Tortola

Tortola

Tortola is the largest of the British Virgin Islands
Geography
Location	Atlantic Ocean
Coordinates	18°25′N 64°35′W / 18.417°N 64.583°W / 18.417; -64.583
Archipelago	Virgin Islands
Area	55.7 square kilometres (21.5 sq mi)
Length	19 kilometres (12 mi)
Width	5 kilometres (3.1 mi)
Highest point	Mount Sage (530 metres (1,700 ft))
Country
United Kingdom
British Overseas Territory	British Virgin Islands
Largest city	Road Town (pop. 9,400)
Demographics
Population	23,908
Density	429.23 /km2 (1,111.7 /sq mi)

Tortola is the largest and most populated of the British Virgin Islands, a group of islands which form part of the archipelago of the Virgin Islands. Local belief is that the name was originally given to the island by Christopher Columbus, meaning "land of the Turtle Dove". In actuality Columbus named the island Santa Ana. The Dutch settled, and dubbed it Ter Tholen, after an island off the west coast of the Netherlands. When the British moved in they altered the name to its present day form of Tortola.

History

The first inhabitants in Tortola history were the Ciboney, and later, the Arawak and Carib Indians,

Europeans began making their mark upon Tortola history after 1493, when Christopher Columbus spotted the British and US Virgin Islands and named them after the 11,000 virgins of 4th- century martyr St. Ursula. Though the Spanish made a few attempts to settle the area, famous pirates like Blackbeard and Captain Kidd were the first genuine inhabitants of the island

In the 17th century the British, who had successfully usurped control of the area from the Dutch, established a permanent plantation colony on Tortola and the surrounding islands. The sugar industry dominated Tortola history over the next 150 years, faltering only in the mid 1800s with the abolition of slavery. A large proportion of the white landowning population left the British Virgin Islands with this economic downturn, but the political relationship between the island and the British continued and has lasted through

Geography

Tortola is a mountainous island 13.5 miles (19 km) long and 3 miles (5 km) wide, with an area of 21.5 square miles (55.7 square km). Formed by volcanic activity, its highest peak is Mount Sage at 1750 feet (530 m). Tortola lies near an earthquake fault, and minor earthquakes are common.

Economy and demographics

The population of Tortola is 23,908. The principal settlement is Road Town, the capital of the British Virgin Islands.

Financial services are the main source of income to the island. The hugely popular International Business Companies Act, passed in the early 1980s, led to huge growth in government revenue. BVI residents are amongst the most affluent in the Eastern Caribbean. Because of this, a large number of residents from other Caribbean islands work there.

Even though the British Virgin Islands (BVI) are under the British flag, the U.S. dollar is the official currency. The island is home to many offshore companies that do business worldwide.

Attractions

White-sand beaches, such as Cane Garden Bay, are popular attractions. Cane Garden Bay also offers an abyss of surfing potential if you catch it on the right tide and swell. Located Just north of Apple Bay (a second good break that can hold swell significantly longer than Cane Garden), Cane Garden Bay is a large bay that is usually filled with boats and activities. However, access to the spot is relatively easy. Park in the dirt lot located on the right side and walk out on the dock.

Getting There

There are two ways to get to Tortola by sea and by air.

• Flights to Tortola arrive at the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport. The airport is actually located on Beef Island, which lies just to the East of Tortola, but is connected by the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge. Most commercial flights come from St. Maarten, Antigua and Puerto Rico.

• The Tortola Ferry provides travelers with the opportunity to arrive by sea. The ferry runs between Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas and either Road Town or the West End of Tortola. The ferry schedule varies but prices range anywhere from $45-$52 round-trip [1].

• Seaborne Airlines provides daily flights from neighboring islands, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas and St. Croix [2].

Education

The British Virgin Islands operates several government schools. [3]

The following pre-primary schools serve Tortola residents:

• Enid Scatliffe Pre-Primary School

The following elementary schools serve Tortola residents: [4]

• Enis Adams Primary School
• Belle Vue (Joyce Samuel) Primary School
• Ivan Dawson Primary School
• Leonora Delville Primary School
• Francis Lettsome Primary School
• Alexandrina Maduro Primary School
• Isabella Morris Primary School
• Althea Scatliffe Primary School
• Ebenezer Thomas Primary School
• Willard Wheatley Primary School

Tortola residents are served by Elmore Stout High School.

Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre serves as Tortola's special needs school.[5]

The H. Lavity Stoutt Community College is on Tortola.

Images

Road Town	Cane Garden Bay	Lambert Beach	View of the North Coast
Panoramic View of the Harbour at Road Town

See also

• British colonization of the Americas
• Dutch colonization of the Americas

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Tortola

• [6] - Official website of the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board
• Tortola travel guide from Wikitravel

Coordinates: 18°25′N 64°35′W / 18.417°N 64.583°W / 18.417; -64.583

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