and surrounding city neighborhoods opens up.

A little to the west, on Crystal Gade, rises the unique Beracha V "Shalom V" Gimilat Chasidim synagogue, which was built by Jews fleeing Spain. The first synagogue building was erected on this site in 1796 and, after a fire destroyed it in 1804, it was rebuilt in 1833 - thus, it is the oldest synagogue in the United States and the second oldest in the Western Hemisphere (open Monday to Friday, from 9.00 to 16.00). Next door is the Weible Museum (open from Monday to Friday, from 9.00 to 16.00) - an interesting exhibition of the three-hundred-year history of the Jewish community on the islands, as well as the Camille Pissarro Gallery, housed in the very building where this artist, one of the founders, was born in 1830 French school impressionism. Somewhat to the east, on New Gade, is the modest church of St. Thomas Reformed Church (19th century), and to the south, on Main Street, rises the majestic three-story Crown House (18th century) - the home of Peter von Scholten, Governor General Danish West Indies.

Also at the foot of Government Hill you can find the Seven Arches Museum, or the Danish Museum, the “Pillar of Venus” on Magnolia Hill, the green Emancipation Park (1848), the Lavalette House mansion and the semicircular green block at its western wall (locals they simply call it the Park), the beautiful Vendors Plaza and Drakes Sea - the place where the famous captain Francis Drake first landed on the island at the end of the 16th century (the beach itself is located outside the capital). A huge number of duty-free shops are concentrated in the port area, between Raadets Gade, Main Street and Post Office Alley - here you can buy almost every conceivable product from all over the world, and at very liberal prices.

In the eastern part of the bay stretches the Havensight Alley area, where there are several picturesque alleys, a dock for cruise ships and the famous Atlantis submarine, which dives to a depth of up to 30 meters with tourists on board, as well as the terminus of the Skyride Paradise Tramway , which takes tourists to the top of Slag Hill (210 m). Double Danish-English street signs here emphasize the rich historical past of this area, and the shady alleys create a uniquely romantic atmosphere.

Around the city

The entrance to Charlotte Amalie Harbor is closed by two fairly large islands - Hassel Island (0.22 sq. km) and Water Island (0.49 sq. km). Uninhabited Hassel Island is part of the Virgin Islands National Park System and is home to a nature reserve of the same name. Of the historical buildings here, you can only find the ruins of an old British military garrison (19th century) and the construction site of a hotel, abandoned for many years - the rest of the island is given over to the power of plants.

Water Island is famous for its beautiful beaches and is a favorite Sunday destination for residents of the capital. Here you can explore the underground Fort Segarra, built to protect the shipping zone during the Second World War (excursions are conducted through the tunnels and underground casemates of the fort), an observation deck (a former correction point of the same fort), Botanical Gardens in the very center of the island, the ruins of old plantations (considered unique in their way, since the island and plantations belonged to free (!) immigrants from Africa), primarily the well-preserved Caroline Point Plantation. The island's most popular beach is Honeymoon Beach, with soft white sand in the sheltered Drift Bay.

3.5 km west of the city, on the slopes of the “mountain” of St. Peter Greathouse, are the Botanical Gardens (open daily, from 9.00 to 16.00). In addition to a beautiful planting complex containing around 200 specimens from across the region, there is an old distillery and a shop selling local arts and crafts. At the same distance east of the city limits, in the town of Tata, lies the green area of ​​Taylet Gardens - a real “city of craftsmen”, where you can see all types of local crafts and the artisans themselves at work, as well as purchase their works in a small shop (the most popular Mexican restaurant "Pollis"). A north of the capital, in the very center of the island, rises Mount Drake's Seat (413 m) with a memorial sign installed on its top, from the place of which, as local legends say, Sir Francis Drake himself watched the surrounding waters and ships passing through the strait. And the view from here is truly amazing. At the northern foot of Drakes Sea lies Magens Bay Beach, touted by National Geographic Magazine as one of the most beautiful beaches on the planet. To the west lies the huge Mountain Top shopping complex, offering unprecedented discounts and a huge selection of goods (by the way, it is the “homeland” of the world famous Banana Daiquiri cocktail, which is mixed exclusively with local Cruzan rum).

Red Hook

The small town of Red Hook, located on the very east of the island, is often called the "little capital of St. Thomas." Indeed, it has all the “conveniences” of Charlotte Amalie, albeit on a smaller scale. Ferries from Saint John, Tortola and numerous resort islands come here east coast, there is a popular yacht anchorage and many shops, several shady alleys and a huge number of good restaurants. But the city's main attraction is the famous Coral World Marine Park in Coqui Point (open daily from 9.00 to 17.30; admission US$18 for adults and US$9 for children). This 4.5-acre park contains an Underwater Observatory, a Marine Trail (an underwater tunnel with transparent walls leading to a sunken tanker turned artificial reef; admission costs $68), a special aquarium containing sea turtles and iguanas, as well as Coqui Beach itself in Smith Bay - probably the best snorkeling beach on the island. The surrounding waters of St. John Bay, Red Bay, Cockey Bay, Great Bay, Compet Bay and Nazareth Bay are surrounded by a large natural reef, providing many opportunities for marine recreation.

Shores

St. Thomas's rugged coastline offers a huge variety of coves, bays, headlands and peninsulas on which to find beach areas, each with its own natural conditions. On the north coast best place For relaxation by the sea, Magens Bay, protected by two capes, with its almost two-kilometer strip of beach, as well as the Hull Bay area, are considered. In the west, Hull Bay Beach with its Inner Brass and Outer Brass reefs is very popular, especially among windsurfers. To the east, Sapphire Beach (especially for windsurfers and divers) and the entire coastline of Wessup Bay near Red Hook are noteworthy.

The shores on the south side of the island are not so good - there are more rocky areas and mangrove swamps, but not far from the capital you can find good (and deserted!) beaches of Brewers Bay, 5 km west of the city, and the well-maintained Morningstar Beach in Frenchmans -Reef (1.5 km south of Havensite), quiet beach Limetri, as well as the excellent Bolongo Beach and the resort area of ​​the same name around it, which can be reached by the Reefer ferry ($3 each way). Bluebird Beach is renowned for its excellent windsurfing conditions, while Coqui Beach on the north-east coast is popular with snorkelers. There is only one on the islands a good place for surfing - Hill Bay west of Magens Bay.

Saint John

Saint John Island is the smallest of the group's main islands and the oldest of them. The top of the ancient underwater volcano, rising 364 meters out of the water in the form of Mount Kemelberg Peak, forms with its slopes a complex system of capes and bays that stand out strongly into the sea, which are a real paradise for nature lovers. Once known as a thriving agricultural community founded in the early 18th century by Danish settlers, this rocky and wild island with its superb white beaches is now considered the best place for active rest. Its main attraction is National Park Virgin Islands, densely overgrown with lush tropical forest. The history of its origin is somewhat unusual - in the middle of the 20th century, the American financier Lawrence Rockefeller visited Saint John and, inspired by its beauty, simply bought part of the island and built a private resort and a small (then tent) camp on the site of an old sugar plantation. Rockefeller donated the remaining undeveloped 2000 hectares to the government of the country, and today this territory, occupying almost two-thirds of the island, has been turned into a protected area of ​​the national park.

One of best excursions around the island is the Bordeaux Mountain Trail, which leads to the top of the mountain of the same name, as well as the peaks of Kemelberg and Mami, offering quite strenuous excursions and magnificent scenery, while a walk to the old Annaberg plantation allows you to explore the partially restored ruins of the plantation and sugar mill. factory of the 18th century. The national park also covers a large area of ​​adjacent reef areas, providing excellent diving sites with vibrant marine life. Particularly popular are the very beautiful Trunk Bay, as well as Reef Bay and Salt Pond Bay.

Cruz Bay

The main city on the island, Cruz Bay, was founded at the beginning of the 19th century by Danish soldiers from St. Thomas, who equipped the south west coast observation post and outpost. Now half of the island’s almost 4 thousand inhabitants live here, and the best shops, restaurants and facilities are concentrated nightlife St. John's. Unlike other capitals of the islands, there are no special examples of architecture or history, but it is very appropriate place for a quiet and cozy pastime. The center of the city is, naturally, the port in an unusual L-shaped bay, the Municipal Park and its pavilion, where all the guests of the island like to gather over a glass of beer, as well as the Mongus Junction shopping alley in the north-eastern corner of the port area. Wharfside Village Beach is the only beach within the city, although swimming is not recommended due to heavy traffic in the city's harbour. But here, right on the shore, there is an extensive shopping area, not inferior in its variety of retail outlets to the Mongus Junction area.

A five-minute walk from the city center stands the Elaine-ion-Sprouve mansion (XVIII century), which now houses a library and a fairly extensive collection of materials and things on the history and culture of the countries of the Caribbean region. 7 km northeast of the city, overlooking Leinster Bay, you can find the well-preserved Annaberg Plantation (1733, entry $4). And almost in the very center of the island you can visit the ruins of the old Katherineberg plantation and sugar factory, which served as the headquarters for the leaders of the slave revolt in the 1730s. On the opposite, southern coast of the island, in Reef Bay, there are several more interesting ruins of old plantations (all of them lie within the boundaries of the Virgin Islands National Park).

Besides the capital, the only serious city on the island is Coral Bay- the location of the first Danish colony on St. John, which these days is a fairly rapidly growing commercial area with many restaurants and shops (however, they are mostly popular only with local residents). The oldest church on the island is located here - Emmaus Moravian Church (before 1733).

To the west of Reef Bay, near a small cascade of waterfalls of the same name, a whole group of petroglyphs was discovered, which were allegedly left by the Taino Indians about a thousand years before Europeans arrived in these parts. In Cinamon Bay, excavations uncovered a Taino ceremonial center, where numerous examples of pottery with symbolism identical to the Reef Bay petroglyphs were discovered. On the eastern side of the island, in the area of ​​the Rams Head rock jutting out into the sea, there is a favorite viewing platform for all guests of the island, which offers a majestic panorama of the adjacent islands and straits, as well as a beautiful view of the nearby thickets of cacti, sometimes blooming in whole groups.

Shores

The seemingly rocky shores of Saint John provide excellent conditions for relaxation by the sea for all categories of tourists. White sand beach in Leinster Bay, famous beach Maho, Francis Bay and Watermelone Cay are excellent for civilized beach holiday. The shores of Watermalone Cay, Great Laimshaw Bay and Little Laimshaw Bay are excellent for diving and snorkeling, while the ever-crowded shores of Trunk Bay, Caneel Bay, Hawksnest Bay and Cinamon Bay serve as the center of local social life.

Santa Cruz

The island of Santa Cruz (locals call it Santa Croix or Sainte-Croix) is much less developed in terms of tourism than Saint Thomas, but it is an excellent place to “disconnect” from the benefits of civilization and relax on the isolated shores of the tropical coast. The largest, flattest, and southernmost of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix is ​​surrounded by magnificent coral reefs and has about a hundred old sugar plantations and stone towers Numerous windmills noticeably diversify the rather calm local landscape. The island's landscape is a mixture of low rocky hills ("sierras") to the north, a vast fertile coastal plain to the south, tropical forest and, of course, picturesque shores. Almost the entire island has been managed by the National Park Service since 1948 and has retained its natural and historical charm.

Christiansted

Former capital US Virgin Islands and an old Danish colony, Christiansted has repeatedly won the honorary title of "the prettiest town in the Caribbean." The city was founded by Danish settlers in 1735 and named after Christian VI, King of Denmark. Situated in a vast bay on the northern shore of the island, Christiansted is laid out so simply and intelligently that it is simply impossible to get lost in its territory. The austere lines of old Danish warehouses, customs houses, government buildings and a church cluster around a beautiful harbour, with some of the city's oldest houses built from bricks that were brought to the islands as ballast on sea ​​vessels even 500 years ago.

Almost all of Christiansted's historical attractions, interspersed with small restaurants and picturesque courtyards, are centered around the old fort, at the junction of Christiansted Harbor and Gallows Bay. Fort Christiansvaern (Christiansted) was built in 1749-1774. and protected the city from pirates and unruly slaves until 1878, when it was converted into a police department. From the battlements of the fort there is a beautiful panorama of the harbor and ramparts, abundantly lined with old guns. Today, the fort complex is surrounded by the green area of ​​Hamilton-Jackson Park, around which all the old buildings of the city are concentrated. Here you can see the Stipple Building - the first church built by the Danes after the colonization of the island (now home to the Historical Museum with an extensive collection of exhibits from pre-Columbian times to the colonial era), the impressive Government House (1747), the Old Customs House (now used as an art Gallery), Scale House, the Post Office Building, Alexander Hamilton House and the immaculate St George's Village Botanical Garden, which contains over 1,500 varieties of plants planted around the old plantation buildings, workshops and distillery.

Just a block to the southwest stands the imposing Lord God of Sabbat Lutheran Church, the Florence Williams Library complex, the City Tourist Office and Trade area, and a little to the north, along the shore of the bay, stretches the picturesque seaside promenade Boardwalk. Even further to the southwest, in the area of ​​​​the former city outskirts, you can see the Gothic Anglican Church of St. John with an extensive cemetery near its walls, the Catholic Holy Cross Catholic Church and the huge Friedentshall Moravian Church (XVIII century, both churches are considered the most the oldest of the temples of these faiths on US soil). Almost lost among the impressive churches is another historical monument of the city - the Christiansted Pharmacy, founded by a young Danish pharmacist in 1828 (the pharmacy itself was closed in 1970, and its equipment was moved to the Wim Estate Museum, but in the late 1990s everything was returned to its original state the place where the Historical Hall was opened). Even further to the west stands the new Senate building.

On the other side of Gallows Bay lies the Christiansted Marina and the small beach of the Kay Hotel, and further to the northwest, in Cane Bay, there is a large beach complex with a restaurant and dive center. The old Santa Cruz Aquarium, located almost in the center of the city, is currently closed, and its inhabitants are preparing to move to a new location. Approximately 5 km west of Christiansted is the Salt River Canal, a freshwater channel that allows yachts to enter the port. The area is part of the National Ecological and Historical Park complex, since it was here that sailors from Columbus's caravels first landed to explore the island, and it was here that many interesting archaeological finds from the pre-Columbian era were discovered. Further west along West Airport Road is the Cruz Rum Distillery, where you can sample any brand of local rum and watch the production process. Nearby lies the green Kramer Park with beautiful beach and an area for organizing picnics.

Frederiksted

On the west coast, in a vast bay that almost entirely occupies this part of the island, is located the port city of Frederiksted, which is somewhat smaller than Christiansted. Founded around the same time as the capital of the island, the city fell victim to a huge fire in 1879, which almost completely destroyed all buildings. Therefore, many of its modern historical monuments are only carefully restored copies standing on foundations from the mid-18th century. Its main monument is the large Fort Frederick next to the pier, which was built in 1760 (now an art gallery and museum, open Monday to Friday, from 8.30 to 16.00). It was at this fort that on July 3, 1848, Governor General Pieter van Scholten signed a decree abolishing slavery in the Danish West Indies. Favorite local attractions also include St. Paul's Anglican Church (1812), St. Patrick's Catholic Church (1842), the old Danish school (mid-1830s, all on Prince Street), Lutheran and Moravian churches, as well as St. Ann's Catholic Church on Center Island.

Not far from the city are the 35-meter Crack Dam and the 15-acre Rhine Forest Nature Reserve with a small workshop of wood carvers (it is worth noting that local craftsmen use only the wood of dead trees as the starting material), as well as the exotic Mahogany tree lined Road (the forest itself around the road is private property, access to its territory is possible only with the permission of the owner).

In the eastern part of the island, noteworthy are Fort Frederick (19th century) and the surrounding picturesque area of ​​old houses, the only Santa Cruz lighthouse on the island (19th century) on the top of the Hams Bluff cliff, the neoclassical mansion of the Wim Estate plantation (18th century) with windmill, unusually curved walls and a unique dry moat that served to ventilate this huge building (now there is a small museum), as well as the famous Cape Point Adall and its Millennium Monument - the most eastern point territory of the United States. Nearby stands the “Heavenly Eye” - a colossal radio telescope antenna for exploring the Universe (one of 9 similar antennas in a single system of radio telescopes framing the entire United States). And to the north, beyond the narrow Buck Island Channel, lies the vast Buck Island Reef National Wildlife Refuge (1962), consisting of 700 acres of pristine reefs and 180 acres of land (Buck Island itself). The entire island and its surrounding reef are designated as a protected area, but diving is permitted and there are even real underwater excursions - the Turtle Bay Trail and the East End Trail (staghorn coral is found in abundance). in these waters, belongs to the best examples of this species on the planet).

Shores

The island's attractions also include its excellent beaches and excellent diving sites. The best beach areas of Santa Cruz are located along its northern coast, in the areas of Cane Bay Beach, Buccaneer Beach, Cheney Bay Beach, Coakley Bay Beach, Columbus Landing Beach, Gentle Winds Beach, Grapetree -Bay, Isaacs Bay, Jacks Bay, West End Beach and Sugar Beach. The main places for diving and snorkeling are concentrated in these same regions. Colony Cove Beach is widely known for its beautiful reef, in addition to which there is also an artificial reef made from old tires. Other excellent beach areas include Cormoran Beach Club and Hibiscus Hotel Beach west of Christiansted, Cramer Park Public Beach at the end of Route 82, Reef Beach in Teague Bay, and the beautiful, isolated Sandy Point Beach in the southwest. corner of the island, quiet sand beach Shoe Beach east of Christiansted, as well as the one and a half kilometer Spratt Hull and Rainbow Beach Club north of Frederiksted.

The Virgin Islands (USA) are located near the Caribbean Sea. The largest islands are St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas. Citizens live on the islands national currency is the American dollar. The city of Charlotte Amalie is the capital and is located on the island of St. Thomas.

Climate of the Virgin Islands (USA)

The islands have a tropical climate influenced by trade winds, temperatures around 25 degrees all year round, and a rainy season from November to December. The most best time For a holiday in the Virgin Islands from December to May, we advise divers to go here in the summer.

Nature Virgin Islands

American Virgin Islands or officially Virgin Islands of the United States Virgin Islands of the United States, United States Virgin Islands American Virgin Islands are a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea with the status of an unincorporated organized territory of the United States. In former times, the US Virgin Islands were the Danish West Indies, a territory of the Kingdom of Denmark-Norway, but were sold to the United States in 1916.

The US Virgin Islands are three large islands: St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas and several small ones, the total area of ​​US possessions here is 346.4 square kilometers, the capital city - the port of Charlotte Amalie is located on the island of St. Thomas.

History of the United States Virgin Islands

Before Europeans arrived here, the islands were inhabited by tribes of Carib, Arawak and Kibone Indians. The islands were discovered, as expected by Christopher Columbus during his second voyage in 1493. A little later, colonists from Spain, Great Britain, the Netherlands, France and Denmark-Norway appeared here. The Danish West India and Guinea Company was founded in 1625 and engaged in trade with the West Indies based on the islands of St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix in the Caribbean, supplying slaves from Africa and receiving molasses and rum from the West Indies. The company settled on the island of St. Thomas in 1672, the main sources of income were sugar cane, the implantation of which was worked by African slaves until the abolition of slavery on July 3, 1848. The Danes gained complete control over the islands of St. Thomas and St. Croix and St. John. St. John's Island provided ideal conditions for sugar production due to its ideal climate and fertile soil. The island of St. John was distinguished by one of the first large-scale slave uprisings in the Caribbean in 1733, however, the Danes, thanks to French troops, suppressed the uprising, but the quantitative superiority of slaves over whites in a ratio of 5 to 1 led to the eventual defeat of the colonialists.

Denmark still exercised control over the islands, but no longer received material benefits from this ownership; as a result, in 1867 the islands were sold to the United States, but the United States was unable to boost the economy of the islands. After the outbreak of World War I, the islands were left isolated and in economic ruin. The islands finally passed to the United States after the outbreak of the First World War due to the danger that this place could be used by Germany as a naval base. The sale price of the islands was 25 million US dollars in gold, today this amount can be estimated at 544 million dollars. In 1616, Denmark held a referendum on the sale and the deal was concluded in 1917, it was in this year that the islands were renamed the US Virgin Islands, American citizenship was granted to local residents in 1927.

In 1989, Hurricane Hugo almost completely destroyed the US Virgin Islands, however, the same thing happened to other islands Caribbean region, in 1995, Hurricane Marilyn led to loss of life, in addition, the islands suffered from a series of hurricanes in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2008, they were named Bertha, Georges, Lenny and Omar, respectively.

Geography of the United States Virgin Islands

The US Virgin Islands are located in the Atlantic Ocean, 60 kilometers east of Puerto Rico and west of the British Virgin Islands. As mentioned above, the United States Virgin Islands consist of the islands of St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix, as well as several dozen smaller islands. It is interesting that the main three islands received individual nicknames from local residents: Santa Cruz received the nickname “Twin City”, St. Thomas - “Rock City”, St. John Island - “Love City”. By the way, St. John often sounds like St. John's Island (January) in English.

The US Virgin Islands are famous for the stunningly beautiful beaches of Magens Bay and Trunk Bay, and the harbors of Charlotte Amalie and Christiansted are important. All the islands are of volcanic origin with hilly terrain, maximum height is located on the island of St. Thomas in the form of Mount Corona, which has a height of 474 meters. Most big Island Santa Cruz has a flatter topography, almost the entire territory of St. John's Island is national parks, the same can be said about Hassel Island and Coral reefs around.

Natural Hazards in the United States Virgin Islands

As you already understood, hurricanes and tropical cyclones, earthquakes and tsunamis are also not uncommon.

Currency of the Virgin Islands (US)

US dollars are accepted in the Virgin Islands.

Banking and currency exchange

As you understand, many tourists do not need to use currency exchange upon arrival on the islands, since the local currency is nothing more than the most popular banknote, this is especially true in the Western Hemisphere, where the American dollar is accepted in stores in almost all countries. However, banks operate as usual, with days off on Saturdays and Sundays. You can also exchange currency at exchange kiosks. You can pay with a credit card everywhere in the Virgin Islands. There are ATM ATMs at every step. It is recommended to take travel checks only in American dollars.

VAT and tax-free are not practiced, this is an offshore zone.

Standard of living and prices in the Virgin Islands

The Virgin Islands are very expensive place, which can be compared to Saint Barthelemy, Hawaii, Maldives and the Bahamas. Food products are expensive due to the fact that they are all imported from abroad; cheap local vegetables and fruits can only be bought in markets. Hotels charge astronomical prices, starting from $100 per Standart room for two a day, the likelihood of finding an economical place to live decreases every year, the islands are turning into an elite place that is available only to Americans or Japanese, there are few tourists from Europe and in general Russians or Ukrainians are very exotic here.

Tips and taxes

Tipping is similar to other Caribbean countries; the Virgin Islands impose a mandatory 10% service tax and 8% tourist tax on hotel stays. The Virgin Islands are part of the US territory, and in this country tipping is a matter of honor; you can’t do without tips; often they are already included in bills; if not, they will amount to 15% of the bill amount. Hotels may also charge for electricity, the cost of which is an order of magnitude higher than in the United States.

Visas to the US Virgin Islands

Religion of the US Virgin Islands

The main religion of the local population is Christianity; there are many Protestants here, a little less Catholics. It is interesting that the US Virgin Islands have a high percentage of Rastafarians, which may make the islands very different from neighboring representatives of the Caribbean region. The island of St. Thomas has a large Jewish community, the oldest in the Western Hemisphere, and the oldest synagogue in the New World.

Public holidays of the US Virgin Islands

January (third Monday): Martin Luther King Day

February (third Monday): President's Day

April: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Monday Nigeria, Senegal, Congo, Gambia and Ghana brought their African traditions to the islands.

Cuisine of the US Virgin Islands

A distinctive feature of the local cuisine is its richness and spiciness. Local products from farmers can only be bought in markets; these are meat, milk, fruits and vegetables; stores sell exclusively imported products. The high culinary traditions of the islands offer a symbiosis of international cuisine with local traditions and exotica. Exotics include mango, local spices and fish, mainly salmon.

Sports and entertainment

The islands are dominated by the sports that are popular in the United States: baseball, American football and basketball.

The US Virgin Islands boast a rich and long-standing tradition of music and dance, but unfortunately most foreign tourists to the islands are not even aware of this.

Economy of the US Virgin Islands

Agriculture is found only on the island of Santa Cruz. The production sector is associated with a rum distillery.

Tourism in the US Virgin Islands

The main source of income for the Virgin Islands is tourism. More than 2 million foreign tourists visit the US Virgin Islands annually, of course, the majority of foreigners mean tourists from the United States, and most of them enter the islands through cruise ships.

Until 2012, the HOVENSA oil refinery on the island of Santa Cruz was the largest in the world and brought the islands 20% of GDP, but for environmental reasons it was closed and today is used as nothing more than an oil storage facility, killing the entire former economy of the US Virgin Islands.

Today there is a slight growth in the financial sector, and investments in local real estate are high. There are already difficulties with electricity, which is 5 times more expensive than on the US mainland. Energy is generated through imported oil and solar panels. To stimulate and develop the country's economy, several higher technical institutions and scientific research institutes have opened in the US Virgin Islands.

The US Virgin Islands are an independent US customs territory, unlike, for example, Puerto Rico. Customs inspection takes place at the port, even tourists from the United States are subject to the same procedure, but customs inspection occurs only at the moment of leaving the islands; upon entry, no customs formalities are provided.

Transport in the Virgin Islands

The island of Santa Cruz has international Airport named Henry E. Rohlsen, and Cyril E. King International Airport serves the islands of St. Thomas and St. John.

The U.S. Virgin Islands is the only U.S. territory to drive on the left, which was due to the island's left-hand traffic rules until it was ceded to the United States in 1917 to limit livestock loss. However, most cars are imported from the US and are "normal" left-hand drive.

Sights of the Virgin Islands (USA)

Virgin Islands (USA) are offshore zone In addition, tourism is developed here. Main Island St. Thomas is covered with hills and rainforest, mango forest and swamps. The island's bay can accommodate the largest ocean cruise ships, which increases the efficiency of the resort. The island has dozens of luxury hotels with beaches and excellent diving. The capital is Charlotte Amalie with a small port, which, as mentioned above, can accommodate deep-sea vessels. The main architectural attraction is the Fort Christian fortress with the Virgin Islands Museum. Nearby on Government Hill is Blackbird Castle, built in the 18th century.

Travel notes, day 17

We continue our journey through the Caribbean islands. Today the Virgin Islands. They are divided into three territories: the British Virgin Islands, the American Virgin Islands and the Spanish Virgin Islands. Few people know Spanish in general, since they belong to Puerto Rico. The Virgin Islands have become famous throughout the world for their offshore companies. This is the merit of the British part; it is often called the offshore capital of the world, because up to 40% of offshore companies are registered here. The American part of the islands is the most populated; they sell diamonds and engage in oil refining.

01. Sailing to the British Virgin Islands (BVI, abbreviated locally as BVI, after the first letters of the English name of the territory).

02. Russian citizens need a separate visa to visit the BVI, which is issued by the British consulate.

03. The islands all have steep terrain on which houses stand. There are 25,000 people living in the BVI. Such a big village.

04. The Virgin Islands are familiar to us. This is the world's largest offshore company. There is no corporate income tax or income tax in the British Virgin Islands individuals, there is also no VAT or sales tax.

05. 40% of all offshore companies in the world are registered in the BVI. Why here? Here you can open a company in 1 day, no one picks on the documents, and the most important thing is confidentiality: in the British Virgin Islands there is no single register of beneficiaries. However, more recently, the authorities of this British overseas jurisdiction began discussing the possibility of creating a single open register of owners. So they might close the shop soon.

06. Let's see what the offshore capital of the world looks like. So, Road Town is the capital of the British Virgin Islands.

The directory says that 10,000 people live here. I don't know where they live here. The whole city can be walked around in 10 minutes. We would be embarrassed to call it a city. A large village, probably: 4 streets, 2 shops.

07. This is the island administration.

08. In order to somehow brighten up the impressions of visiting tourists, all the houses in the center were painted in acid colors.

09. The brighter the better.

10. However, not a single local resident paints his house like this.

11. There is nothing at all in the city. I'm not exaggerating this. Several streets with colorful sheds housing cafes and souvenir shops.

12. Several stores with junk.

13. Market.

14. The main supermarket in the country. There is no public transport: only taxis and rental cars.

15. I don’t really understand why tourists come here.

16. Local resident.

17. In 10 minutes the city ends, the forest begins.

18. The city is one of the main centers for yacht chartering in the Caribbean.

19. Let's go back.

20. There are old houses on the outskirts.

21. On the right is the oldest building in the city: this is the former royal prison on Main Street, built in the 1840s

22. Now I understand why it takes only 1 day to register a company in the BVI. No one can stand to be here anymore.

23. Perfect place to come for an hour on business and go back faster.

24. Business center of the offshore capital.

26. The remaining islands of the BVI are sparsely populated.

27. We are sailing to a neighboring state - the American Virgin Islands (AVO, or simply the Virgin Islands). In English, Virgin Islands of the United States, but when Americans say “Virgin Islands,” they mean the American ones. We often say “Virgin Islands”, meaning the British ones, where there are offshore companies. On American islands There are no offshore companies. So it is more correct to say “British Virgin Islands” about an offshore paradise, and simply “Virgin Islands” about a tourist paradise.

28. Unlike british isles, with the Americans everything is much more interesting. Firstly, there are old English double-decker buses. Secondly, 4 times more people live here - 100,000. Everyone here lives off tourists. Like or Guam, it is an "unincorporated organized territory of the United States." That is, the locals have American citizenship, but their own laws.

29. Streets of the capital, Charlotte Amalie. By the way, the Americans bought the Virgin Islands from Denmark in 1917.

30. These are local taxis, buses, minibuses. It's hard to imagine an uglier car. Taxi fares are fixed and are listed on a special sign.

31. Tourist center.

32. Baby dolls are being transported.

33.

34. Tourists have a good time in the Virgin Islands.

35. Beaches, yachts, sunshine

36.

37.

39. Models

40. Sunset

41. But the main thing is shopping. All the main street V jewelry stores. All famous brands are represented here. Americans go to the Virgin Islands for diamonds.

42. Stores don’t know how to attract tourists; they even offer free Wi-Fi. Why do you need free internet in a jewelry store?

43. In the evening, all the jewelry shops close and you can even take a walk around the city.

44. It’s actually strange, why do all the shops close at 6 o’clock? Restaurants are open until 9. Locks on the jewelry store.

45. Main Street

46. ​​That's it.

Entire trip:
Day 1: San Francisco, USA
Day 2: Carmel Valley, USA
Day 3: Apple, Facebook, Google, USA
Day 4: 17 Mile Road, Sunset in SF, USA
Day 5: Bermuda
Day 6: Bahamas
Day 7: Bahamas
Day 8: Cayman Islands
Day 9: Jamaica
Day 10:
Day 11.

LJ user naz-saparova writes in her blog: The great discoverer Christopher Columbus was at sea for a very long time on his ship “Maria Galante” in search of new lands for the Spanish crown and new discoveries for humanity. He was sick, tired and really needed care and affection. He began to see women everywhere. So in November 1493, while plowing the expanses of the Caribbean Sea, he saw a lush woman lazily reclining on the horizon. "Virgin gorda!" - Columbus rejoiced, putting on his ceremonial uniform. Coming closer, Khristoforushka found only beautiful island, with its huge round granite boulders huddled on the shore, resembling a female silhouette. Having not slurped saltily, Columbus sailed on, and the island received the name Virgin Gorda - Fat Virgin.

1. An archipelago in the Caribbean of 60 stunning islands with white beaches, secret caves, turquoise water and emerald forests is now called the Virgin Islands.

2. But in Russian they are called Virgin Islands, which is not entirely reliable, so the whole meaning of the name of these paradise islands is lost. They are truly virgin - and the idyll of pristine nature has been preserved to this day.

3.The Virgin Islands are divided by affiliation: British and American. Today I invite you to plunge with me into the fabulous atmosphere of the British Virgin Islands. It is an overseas dependent territory of Great Britain: local residents are British citizens, but the local currency is the US dollar. We will visit Tortola and that Fat Virgin - Virgin Gorda.

4. Tortola is not much different from an ordinary Caribbean island - the same colored houses, many kilometers of snow-white beaches, palm trees, leisurely life. Ordinary paradise. Relaxing under a gentle breeze, on gentle white sands with a rolling turquoise wave, in the company of friendly islanders and nimble iguanas, it is difficult to imagine that this is where smugglers hid and formidable pirates lurked and raided rich merchant ships. Dangerous islands have turned into places of comfortable and safe recreation. Crime rates are the lowest in the Western Hemisphere, and violent crime is virtually unheard of.

9. Reuters published a list of the best Caribbean Islands, not affected by the influx of travelers. Second place went to the beautiful green island of Virgin Gorda, which can only be reached by water. Ready? Then - all aboard!

13.Welcome to Virgin Gorda!

14. The island stretches out as a strip of land between two manifestations of one element: raging Atlantic Ocean on the one hand and the smooth surface of the Caribbean Sea on the other. And the island itself is not uniform. Its northeast was born of an underwater volcano, the rocky slopes of which have formed numerous ledges, reefs, capes, peninsulas protruding far into the sea.

15. We will take a walk with you national park The Baths, which it got its name from because of the numerous pools hidden in the caves. This is a very unique natural structure. Huge boulders are piled on top of each other on snow-white sand framed by spreading palm trees and form entire labyrinths of secluded caves, grottoes, and tunnels. The high tide from the Caribbean Sea floods the holes and ravines - this is how all these mysterious pools with sea ​​water. Hundreds of giant boulders and rocks have been eroded by water and rain, which is why the slopes are smooth. In such labyrinths you can wander for hours, swim, climb and discover more and more hidden places.

28.You can wander through the caves for hours; in some places it becomes completely dark, chilly and scary.

31.But here the stones part and you can see the bright horizon of the sea and clouds.

39. Life on the islands is calm and serene, so here you can spend hours wandering along the countless beaches, admiring the picturesque landscapes.

But you can not only splash in the water and sunbathe in the sun on these paradise islands- The British Virgin Islands are number one among all known offshores and tax havens in the world. The number of registered companies on the islands has exceeded 700 thousand, while the population of the islands is only about 30 thousand people. It turns out that for every resident there are 23 companies.

This offshore jurisdiction is currently one of the most frequently used by Russian entrepreneurs. Companies registered in the British Virgin Islands are not subject to taxation, and companies are not required to file annual returns. Information about the company's shareholders and beneficiaries is protected by law, and a closed register of shareholders and directors is maintained. In this case, this information can be disclosed only by court decision.
That is why among the Russian companies that do not hide the fact that they conduct their business through offshore companies in the British Virgin Islands are the real giants of Russian business: Alfa Group of Mikhail Fridman and Peter Aven (Alfa Bank, Alfa Insurance, TNK-BP, Megafon ", VimpelCom, Pyaterochka retail chain) is registered to companies from Gibraltar, Luxembourg, the British Virgin Islands and the Netherlands. Oleg Deripaska’s “Basic Element” (RUSAL, GAZ Group, Ingosstrakh) is registered to a company from the island of Jersey, which, in turn, belongs to a company from the British Virgin Islands, Sergei Polonsky’s “Mirax Group” is registered to Dutch and Virginia offshore companies. Offshore jurisdictions can support the shadow economy as part of the money laundering process. This is such a successful combination of business and leisure - the islands attract attention with their reliability and stability, high level financial and environmental security.

But let’s not talk more about the economy, we are not going to the British Virgin Islands to launder money, but to get to know new places. Next time we will visit the US Virgin Islands.

Climate

The climate of the British Virgin Islands is tropical, maritime, trade wind type. Comfortable temperatures remain throughout the year. In winter on the islands it is +22-24 °C, in summer +28-29 °C, and with the change of time of day the temperature changes little. The precipitation rate here is up to 1300 mm per year.

In the British Virgin Islands there are 2 dry (winter, summer) and 2 wet (spring, autumn) seasons. The rainy season is most pronounced from September to November, but even then the tropical downpours are short-lived. And in July-October there are hurricanes on the islands.

Nature

The highest point of the US Virgin Islands is only 475 m above sea level. The surface of the islands is hilly, due to their limestone origin. In some places you can see inclusions of volcanic and crystalline rocks.

There are no rivers or lakes on the islands. On the shores of the bays you can see mangrove swamps, while the main part of the islands is covered with tropical forests. Unfortunately, some of them, along with the animal world, were destroyed by humans. You can admire the preserved lushness of nature on the island of St. John, two-thirds of which is occupied by a national park. On the island of St. Thomas one could see woodlands and shrubs that appeared on the site of former plantations. The marine waters of the U.S. Virgin Islands are home to a variety of fish, crustaceans, and molluscs.

Attractions

Top 10 attractions of the islands:

1. US Virgin Islands National Park, where you can get acquainted with the rarest species of animals and birds
2. Fort Christian on St. Thomas
3. Blackbird Castle
4. Market Square in Charlotte Amalie
5. Charlotte Amalie Aquarium with rare tropical fish
6. Mount St Peter Greathouse with botanical gardens and a distillery on its slopes
7. The picturesque Cokey Bay
8. Uim Sugar Plantation on Santa Cruz Island
9. Cruzan Wineries in Christiansted
10. Desert Island Tank

• The tourist season in the US Virgin Islands is from January to April. For lovers of snorkeling and other water activities, it makes sense to fly to the islands in early summer, when there are no storms yet and housing prices are reduced.
• Please note that the hotel bill additionally includes an 8% tax and a 10% service tip. Sometimes 3% is added to the cost of living for electricity.
• In restaurants and cafes, tips for service are 10–15%, and in large restaurants they are initially included in the bill, and in small cafes it is customary to tip the waiter personally.
• Please note that lifting any marine organisms and objects from the bottom, as well as collecting shells washed ashore, is prohibited. A license is required for sport fishing.

Accommodation

There are many hotels in the US Virgin Islands to suit every taste, but the prices can hardly be called low. Room prices resort hotels start from $250–300 per night. Economy class hotels will ask for $150–170 per night, and a room in a budget guesthouse can be rented for $80. At the same time, no matter which accommodation option you choose, you will be pleased with quality service.

Some islands also have tent cities, popular among young people.

If you are interested in a top-class holiday, then in the US Virgin Islands you can rent a villa on the coast. Prices start from $5 thousand per week.

Transport

Sea and air communications are developed between the islands, and on large islands no problem renting a scooter, car or taking a taxi. True, the distances between the resorts here are relatively short, so many travelers prefer to travel on foot or by bicycle.

Purchases

Keep in mind that you can take purchases out of the island duty-free if their total value does not exceed $1,200. By the way, in the US Virgin Islands you can profitably buy watches, jewelry, equipment for photography and video filming, perfumes, leather goods and porcelain. Stores are open strictly according to schedule: Mon-Sat from 9:00 to 17:00.

Also be sure to visit the local markets. Sellers are happy to bargain, and you can buy souvenirs quite inexpensively. The most popular are handicrafts, rum, spices, and tea. Treat yourself to fresh fruit.

Entertainment

Top 5 things to do in the US Virgin Islands:

1. Diving
2. Cruise the US Virgin Islands and the Caribbean
3. Helicopter excursion
4. Visiting one of the local festivals (for example, Fireworks Week at the end of June or the Crucian Festival in January)
5. Sport fishing

Business climate

About 2 million travelers come to the U.S. Virgin Islands each year. Accordingly, the tourism and service industries are rapidly developing here.

Industry also plays a special role. The islands are home to one of the largest oil refineries in the world. Locals also engaged in the production of rum, textiles, assembling electronics and watches. Agriculture is poorly developed, but the financial sector, dependent on the US economy, has all the conditions for rapid growth.