Where the emerald wave of the Atlantic hospitably extends its arms to the blue waves of the Caribbean Sea, the Virgin Islands are scattered like grains framed in corals, some of which with a total area of about three hundred and fifty square meters belong to the United States. About sixty islands, most of them uninhabited, were discovered by Columbus at the end of the fifteenth century. And only in the middle of the seventeenth, the first colonists - the British and French, who became the founders of the first settlements, arrived here. Since then, whoever did not belong to the islands - the Spaniards and the French, the British and the Order of Malta.
But perhaps the most significant owner of the Virgin Islands was Denmark, which declared them its colony at the end of the eighteenth century. During the tenure, one of the largest islands - St. Thomas became the center of the slave trade, and the sugar plantations of St. John, cultivated by thousands of Negro slaves, brought huge incomes to Denmark. In the early twentieth century alone, the islands were sold to the United States for $ 25 million.
A century has passed since then, which decisively changed the way of life of the population of the islands, which became the descendants of those 28 thousand black slaves brought here by the Danes. At the same time, the external attractiveness of the Virgin Islands has not suffered, despite the fact that a US military base has been located here for more than fifty years.
The islands' humid tropical climate determines the best time to travel, citing the peak tourist season from January to April. Although for those who prefer snorkeling - scuba diving with a mask and a snorkel, the best time is the beginning of summer, when there are almost no storms, and hotels are much cheaper. This independent type of diving involves swimming and diving to shallow depths does not require serious training and expensive equipment, therefore it is always popular with tourists of all ages.
However, every tourist who comes to the islands finds something special for himself that cannot be found anywhere else. Someone will freeze in admiration at the sight of beautiful beaches, and will take with them the warmth of a gilded tan and the spicy aroma of the Atlantic, someone will rest in their souls in the seclusion of bays, surrounded by the purest corals. Someone will enthusiastically accept the pristine rainforests. And someone will like the original music, cuisine and culture of the people who warmly and hospitably greet tourists in the Virgin Islands. The chic of hotels and the coziness of small hotels, an abundance of wonderful restaurants and world-class shopping will satisfy the needs of the most fastidious tourists.
And certainly everyone will enjoy the distinctive bright festivals and holidays. The fireworks of sensations from the colorful carnival in St. Thomas at the end of April, overflowing with masquerade processions and dance competitions, smoothly turns into the June Festival on St. John with a week of parades and various celebrations for Independence Day. And also unforgettable impressions from the two-week festival of Karasei in Santa Cruz, from the international Rolex regatta, which gathers yachtsmen in St. Thomas ... And nowhere else can you see the dancing fairy-tale heroes and many Santa Clauses on Summer Christmas! The islanders consider March 31st the most important official holiday - the day when the Virgin Islands were transferred to the United States by Denmark.
Take with you the feeling of a holiday and the delight of the picturesque National Park, which occupies most of St. John's Island, see the Cruzan wineries and bring your friends a gift - an extraordinary taste of rum that made Santa Cruz famous. The coral reefs of tiny Buck, the huge Coc and Bay aquarium, the Wimah sugar plantations on Santa Cruz can not only enrich with knowledge of the history of the islands and development, but also leave a feeling of involvement in the events of centuries ago.
By the way, Santa Cruz is famous not only for diving and snorkeling, rum and festival processions, the famous Carambola Golf Club, which was designed by Robert Trent Jones. It is here that the annual LPGA Golf Tournament is held, attracting crowds of fans of this sport from all over the world.
But there is also a charm in those islands that are sparsely populated. When Reuters published a ranking of the Caribbean islands least affected by civilization, it was named St. John. Its comfortable sloping shores, amazing sunsets, comfort, security and silence, occasionally disturbed by coconuts falling from the trees, will delight to everyone who decided to come here for a relaxing holiday away from the bustle of the city.
American virgin islands- a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea, 60 km east of Puerto Rico; autonomous territory of the United States. The largest islands are St. Thomas, St. John, Santa Cruz. There are also many small islands. The area is 344 km².
US Virgin Islands - a territory purchased by the United States from Denmark on January 17, 1917 (all formalities were completed on March 31 of the same year). Operated by the United States Department of the Interior. Residents have the status of citizens of the United States.
Geographically, the US Virgin Islands are part of the Virgin Islands (which also includes the British Virgin Islands).
The islands are hilly (the highest point is 475 m), composed mainly of limestones, there are outcrops of ancient crystalline or volcanic rocks.
The absence of rivers and lakes, as well as the deep bedding of groundwater, for a long time greatly complicated the problem of water supply, despite the rather large amount of precipitation. Rainwater was collected in special tanks. After the construction of the desalination plants, this problem has been largely resolved.
The flora and fauna of the islands have been largely destroyed by humans. Remains of evergreen rainforests are preserved mainly on the island of St. John, two-thirds of which is occupied by a national park. The island of St. Thomas has woodlands and shrubs on the site of former plantations. The sea waters off the islands are rich in fish, crustaceans and molluscs.
American Virgin Islands climate
Climate in the U.S. Virgin Islands- tropical, trade wind, hot and humid with two dry seasons. The average monthly temperature throughout the year varies slightly - from + 22-24 ° C in winter to + 28-29 ° C in summer. Daily temperature changes are also poorly traced.
Precipitation falls up to 1300 mm per year, and there are two dry (winter and summer) and two rainy (spring and autumn) seasons. The maximum amount of rain falls in the period from September to November-December, although even at this time it rains no more than five to six days a month. In the period from July to October, tropical hurricanes are likely to pass over the territory of the islands, although they are recorded here much less often than over the nearby Windward Islands.
The most favorable time for a trip to the islands is from mid-December to the end of April, however, this period is the peak of the tourist season, so prices are much higher than, for example, from May to August, when the weather conditions are also excellent for sea holidays.
Last changes: 15.05.2013Population
Population of the U.S. Virgin Islands- 109.8 thousand people (2010).
Average life expectancy is 76 years for men, 82 years for women.
Ethno-racial composition: blacks 76.2%, whites 13.1%, mulattos 3.5%, Asians 1.1%, other 6.1% (according to the 2000 census).
Religions: Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Bishop 17%, other 7%.
The official language is English. Also popular are Spanish or Spanish-Creole 16.8%, French or Franco-Creole 6.6%, other 1.9%.
Last changes: 15.05.2013About money
US Virgin Islands monetary unit: US dollar ($ or USD), in 1 dollar 100 cents. In circulation there are bills in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollars, coins - penny (1 cent), nickel (5 cents), dime (10 cents), quarter (25 cents), half dollar (50 cents) and 1 dollar.
Banks usually work from Monday to Thursday, from 09.00 to 14.30, on Fridays - 09.00 to 14.00 and from 15.30 to 17.00.
Foreign currency can be exchanged at banks and specialized exchange bureaus. The islands have branches of almost all major international banking systems.
Credit cards are common in the larger islands, but they can be difficult to use in smaller islands. Travel checks can be cashed at almost any bank office. To avoid additional costs associated with exchange rate fluctuations, it is recommended that you bring your checks in USD.
Last changes: 15.05.2013Communication and communications
Calling code: 1 - 340
Internet domain: .vi
Telephone area codes
Area codes are not used.
How to call
To call from Russia to the US Virgin Islands, you need to dial: 8 - dial tone - 10 - 1 - 340 - subscriber's number.
To call from the US Virgin Islands to Russia, you need to dial: 011 - 7 - area code - subscriber number.
Fixed connection
All payphones on the islands are part of the general US telephone system and operate using telephone cards sold at post offices, newspaper and tobacco kiosks. Almost all payphones have direct international automatic telephone connections and some of them accept ATT cards and credit cards for international calls.
cellular
The cellular communication system in the US Virgin Islands is excellently developed and is integrated into a single network with US operators.
Internet
The Internet on the islands is developing at a rapid pace - almost all telephone and cellular companies provide their customers with Internet access. Internet cafes are concentrated in large settlements and resort areas.
Last changes: 15.05.2013Shopping
Shops are usually open from Monday to Saturday, from 09.00 to 17.00, however on Thursday many of them close quite early - usually around 15.00-16.00. Many large retail outlets are usually open on Sundays, from 10.00 to 17.00, shops in the port also often open their doors on Sundays, but only during the stay of cruise ships. Bargaining in local trading establishments is not accepted, but in the markets it is possible and necessary.
Popular souvenirs: rum, jewelry, paintings (there are many art galleries on the island of Santa Cruz).
Last changes: 15.05.2013Where to stay
The cost of staying in local hotels is quite high compared to many countries in the Caribbean region.
Last changes: 19.08.2010Sea and beaches
The islands attract numerous beach lovers for their clean beaches with white fine sand.
Almost all beaches are open to the public, only private property and some large resort complexes have limited access (permission is required).
Some local beaches are natural breeding grounds for endangered sea turtles, so most of them are protected and access to such areas is prohibited at certain times.
Last changes: 15.05.2013History
The Virgin Islands were discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493.
In 1625, English and French colonists settled on the islands, engaged in agriculture. Then the islands were successively owned by England, Spain, France and the Order of Malta.
In 1666, the island of St. Thomas was taken over by Denmark, which soon seized the island of St. John, and in 1733 Denmark bought the island of Santa Cruz from France. The Danes tried to establish a plantation economy on St. Thomas, but it was unsuccessful due to the low fertility of the land, and the island became one of the centers of the rum and slave trade. The port of St. Thomas became a pirate base. The island of Santa Cruz had more fertile lands, and after the transition to Denmark, about 200 sugar cane plantations were established there.
However, by the beginning of the 20th century, sugar production in Santa Cruz had fallen into disrepair and the islands of the Danish West Indies were sold to the United States in 1917 for $ 25 million.
Last changes: 15.05.2013Useful information
The most favorable time for a trip to the islands is from mid-December to mid-May, however, this period is the peak of the tourist season, so prices are much higher than, for example, from May to August, when the weather conditions are also excellent for sea holidays. An additional argument in favor of visiting the islands in summer is the significantly greater transparency of the sea water at this time, which provides better conditions for diving.
Local tap water is chlorinated and potable, but it is still recommended to drink bottled water.
Catching any marine organisms (including ascending to the surface and even collecting shells and corals washed ashore) in the waters of the US Virgin Islands is prohibited, as is the use of harpoon weapons for spearfishing (license required). Sports fishing is only possible with the permission of the regional authorities (usually included in the package of licenses provided by the organizer of the fishing trip). It is prohibited to moor ships and boats in the protected areas managed by the National Fund for Natural Parks. Lifting to the surface of any objects and things from sunken ships located in the territorial waters of the islands is allowed only with the special permission of the government of the country.
Last changes: 15.05.2013How to get there
There are no direct flights from Russia to the US Virgin Islands. The easiest way to get here from Russia is with one change in the United States. From American cities (New York, Miami, Boston, Atlanta, Washington and others) there are direct flights to the islands of St. Thomas and Santa Cruz.
The flight with Aeroflot + American Airlines is quite convenient: Moscow - New York - St. Thomas. The duration of the flight from Moscow to New York is about 10 hours, from New York to St. Thomas Island - 4 hours 10 minutes.
The US Virgin Islands can also be reached via Puerto Rico (64 km away). And from there you can get by water (ferries or boats) or by air (small planes) to the US Virgin Islands.
The earliest human settlements in the Virgin Islands date back to around 1500 BC. e, although there is evidence of the presence of people here at least a thousand years earlier. The Chiboni, Arawaka and Cariba Indians successively replaced each other for almost three thousand years. In 1493, Columbus' ships approached the eastern part of the archipelago, now known 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 seize the islands for almost two centuries. ... It was only in 1672 that the Danish West Indian Company established its presence in St. Thomas, and in 1694 - in St. John. In 1733, the same company acquired the island of Santa Cruz from the French, uniting all three islands under the jurisdiction of Denmark. 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 the thirty thousand inhabitants of the islands, slaves made up 25.5 thousand !). After the abolition of slavery in 1848, the surging labor costs of freed slaves, drought, hurricanes and falling sugar prices sharply deteriorated the economic situation of the Danish West Indies, and the rapidly growing United States turned its attention to these conveniently located islands and their deep-sea harbors. Only the beginning of the 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 the First World War, 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 holdings in Virginia for $ 25 million in gold - the highest price the United States has ever paid for Caribbean land.
Today, this small piece of land is a recognized center of duty-free shopping and tourism. Despite the fact that the US Virginian government has never sought to give tourism a dominant position in the economy, it employs more than a third of the total working-age population of the islands, and the development of recreation infrastructure continues at a rapid pace. The landscape of the Virgin Islands is colorful and includes dense subtropical forests of the St. John Hills, barren and arid succulent vegetation along the coastal hills, vast mangrove swamps and beautiful beaches - for this parameter the Virgin Islands are among the best beach areas in the Caribbean Sea. Luxurious resorts, an armada of cruise ships that regularly visit the islands, excellent conditions for diving, windsurfing and mass yachting regularly attract more than one and a half million tourists a year.
Saint thomas
St. Thomas is strategically located in the Anegada Strait, a key sea route of the Panama Canal. Boasting one of the finest deep-sea harbors in the Caribbean, St. Thomas, with its picturesque capital and tax-free zone, is well-developed as a resort area and is literally overcrowded with shops, hotels and restaurants. The island itself is strikingly beautiful - the wooded slopes of the picturesque hills form numerous capes separating the beautiful bays and bays filled with turquoise blue water. There are more than forty beautiful beaches here, and excellent diving sites are found almost at every turn.
Charlotte Amalie
The capital of the possession - Charlotte Amalie was founded by the Danes in 1672, and its modern name was given by the name of 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 feature 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 retains the Danish style and is constantly filled with giant cruise ships. Framed by a string of duty-free shops, neat old warehouses painted in pastel colors, green parks and various services buildings, it is crowned by the modest Fort Christian, the city's main historic landmark. The fortress was built in 1672 as a combined post to protect the port from the raids of pirate armada, the government house, the church and the meeting room of the urban community at the same time. When the threat of an invasion of pirates disappeared, the fort became a prison, and since 1987 has hosted the Museum of the Virgin Islands with an extensive collection of the region's natural heritage and art (open 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.
The medieval outline of Skitesborg, better known today as Blackbird Castle, looms on nearby Government Hill. One of the many fortresses built by the Danes in the 17th century to protect the island, Skitesborg is the only fortification of its kind and age in the Caribbean. Local legends give a special flavor to this building, according to which the famous pirate of the 19th century lived here, which served as the prototype of the famous literary character - the misogynist Bluebeard (therefore it is often called Bluebeard Castle).
A little further south, on Veterans Drive, rises the green building of the Legislative Assembly (open daily, from 8:00 to 17:00), where the office of the island government is located today. And further north, on Norre Gade, rises the Frederick Lateran Church Gregorian Church (built in 1850 on the site of the first Danish Church of the Virgin Islands, which was destroyed by fire and hurricanes). To the northeast of the church, on Köngens Heid, rises the imposing white mansion of the Government House (1866, open Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, admission free), which originally housed the Danish Colonial Council. It is now the office of the US Virgin Islands Administration and the Art Museum with works by renowned local artists. A little to the west, the staircase lined with palm trees Ninty-Nin-Steps (as if in spite of its name, it has not 99, but 103 steps), leading north, to the top of Government Hill, from where a beautiful panorama of the harbor and the surrounding urban areas opens.
A little to the west, on Crystal Geid, stands the unique synagogue Beracha-Veshalom-Vegimilat-Hasidim (Beracha V "Shalom V" Gimilath Chasidim), which was built by Jews who fled from Spain. The first synagogue was erected on this site in 1796 and after a fire in 1804 destroyed it to the ground, rebuilt in 1833 - thus it is the oldest synagogue in the United States and the second oldest in the Western Hemisphere (open Monday through Friday, from 9.00 to 16.00). Next door is the Weable Museum (open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm), an interesting exhibition of 300 years of Jewish community history on the islands, as well as the Camille Pissarro Gallery, housed in the same building where this artist, one of the founders, was born in 1830 French school of impressionism. Farther east, on Nyi Heid, is the modest church of St. Thomas Reformed Church (19th century), and further 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 a semicircular green quarter at its western wall (locals they call it simply - Park), the beautiful Vendors Plaza and Drakes Sit - 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 Ellie - here you can buy almost all imaginable goods from all over the world, and at very liberal prices.
In the eastern part of the bay stretches the Havensite Ellie area, where there are several picturesque alleys, a dock for cruise ships and the famous Atlantis submarine, which dives to a depth of 30 meters with tourists on board, as well as the Skyride Paradise Tramway terminus lifting tourists to the summit of Slag Hill (210 m). Double Danish-English street signs here seem to emphasize the rich historical past of the area, and shady alleys create a uniquely romantic atmosphere.
Around the city
The entrance to the harbor of Charlotte Amalie is closed by two fairly large islands - Hassel Island (0.22 sq. Km) and Water Island (0.49 sq. Km). The uninhabited Hassel Island is part of the National Park System of the Virgin Islands and hosts a nature reserve of the same name. Of the historical buildings, you can find here only the ruins of the old British military garrison (XIX century) and the construction of a hotel, abandoned for many years - the rest of the island has been given over to plants.Water Island is famous for its beautiful beaches and is a favorite Sunday getaway for the capital's residents. Here you can see 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 (the former correction point of the same fort), Botanical Gardens in the very center of the island, the ruins of old plantations (considered unique in its way, since the island and plantations belonged to free (!) people from Africa), primarily the well-preserved Caroline Point Plantation. The most popular beach on the island is Honeymoon Beach with soft white sands in the sheltered Dryf Bay.
The Botanical Gardens are located 3.5 km west of the city, on the slopes of the "Mountain" St. Peter Greathouse (open daily, from 9.00 to 16.00). In addition to a beautiful plantation complex of about 200 specimens from all over the region, you can find an old distillery and a shop selling local arts and crafts. At the same distance to the east of the city limits, in the town of Tata, there is a green area called Taylet Gardens - a real "city of craftsmen", where you can see all types of local crafts and artisans themselves at work, as well as buy their works in a small shop Mexican restaurant "Pollis"). And north of the capital, in the very center of the island, rises Mount Drakes Seat (413 m) with a memorial sign installed on its top, from the place of which, according to local legends, Sir Francis Drake himself watched the surrounding waters and the ships passing by the strait. And the view from here is really amazing. At the northern foot of the Drakes Seat is Magens Bay Beach, touted by National Geographic Magazine as one of the most beautiful beaches on the planet. To the west is 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 the local Cruzan rum).
Red Hook
The small town of Red Hook, lying in the very east of the island, is often called "the little capital of St. Thomas." Indeed, it has all the "amenities" of Charlotte Amalie, albeit on a smaller scale. Ferries come here from St. John, Tortola and the numerous resort islands of the east coast, there is a popular yacht parking and many shops, several shady alleys and a huge number of good restaurants. But the main attraction of the city is the famous Coral World Marine Park in Coca Point (open daily, from 9.00 to 17.30; entrance - US $ 18 for adults and $ 9 for children). This 4.5-acre park contains the Underwater Observatory, the Marine Trail (an underwater tunnel with transparent walls that leads to a sunken tanker converted into an artificial reef; admission for a fee - $ 68), a special aquarium that contains sea turtles and iguanas, as well as Coca Beach itself in Smith Bay, is probably the best snorkelling beach on the island. The nearby bays of St. John's Bay, Red Bay, Cocky Bay, Great Bay, Compete Bay and Nazareth Bay are surrounded by a large natural reef, which allows you to find many places for sea recreation here.
The shores
The rugged coastline of St. Thomas offers a huge variety of coves, bays, headlands and peninsulas, where beach areas can be found, each with its own natural setting. On the northern coast, the best place to relax by the sea is considered to be the protected by two capes of Magens Bay with its almost two kilometers of beach strip, as well as the Hull Bay area. In the west, Hull Bay Beach with its Inner Brass and Outer Brass reefs is very popular, especially with windsurfers. In the east, Sapphire Beach (especially for windsurfers and divers) and the entire coast of Wessup Bay near Red Hook deserve attention.
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 Brevers Bay, 5 km west of the city, the beautifully equipped Morningstar Beach in Frenchmans - Reef (1.5 km south of Havensite), quiet Limetri Beach, as well as the excellent Bolongo Beach and the resort area of the same name around it, which can be reached by ferry "Reifer" ($ 3 each way). Bluebird Beach is known for its excellent windsurfing conditions, while Coca Beach on the northeast coast is popular with snorkeling enthusiasts. There is only one good surfing spot on the islands - Hill Bay west of Magens Bay.
Saint John
St. John's Island is the smallest of the group's main islands and is the oldest. The summit of an ancient submarine volcano, rising from the water 364 meters in the form of Kemelberg Peak, forms with its slopes a complex system of promontories and bays that are very prominent in 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, today this rocky and wild island with its stunning white shores is considered the best place for outdoor activities. Its main attraction is the Virgin Islands National Park, densely overgrown with lush rainforest. The history of its origin is somewhat unusual - in the middle of the 20th century, American financier Lawrence Rockefeller visited St. 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 2,000 hectares to the government of the country, and today this territory, which occupies almost two-thirds of the island, has been turned into a protected area of a national park.
One of the 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 Kemelberg and Mami peaks, offering quite strenuous excursions and magnificent scenery, while a walk to the old Annaberg plantation allows you to get acquainted with partially restored the ruins of an 18th century plantation and sugar factory. The national park also covers a large area of the adjacent reef areas, so there are excellent diving spots with lively marine life. Especially popular are the very beautiful Trunk Bay, as well as Reef Bay and Salt Pond Bay.
Cruz Bay
The main town on the island, Cruz Bay, was founded at the beginning of the 19th century by Danish soldiers from St. Thomas, who equipped an observation post and an outpost on the southwest coast. Now home to half of the island's nearly 4,000 inhabitants, it is home to Saint John's best shopping, dining and nightlife venues. Unlike the other capitals of the islands, there are no particular examples of architecture or history, but it is a very suitable place for a quiet and cozy pastime. The center of the city is, of course, the port in the unusual L-shaped bay, the Municipal Park and its pavilion, where all guests of the island love to gather for a glass of beer, as well as the Mongus Junction shopping mall in the northeastern corner of the port area. Warfside Village Beach is the only beach within the city, although swimming is not recommended as the traffic in the city's harbor is quite busy. But here, right on the shore, there is an extensive shopping area, which is not inferior in its variety of retail outlets to the Mongus Junction area.
A five-minute walk from the city center rises the Elaine-ion-Sprouw 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, above Leinster Bay, you can find a well-preserved Annaberg plantation (1733, entrance - $ 4). And almost in the very center of the island, you can visit the ruins of the old plantation and the Katerineberg sugar factory, which served as the headquarters for the leaders of the slave uprising in the 1730s. On the opposite, southern coast of the island, in Reef Bay, there are several other interesting ruins of old plantations (all of them lie within the National Park of the Virgin Islands).
Apart from the capital, the only major city on the island is Coral Bay- the location of the first Danish colony on St. John, which today is a fairly actively growing commercial area with a large number of restaurants and shops (however, they are, for the most part, popular only with locals). The oldest church on the island is also located here - Emmaus-Moravian-Church (until 1733).
West of the Gulf of Reef Bay, near a small cascade of waterfalls of the same name, a whole group of petroglyphs was discovered, which, presumably, were left by the Taino Indians about a thousand years before the appearance of Europeans in these parts. In Sinamon Bay, excavations have uncovered a Taino ceremonial center, on the territory of which numerous samples of earthenware with symbols identical to the petroglyphs of Rif Bay have been discovered. On the eastern side of the island, in the area of the Rams Head cliff protruding into the sea, there is a favorite viewpoint of all guests of the island, from which a majestic panorama of the adjacent islands and straits opens, as well as a beautiful view of the nearby thickets of cacti, sometimes blooming in whole groups.
The shores
At first glance, the rocky shores of St. John provide excellent conditions for recreation by the sea for all categories of tourists. The white sand beach of Leinster Bay, the famous Maho Beach, Francis Bay and Watermelone Cay are perfect for a civilized beach holiday. The shores of Watermelone Cay, Great Limeshaw Bay and Little Limeshaw Bay are excellent for diving and snorkelling, while the ever-crowded coasts of Trunk, Caneel Bay, Hawksnest and Sinamon Bay are the focal points of local social life.
Santa cruz
The island of Santa Cruz (locals say Santa Croix or Saint 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 most southerly of the American Virgin Islands, Santa Cruz is surrounded by magnificent coral reefs, and about a hundred of its old sugar plantations and stone towers of numerous windmills noticeably diversify the rather calm local landscape. The island's landscape is a mixture of low rocky hills ("sierras") of the north, the vast fertile coastal plain of the south, rainforest and, of course, scenic shores. Almost the entire territory of the island has been managed by the National Park Service since 1948 and has retained its natural and historical charm.
Christiansted
A former capital of the US Virgin Islands and an old Danish colony, Christiansted has won the title of "prettiest city in the Caribbean" on more than one occasion. The city was founded by Danish settlers in 1735 and named after Christian VI, King of Denmark. Situated in a vast bay on the north coast of the island, Christiansted is designed so simply and intelligently that it is simply impossible to get lost on its territory. The austere lines of old Danish warehouses, customs, government buildings and churches cluster around the beautiful harbor, with some of the city's oldest houses built from bricks that were brought to the islands as ballast by sea ships 500 years ago.
Nearly all of Christiansted's historic sights, 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 between 1749 and 1774. and defended the city from pirates and naughty slaves until 1878, when it was converted to a police station. From the battlements of the fort, a beautiful panorama of the harbor and the ramparts, abundantly filled with old guns, opens up. Today, the fort complex is surrounded by the green zone 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 it houses the Historical Museum with an extensive collection of exhibits from pre-Columbian times to the colonial era), the imposing Government House (1747), the Old Customs building (now used as an artistic gallery), Scale House, the post office building, Alexander Hamilton House and the immaculate St. George Village Botanical Garden, which contains more than 1,500 varieties of plants planted around the old plantation buildings, workshops and distilleries.
Just a block to the southwest rises the imposing building of the Lord God of Sabaot Lutheran Church, the Florence Williams Library complex, the City Tourist Office and the Commerce Square, and just to the north, along the coast 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. the oldest of the temples of these confessions on the land of the United States). Among the impressive churches, another historical monument of the city is almost lost - the Christiansted Pharmacy, founded by a young Danish pharmacist in 1828 (the pharmacy itself was closed in 1970, and its equipment was transferred to the Wim Estate Museum, but in the late 1990s everything was returned to its former the place where the Historical Hall was opened). To the west is the new Senate building.
On the other side of Gallows Bay is Christiansted Marina and the small beach of the Cay Hotel, and further northwest, in Cane Bay, is a large beach complex with a restaurant and dive center. The old Aquarium Santa Cruz, 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, there is the Salt River, a freshwater canal, through which yachts pass to the port. The area is included in the complex of the National Ecological Historical Park, since it was here that sailors from Columbus' caravels first landed to explore the island, and it is here that many interesting archaeological finds of the pre-Columbian eras have been discovered. Further west on West Airport Road is the Cruz Rum Distillery, where you can sample any brand of local rum and watch the production process. The green Kramer Park is nearby with a beautiful beach and picnic area.
Fredericksted
On the west coast, in a vast bay that almost entirely occupies this part of the island, there is a slightly smaller port city of Fredericksted than Christiansted. Founded at about 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 the foundations of the middle of the 18th century. Its main monument is the large Fort Frederick next to the pier, which was built in 1760 (now there is an art gallery and museum, open from Monday to Friday, from 8.30 to 16.00). It was in this fort that on July 3, 1848, Governor General Peter van Scholten signed a decree abolishing slavery in the Danish West Indies. Favorite local attractions also include the Anglican Church of St. Paul (1812), the Catholic Church of St. Patrick (1842), the old Danish school (mid-1830s, all on Prince Street), Lutheran and Moravian churches, and St. Ann's Catholic Church on Center Island.
Not far from the city are the 35-meter Krek-Dam and the 15-acre Rhine Forest with a small workshop for woodcarvers (it is worth noting that local craftsmen use only the wood of dead trees as a starting material), as well as planted with exotic species of Mahogany trees -Road (the forest itself around the road is a private property, access to its territory is possible only with the permission of the owner).
In the eastern part of the island, Fort Frederick (XIX century) and the surrounding picturesque area of old houses, the only Santa Cruz lighthouse (XIX century) on the top of the Hams Bluff cliff, a neoclassical mansion of the Wim Estate plantation (XVIII century) with a wind farm a 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 Point Adall and its Millennium Monument - the easternmost point of the United States. Nearby is the "Celestial Eye" - a colossal radio telescope antenna for exploring the Universe (one of 9 similar antennas of a single system of radio telescopes that flank the entire United States). And further north, behind the narrow Buck Island Channel, lies the vast area of the Buck Island Reef National Reserve (1962), consisting of 700 acres of pristine reefs and 180 acres of land (Buck Island itself). The whole island and the surrounding reef have been declared a conservation area, in which diving is nevertheless allowed, and there are even real underwater excursions - the Turtle Bay Trail and the East End Trail (antler coral, which is found in abundance in these waters, is one of the best specimens of this species on the planet).
The 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 Caine 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 Suge Beach. The main places for diving and snorkelling are concentrated in the 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. Cormoran Beach Club and Hibiscus Hotel Beach west of Christiansted, Kramer Park public beach at the end of Route 82, Reef Beach at Teague Bay, and the beautiful isolated Sandy Point beach in the southwest are also excellent beach areas. " the corner of the island, the quiet sandy Shoy Beach east of Christiansted, and the 1.5-mile Sprat Hull and Rainbow Beach Club north of Fredericksted.
The Virgin Islands (US) are located near the Caribbean Sea. The largest islands are Santa Cruz, Saint John and Saint Thomas. Citizens live on the islands, the national currency is the US dollar. The city of Charlotte Amalie is the capital and is located on the island of St. Thomas.
US Virgin Islands climate
The islands have a tropical climate influenced by trade winds, temperatures all year round about 25 degrees, the rainy season is from November to December. The best time for a vacation in the Virgin Islands is from December to May, divers are advised 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 - a group of islands in the Caribbean with the status of an unincorporated organized territory of the United States. In the old days, the US Virgin Islands were the Danish West Indies, the territory of the Kingdom of Denmark-Norway, but were sold to the United States in 1916.
The US Virgin Islands are three large islands: Santa Cruz, Saint John and Saint 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 Saint Thomas.
History of the United States Virgin Islands
Before the arrival of the Europeans here, the islands were inhabited by the tribes of the Carib Indians, Arawaks and Cybones. The islands were discovered, as expected by Christopher Columbus during his second trip in 1493. A little later, colonists from Spain, Great Britain, the Netherlands, France and Denmark-Norway appeared here. The Danish West Indies and Guinean Company was founded in 1625 and was engaged in trade with the West Indies, located on the islands of St. Thomas, St. John and Santa Cruz 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 source of income was sugar cane, on the implantation of which African slaves worked until the abolition of slavery on July 3, 1848. The Danes gained full control over the islands of St. Thomas and Santa Cruz and St. John. The island of St. John has created ideal conditions for sugar production thanks to its ideal climate and fertile soil. The island of Saint John distinguished itself with one of the first large-scale slave uprisings in the Caribbean in 1733, nevertheless, the Danes, thanks to the French troops, suppressed the uprising, but the quantitative superiority of slaves over whites in a ratio of 5 to 1 led to the defeat of the colonialists in the end.
Denmark still exercised control over the islands, but no longer received material benefits from this possession, as a result, in 1867 the islands were sold to the United States, but the United States was unable to raise the economy of the islands. After the outbreak of the First World War, the islands remained 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 selling price of the islands was 25 million US dollars in gold, today this amount can be estimated at 544 million dollars. In 1616, a referendum was held in Denmark on the sale and the deal was concluded in 1917, it was in this year that the territory of the islands was renamed the American Virgin Islands, American citizenship was granted to local residents in 1927.
In 1989, Hurricane Hugo almost completely destroyed the American Virgin Islands, however, the same thing happened to other islands in the Caribbean region, in 1995 hurricane Marilyn led to human casualties, in addition, the islands suffered from a series of hurricanes in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2008 year, 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 consists of the islands of St. Thomas, St. John and Santa Cruz, as well as several dozen small 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 the English version.
The US Virgin Islands are famous for their stunning beaches Magens Bay and Trunk Bay, the harbors of Charlotte Amalie and Christiansted are important. All islands are of volcanic origin with hilly terrain, the maximum height is on the island of St. Thomas in the form of Mount Corona, which has a height of 474 meters. The largest island of Santa Cruz has a flatter relief, almost the entire territory of the island of St. John is national parks, the same can be said about Hassel Island and the 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 US Virgin Islands
In the Virgin Islands, US dollars are accepted.
Banks and currency exchange
As you understand, many tourists do not need to use the currency exchange upon arrival to the islands, since the local currency is nothing more than the most popular currency, especially in the Western Hemisphere, where the US dollar is accepted in stores in almost all countries. However, banks work as usual, with weekends on Saturdays and Sundays. You can also exchange currency at exchange kiosks. You can use your credit card to pay everywhere in the Virgin Islands. ATM ATMs are located at every step. It is recommended to take travel checks in US dollars only.
VAT and tax-free are not practiced, this is an offshore zone.
Living standards and prices in the Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands is a very expensive place that can be compared to Saint Barthélemy, Hawaii, Maldives and the Bahamas. Foodstuffs are expensive since they are all imported from abroad, cheap local vegetables and fruits can be bought only in the markets. Hotels are breaking cosmic prices, which start from $ 100 for a standard double room per day, the likelihood of finding an economical place to stay 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 Russians in general, or Ukrainians are very exotic here.
Tipping and taxes
Tipping is similar to other countries in the Caribbean, with a mandatory 10% service tax and an 8% tourist tax on hotel stays in the Virgin Islands. The Virgin Islands is a part of the United States, and in this country tipping is a matter of honor, you cannot do without tips, often they are already additionally included in the invoices, if not, they will amount to 15% of the invoice amount. Hotels can also charge a fee for electricity, the cost of which is an order of magnitude higher than in the United States.
US Virgin Islands Visas
Religion of the American Virgin Islands
The main religion of the local population is Christianity, there are many Protestants, slightly less Catholics, it is interesting that the American Virgin Islands have a high percentage of rastamans, which may differ greatly from the neighboring representatives of the Caribbean region. St. Thomas is home to a large Jewish community and the oldest in the Western Hemisphere, as well as the oldest synagogue in the New World.
US Virgin Islands public holidays
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.
American Virgin Islands cuisine
A distinctive feature of the local cuisine is its satiety and pungency. Local products from farmers can be bought only in the markets; these are meat, milk, fruits and vegetables; only imported products are sold in stores. The high culinary traditions of the islands offer a symbiosis of international cuisine with local traditions and exoticism. Exotic are mangoes, local spices and fish, mostly 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 don't even know it.
U.S. Virgin Islands Economy
Agriculture is available only on the island of Santa Cruz. The production sector is linked to the 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, most foreigners mean tourists from the United States, and most of them get to the islands via cruise ships.
Until 2012, the HOVENSA refinery on Santa Cruz Island was the largest in general in the world and brought the islands 20% of GDP, but for environmental reasons it was closed and today is used no more than an oil storage facility, killing the entire former economy of the American Virgin Islands.
Today, there is a slight growth in the financial sector, high investments in local real estate. There are already difficulties with electricity, which is 5 times more expensive than on the mainland of the United States. Energy is generated from imported oil and solar panels. To stimulate and develop the country's economy, several higher technical institutions and research institutes were opened in the American 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, however, customs inspection takes place only at the time of leaving the islands at the entrance, no customs formalities are provided.
Transportation in the Virgin Islands
On the island of Santa Cruz there is Henry E. Rohlsen International Airport, and Cyril E. King International Airport serves the islands of St. Thomas and St. John.
The US Virgin Islands is the only US territory where left-hand traffic is accepted, due to left-hand traffic on the island until its transfer to the US in 1917 in order to limit the loss of livestock. However, most cars are imported from the USA and have a “normal” left hand drive.
US Virgin Islands landmarks
The Virgin Islands (USA) is an offshore zone, in addition, tourism is developed here. The main island of St. Thomas is covered in rolling hills and rainforest, mango forest and swamps. The bay of the island can be accessed by the largest ocean cruise ships, which increases the efficiency of the resort. The island has dozens of luxury hotels with beaches and great diving sites. The capital is Charlotte Amalie with a small port, which, as mentioned above, can receive deep-sea vessels. The main architectural attraction is the Fort Christian fortress with the Virgin Islands Museum. Nearby on Government Hill is the 18th century Blackbird Castle.
Climate
The climate of the British Virgin Islands is tropical, maritime, trade wind type. A comfortable temperature is maintained throughout the year. In winter, on the islands + 22-24 ° С, in summer + 28-29 ° С, and with the change of time of day, the temperature changes slightly. 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, tropical showers are short-lived. And in July-October, hurricanes hit the islands.
Nature
The highest point in the US Virgin Islands is only 475 meters above sea level. The surface of the islands is hilly, due to their limestone origin. In some places you can see blotches of volcanic and crystalline rocks.
There are no rivers or lakes on the islands at all. 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 kingdom, were destroyed by humans. Admire the preserved riot of nature on the island of St. John, two-thirds of which is occupied by the National Park. On the island of St. Thomas, you can see light forests and shrubs that have appeared on the site of former plantations. A variety of fish, crustaceans and molluscs are found in the waters of the US Virgin Islands.
sights
Top 10 attractions of the islands:
1. National Park of the American Virgin Islands, where you can get acquainted with the rarest species of animals and birds
2. Fort Kristjan on the island of St. Thomas
3. Blackbird Castle
4. Market square in Charlotte Amalie
5. Charlotte Amalie's aquarium with rare tropical fish
6. Mount St. Peter's Greathouse with botanical gardens and a distillery on its slopes
7. Picturesque Coca Bay
8. Wim sugar plantation on the island of Santa Cruz
9. Kruzan Winery in Christiansted
10. The uninhabited island of Buck
- The tourist season in the US Virgin Islands is from January to April. For fans 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 falling.
- Please note that the hotel bill will include an additional 8% tax and a 10% service tip. Sometimes, 3% for electricity bills is added to the cost of living.
- 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.
- Keep in mind that lifting any marine organisms and objects from the bottom, as well as collecting seashells washed ashore, is prohibited. Sport fishing requires a license.
Accommodation
There are many hotels in the US Virgin Islands for every taste, but the prices can hardly be called low. Prices for resort hotel rooms start from US $ 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 what type of accommodation you choose, you will be pleased with quality service.
Some islands also have tent camps that are popular with young people.
If you are interested in a holiday of the highest standard, then in the US Virgin Islands you can rent a villa on the coast. Prices start at $ 5,000 per week.
Transport
There is a developed sea and air communication between the islands, and on the large islands there are no problems with renting a scooter, car or taxi. True, the distances between the resorts are relatively small here, so many travelers prefer to travel on foot or by bike.
Purchases
Keep in mind that you can export your purchases duty-free from the island if their total cost is not more than $ 1200. By the way, in the US Virgin Islands you can profitably buy watches, jewelry, equipment for photography and video filming, perfumery, leather goods and porcelain. Shops work strictly according to the 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 very inexpensively. The most popular are handicrafts, rum, spices, tea. Treat yourself to fresh fruit.
Entertainment
Top 5 things to do in the US Virgin Islands:
1. Diving
2. Cruise in the US Virgin Islands and the Caribbean
3. Excursion by helicopter
4. Attending one of the local festivals (for example, Fireworks Week at the end of June or the Crucian Carp Festival in January)
5. Sport fishing
Business climate
About 2 million travelers come to the US Virgin Islands every 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 are also employed in rum production, textiles, electronics and watch assemblies. Agriculture is underdeveloped, but the financial sector, which depends on the US economy, has all the conditions for rapid growth.