Mail service: U.S. Postal Service ~ same postal rates apply
Automobile traffic: Drive on the LEFT side of the road
Approximately 4,600 hotel rooms
Largest freeport in the Caribbean with $1,200 duty-free allowance
Geography
Located in the Lesser Antilles of the Caribbean (between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea)
Comprised of approximately 50 islands and cays, the largest of which are St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas and Water Island
St. Croix: 84 square-miles (Point Udall is the easternmost point of the United States)
St. Thomas: 32 square-miles (Charlotte Amalie is the territory's capital)
St. John: 19 square-miles (two-thirds U.S. National Park)
Temperature and time
Average temperatures range from 77F in the winter and 82F in the summer
Atlantic Standard Time zone, GMT+4, daylight savings time not observed
Ethnic Background
The majority of present-day indigenous people are West Indians of African descent
Taino and Carib Indians inhabited these islands for nearly 3000 years, but most were killed off during European occupation
Today's native populations include people from all continents
Estimated 45% of St. Croix's population is Spanish-speaking
Government
American territory governed by U.S. laws
Constitution of the Territory: the 1954 Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands, amended in 1968-1972
Three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial
Political parties: Democratic Party of the Virgin Islands, Independent Citizen's Movement, and the Progressive Republican Party of the Virgin Islands
Gubernatorial elections held every four years and general elections held every two years for the 15 seats in the territory's Senate and for the Delegate to the U.S. Congress. Although U.S. citizens, not able to vote in U.S. Presidential election.
Officials: Governor Charles W. Turnbull; Lieutenant Governor Luz James; Delegate to U.S. Congress Donna Christian-Christensen
History
Christopher Columbus discovered the islands on his second voyage to the New World, landing on St. Croix in 1493, which he named Santa Cruz
Denmark purchased the islands in 1733, bringing St. John and St. Thomas under Danish rule
Six flags have flown over these islands before being purchased by the United States: Spanish, Dutch, British, French, Knights of Malta, Danish
The United States purchased St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas, formerly part of the Danish West Indies in 1917, under the administration of the U.S. Navy, for $25 million in gold.
The U.S. Department of the Interior later took over the administration of the islands
Fifty acres of Water Island, located a quarter mile off St. Thomas' south shore, were transferred from the U.S. Department of the Interior to the Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands in December 1996
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<FONT COLOR=#ffffff>Comprehensive guide for the US Virgin Islands which gives valuable information for tourists on vacation, residents of the islands, and the Caribbean sailing community. It includes links to Virgin Island businesses and has a special section devoted to the Film Industry. Besides listings for visitors which includes accomodations and activities, the Guide has a calendar of events, cruise ship and ferry schedules, and community service listings for school activities and club meetings. Keep on top of the weather with regularly checking the various tropical weather links found in the Marine Guide. virgin islands, tourism, USVI, U.S.V.I., usvi, u.s.v.i., u.s. virgin islands, us virgin islands, caribbean, carribean, carribbean, st. thomas, st thomas, st. john, st john, st. croix, st croix, virgin, islands, water island, charlotte amalie, cruz bay, trunk bay, christiansted, fredriksted, danish west indies, virgin island businesses, sportfishing, sport fishing, film production, steadicam, glidecam, videography, cinematography, steadicam operator, glidecam operator, charter yacht broker, yacht charter, charter yachts, chartering, virgin islands tourism, weddings, virgin islands vacations, virgin islands events, virgin islands diving, virgin islands shopping, virgin islands sailing, virgin islands film, virgin islands hotels, virgin islands excursions, virgin islands activities, virgin islands sportfishing, virgin islands guide, virgin islands rentals, virgin islands local products, virgin islands foods, virgin islands gifts, virgin islands film promotion, virgin islands film board, virgin islands locations, virgin islands weddings, carnival, crafts, bicycle tours, mountain bike, aerial tours, seaplane, horseback riding, tourism, tourist, vacation, holidays, events, activities, excursions, resorts, hotels, villa, rentals, tours, catering, provisioning, charter, sail, yacht, cruise, sailor, cruiser, sailing, dive, diving, scuba, sportsfishing, fishing, marine, shopping, duty-free, duty free, snorkel, snorkle, cruiseship, cruise ship, antiques, restaurants, art, mocko jumbies, film, Loose Moose, steadicam, glidecam, virgin islands, taxis, admiralty dive center, loose moose filmworks, chartering, daysail, races, racing, film board, advertising, film production, editing, video, underwater, sailing, books, book store, ecotourism, canoe, kayak, aquarium, museum, dancing, america's paradise, paradise, tropical, accommodation, prowler, virgin islands, USVI, U.S.V.I., usvi, u.s.v.i., u.s. virgin islands, us virgin islands, activities, restaurants, accommodations, shopping, transportation, dive, diving, sportfishing, sportsfishing, sport fishing, sailing, charter, watersports, st. croix, st. john, st. thomas, hotels, seaplane, aerial, airplane, excursion, tour, snorkel, snorkle, daysail, real estate, provisioning, catering, local products, restaurants, antiques, nautical antiques, parasailing, taxi, tours, time shares, excursions, villas, vacation homes, condos, rentals, properties, for rent, bed and breakfast, hotels, catering, provisioning, paradise connections, virgin islands seaplane company, seaplanes, virgin island businesses, architecture, press releases</FONT>
