Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). About 50 islands and cays constitute the U.S. group. Other larger islands in the British group are Anegada, with an area of 15 square miles; Virgin Gorda (the Fat Virgin), with an area of 8 square miles; and Jost Van Dyke, about 3 square miles. Location: U.S. Virgin Islands Established: August 2, 1956 Size: 15,135 acres. Virgin Islanders have long depended almost entirely upon their own cisterns and wells and, in addition, have imported water in barges to meet their needs for fresh water—needs now rapidly increasing in proportion to population and industrial growth. Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. British Virgin Islands, British overseas territory in the eastern Caribbean Sea. Anegada is the only flat island of the group. U.S. Virgin Islands location on the North America map. Caribbean - Situated around 40 miles east of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea, the U.S. Virgin Islands … Although they are located in the tropics, the heat is tempered by gentle trade winds that blow from the northeast most of the year. 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. It is part of an island chain collectively known as the Virgin Islands, which makes up the northeastern extremity of the Greater … Covering a total land area of 346.36 sq. In the British group, Tortola, of the same geologic formation as St. John, is hilly, with unbroken ranges running throughout its 15-mile length. The largest, St. Croix, is 28 miles long, 84 square miles in area, and lies about 40 miles south of the other islands. The U.S. Virgin Islands are part of the Virgin Islands archipelago, an eastern island group of the Caribbean's Lesser Antilles region. There are no first-order administrative divisions of the US Virgin Islands as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 islands at the second order; Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas. Most of the islands are volcanic in origin and as observed on the map, the islands of Saint Thomas and Saint John are quite hilly. Most of the islands rise only to a few hundred feet above sea level, although isolated peaks are well over 1,200 feet. The group of islands and islets are part of the Lesser Antilles located in the eastern … Sea Shore Allure. Saint John (Danish: Sankt Jan) is one of the Virgin Islands in the Caribbean Sea and a constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), an unincorporated territory of the United States.. Saint John (50 km 2 (19 sq mi)) is the second smallest of the four main US Virgin Islands. Its coastline is indented with forests and many fine, sheltered bays. Administration and social conditions (British Virgin Islands), Administration and social conditions (U.S. Virgin Islands), Settlement and history of the British Virgin Islands, Settlement and history of the U.S. Virgin Islands, https://www.britannica.com/place/Virgin-Islands, Virgin Islands - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Virgin Islands - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), Virgin Gorda Island, British Virgin Islands. 2605x1636 / 1,18 Mb. There are a number of springs on the island’s northern side but only one small stream. The US Virgin Islands are in the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean and are located about 40 miles east of Puerto Rico. Fresh water is scarce. The Virgin Islands are located in the Caribbean and are 40-50 miles east of Puerto Rico; and about 1106 miles southeast Miami, Florida. Popular destinations in U.S. Virgin Islands Prices are based on round trip travel and hotel stay per traveler. Jost Van Dyke is a hilly, almost rugged island with two fine beaches on the south side. How Did The United States Become An Imperial Power. The climate of the U.S. Virgin Islands is tropical, hot all year round, with a relatively cooler period from December to April, with average highs around 28/29 °C (82/84 °F), and a hotter and sultry period from May to November, with highs around 31/32 °C (88/90 °F), during which, however, the heat is tempered by the breeze. Since the British Virgin Islands are located in the Caribbean, it should come as no surprise that seafood is a big part of the dining scene. What is the world’s largest archipelago? Since the coastal indentations are slight, there are few harbours and sheltered bays; dangerous reefs lie along the north and south coasts. Sailfish, tarpon, marlin, kingfish, and wahoo abound in coastal and offshore waters. The average temperature is about 78 °F (26 °C). Author of. They consist of three main islands: St. John, St. Thomas and St. Croix. Geographically, a part of the archipelago of Virgin Islands, the island territory is situated in the Leeward islands of the Lesser Antilles chain in the north-eastern Caribbean Sea. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Virgin Gorda, an island with several peninsulas, is rectangular in shape, about 2.5 miles long, and 1.75 miles wide in the central part of the island. The above outline map represents The U.S. Virgin Islands - an unincorporated island territory of The United States of America, located between the North Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The highest point is Crown Mountain on Saint Thomas at 1,555 ft. (474 m). The water scarcity is so serious that nearly all buildings, both private and public, have their own water catchments. Location map of the Virgin Islands Destination US Virgin Islands, a virtual guide to America's Caribbean paradise. St. Thomas is surrounded by 17 islands and by cays and innumerable rocks. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas—and some 50 smaller islets and cays, with a total area of 133 square miles. 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. The islands extend from west to east for about 60 miles and are located west of the Anegada Passage, a major channel connecting the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. St. Croix rises abruptly on the north to Mount Eagle (1,088 feet) and Blue Mountain (1,096 feet), but southward the land slopes to flatlands that near the coast are laced with lagoons. The latter group, administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior as an unincorporated territory, consists of three larger islands—St. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Scattered streams help to drain the islands, while white sand beaches and coral reefs are common. The island of St. Thomas, 32 square miles in area, is the site of the territory’s capital, Charlotte Amalie. The British Virgin Islands (abbreviated BVI), officially the Virgin Islands, are a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean, to the east of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and north-west of Anguilla.The islands are geographically part of the Virgin Islands archipelago and are located in the Leeward Islands … More specifically, at 18 20 N, 64 50 W. The US and British Virgin Islands are part of a chain of volcanic islands … 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. Get directions, maps, and traffic for St Thomas, VI. Sort out the facts about islands across the globe. Saints Croix, John and Thomas – the trio makes up the U.S. Virgin Islands, located in the Caribbean Sea. About U.S. Virgin Islands Made up of St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas, the laidback USVI offer sophisticated dining, turquoise waters and quaint towns. The island’s only urban centres, Christiansted and Frederiksted, lie on the flat land. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Only three are of importance; several are uninhabited. 1387x1192 / 375 Kb Go to Map. Humidity is low, and there is little pollen. Only Road Town in the British group has a piped supply. Crown Mountain (1,556 feet), northwest of the capital of Charlotte Amalie, is the island’s highest elevation. Vegetation is tropical. Description: This map shows where U.S. Virgin Islands is located on the World Map. 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. The U.S. Virgin Islands are located in the east of Puerto Rico; in the southeast of Miami and in the west of British Virgin Islands. Apart from the tourist industry, the islands have few economic resources; financial aid is provided by the United Kingdom and the United States, respectively. Its highest elevations are Camelberg Peak (1,193 feet) and Bordeaux Mountain (1,277 feet). Its elevation is never more than 10 to 15 feet above sea level, and its coast, because of its many reefs, is dangerous to boats. The US Virgin Islands are located at the meeting point of the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean East of Puerto Rico. The above blank map represents The U.S. Virgin Islands - an unincorporated island territory of The United States of America, located between the North Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. 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. The Virgin Islands themselves are the peaks of submerged mountains that rise from a submarine plateau. Supported in most places by thin soil, it includes royal poinciana (flamboyant) trees and other lush blooms, but the islands’ generally sparse stands of shrubs and trees are not sufficient to be of commercial value. Check out … High green hills dropping down to enchanting turquoise bays, white powdery beaches, coral reefs, and ruins that … Omissions? Sea Shore Allure is another property located on the relatively sleepy island of St. … Virgin Gorda Island, British Virgin Islands. While there are several rivulets on the island, it is generally poorly watered. 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. Their combined land area is about 195 square miles (505 square kilometres). The British Virgin Islands consist of the main islands of Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke, along with over fifty other smaller islands and cays. Only 15 of the islands are inhabited. On St. Croix, Christiansted's colorful Danish … In the driest sections of the large islands, rainfall usually averages a little less than 30 inches, with possibly as much as 80 inches on the upper slopes of Mount Sage on Tortola. Updates? Road Bay is Tortola’s most important bay; it is exposed to the southeast but protected from all other sides by an amphitheatre of hills. The given British Virgin Islands location map shows that British Virgin Islands is located in the Caribbean Sea. In the U.S. group, St. Thomas, composed primarily of a ridge of hills running east and west with branching spurs, has little level, tillable land. Magens Bay, with 3,500 feet of white sandy beach, is reputed to be the finest beach in the West Indies. Best U.S. Virgin Islands Resorts on Tripadvisor: Find traveler reviews, candid photos, and prices for 21 resorts in U.S. Virgin Islands, Caribbean. Although the Virgin Islands form the easternmost extension of the Greater Antilles, they are often included in discussions of the Lesser Antilles because of their size and proximity to that island chain. Its highest peak rises 1,359 feet. Even though the woodlands are not dense, there are numerous species of birds and small game, such as deer. Maximum use of salt water is made everywhere in the islands. Where is St. Croix map? Tortola (Turtle Dove), with an area of 21 square miles, is the largest and is the site of the group’s capital and population centre, Road Town. Step 2 : Answer to the question "The U.S. Virgin Islands are located in what sea?" Librarian of Congress, 1945–53. The U.S. Virgin Islands are an archipelago located … Rainfall averages between 45 and 50 inches (1,143 and 1,270 millimetres) a year, but much of it runs off unused. 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. What are the islands of the Maldives made of? Hurricanes—averaging perhaps four in a century—occur usually between August and October, and there are occasional light earthquakes. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. St. John has an area of 20 square miles. The dry season lasts from February to July and the wet season from September to December. km. Corrections? These are the best fares found by travelers who searched Tripadvisor in the past recent … 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. A seawater desalination plant is located in Christiansted on St. Croix. About U.S. Virgin Islands: United States Virgin Islands (U.S. Virgin Islands / USVI / American Virgin Islands) are officially named the Virgin Islands of the United States and are located … Of the 36 British islands, 16 are inhabited. The Virgin Islands were originally inhabited by the Arawak and Carib, almost all of whom are thought to have perished during the colonial period due to enslavement, foreign disease, and mass extermination brought about by European colonists, as is the case in the rest of the Caribbean. British Virgin Islands map also shows that the British Virgin Islands located east of Puerto Rico. 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. Cacao and wild orchids grow in the hills, while cactus, acacia, grass, and sugarcane flourish in the lowlands. But rainfall is erratic, varying widely from year to year. The lowest point is at the sea level. Charlotte Amalie, facing a fine landlocked harbour, is built on five foothills. Check flight prices and hotel availability for your visit. While the Caribbean deepens to a 15,000-foot trench between the island of St. Croix, to the south, and the rest of the group to the north, the greater part of the plateau is covered by at most 165 feet of water. Saint Croix is the largest of the US Virgin Islands and comparatively has a much flatter terrain. The islands are administered in two groups—the British Virgin Islands and the United States Virgin Islands. Geographically, a part of the archipelago of Virgin Islands, the island territory is situated in the Leeward islands of the Lesser Antilles chain in the north-eastern Caribbean Sea. It is located about four miles east of Saint Thomas, the location … Virgin Islands National Park tourist map. The U.S. Virgin Islands is an organized and unincorporated island territory of the United States of America. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. The splendid climate is perhaps the Virgin Islands’ chief asset. The temperature rarely exceeds 90 °F (32 °C) or falls below 70 °F (21 °C). Director General, UNESCO, 1953–58. Here is also a US Virgin Islands map showing where is St Croix located … 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. In … Reef Bay, Virgin Islands National Park, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, West Indies. Similarly to the now established U.S. Virgin Islands, these islands (over time) were also captured and controlled by many European powers, including the Danes, Dutch, English, French and Spanish.. At the closest point, between Great Thatch Island and St. John, a distance of only half a mile separates the British and the U.S. groups. Director, International Collections, Columbia University, 1962–71. Diver in the underwater snorkeling trail, Buck Island Reef National Monument, United States Virgin Islands. Their total area is 59 square miles, and they lie to the north and east of the U.S. islands. The United States Virgin Islands is comprised of three principal islands – St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas – plus 50 smaller islands… As observed on the physical map of the US Virgin Islands above, the territory consists of three main islands: Saint Thomas, Saint John, Saint Croix, as well as several dozen smaller islands. Lesser islands include Great Tobago, Salt, Peter, Cooper, Norman, Guana, Beef, Great Thatch, Little Thatch, and Marina Cay. Individual islands have their own distinguishing characteristics. So let’s start with the basic St Croix map location, located right smack dab in the middle of the Caribbean and at the perfect latitude! The U.S. Virgin Islands is an organized and unincorporated island territory of the United States of America, located between the North Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. 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