Virgin Islands

Locator map for the Virgin Islands. The islands are part of the Leeward Islands in the West Indies and are divided into the US Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.

The shield shows St Ursula with 11 lamps, representing the 11,000 virgins who followed her during the Crusades. It is said that Columbus was reminded of St Ursula when he named the numerous islands.

Group of about 100 small islands, northernmost of the Leeward Islands in the Antilles, West Indies. Tourism is the main Industry.

They comprise the US Virgin Islands St Thomas (with the capital, Charlotte Amalie), St Croix, St John, and about 50 small islets; area 350 sq km/135 sq mi; total population (2001 est) 122,200; and the British Virgin Islands Tortola (with the capital, Road Town), Virgin Gorda, Anegada, and Jost van Dykes, and about 40 islets (11 islands are inhabited); area 150 sq km/58 sq mi; total population (1997 est) 13,400.

Christopher Columbus reached these islands in 1493. They were divided between Britain and Denmark in 1666. Denmark sold its islands to the USA in 1917; they form an unincorporated territory, with residents electing a governor and legislature. The British Virgin Islands have partial self-government.