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| British Virgin Islands. |
British Virgin Islands Facts & Information
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| Location |
Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, east of Puerto Rico |
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| Climate |
Subtropical, humid, temperatures moderated
by trade winds |
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| Terrain |
Coral islands relatively flat, volcanic islands
steep, hilly |
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| Population |
22,643 |
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| Nationality |
British Virgin Islander |
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| Ethnic groups |
Black 83%, white, Indian, Asian and mixed
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| Religions |
Protestant 86%, Roman Catholic 10%, none 2%,
other 2% |
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| Languages |
English |
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| Government Type |
NA |
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| Capital |
Road Town |
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| Currency |
US dollar (USD) |
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| Description of Flag |
Blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered
in the outer half of the flag |
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| Virgin Islands Flag |
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More Information
 www.cia.gov
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British Virgin Islands Culture
| The people of the British Virgin Islands are
much more laid-back than their neighbors of the U.S. Virgin
Islands like St. Thomas and St. John which are better known
for their influx of tourists and resorts. The leisurely lifestyle
of the people of the British Virgin Islands is accented by delicious
cooking using a variety of spices and even spicier Caribbean
beats. |
Even though it is a British settlement, the islands have adopted
the U.S. dollar as their official currency and not the pound. It
is also very common for the islanders to rely on Miami when they
need things like food, clothes and cars. In that sense, the islands
can feel Americanized, but the abundant preservation efforts by
the National Parks Trust make the islands feel under-developed and
untouched. Tourism is slowly becoming a mainstay in the British
Virgin Island’s economy but it’s still not as prevalent
as in the U.S Virgin Islands.
Natives of any of the Virgin Islands are quite superstitious. Don’t
be surprised if you hear them refer to “the jumbies.”
Many islanders believe in these supernatural beings that are good
or evil and live outside homes, but it is thought that U.S. natives
are exempt from the jumbies doings.
Crime is relatively low, with robbery being the main complaint
in Tortola, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take
normal precautions while visiting the islands.
More Information:
www.state.gov
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British Virgin Islands Shopping
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Shopping is not a main selling
point for the British Virgin Islands. Merchandise is not duty-free,
but the best deals to be found may be on goods imported from
Great Britain.
Since Tortola is the main island, most of the best shops
are located there, mostly on Main Street in Road Town. For
art collectors, Caribbean Fine Arts, Ltd. offers a unique
collection of West Indies art.
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Be sure to visit Latitude 18 for all your beach needs from towels
and sandals to the island’s largest selection of sunglasses.
When you are visiting the Baths on Virgin Gorda, stop in Tropical
Gift Collections to pick up local crafts like hand-made jewelry
and pottery at reasonable prices.
Be aware that shopping is extremely limited on some of the smaller
islands. For example, despite its popularity with tourists, Anegada
doesn’t even have a drug store.
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British Virgin Islands Restaurants
We’ve provided listings for some of the top restaurants in
the British Virgin Islands including Tortola, Virgin Gorda and more.
You’ll find lavish gourmet restaurants, affordable restaurants
serving up good food, and everything in between. Sample traditional
British Virgin Islands cuisine or other specialty cuisines that
are sure to make your taste buds happy.
Read reviews entered by other patrons and be sure to return to
our site to submit your own restaurant review.
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British Virgin Islands Travel Guides
Frommer's British Virgin Islands
Lonely Planet British Virgin Islands
Let's Go British Virgin Islands
Fodors British Virgin Islands
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