Tortola - Citizendia

Tortola is the largest of the British Virgin Islands

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. The British Virgin Islands ( BVI) is a British overseas territory, located in the Caribbean to the east of Puerto Rico. An archipelago (ɑrkəˈpɛləgoʊ is a chain or cluster of Islands The word archipelago literally means "chief Sea " from Italian See also Culture of the Virgin Islands Music of the Virgin Islands Virgin Islands Creole Local belief is that the name was originally given to the island by Christopher Columbus, meaning "land of the Turtle Dove". Christopher Columbus (1451 &ndash May 20 1506 was an Italian Navigator, colonizer The Turtle Dove ( Streptopelia turtur) is a member of the bird family Columbidae, which includes the Doves and Pigeons.

1 Geography
2 Economy and demographics
3 Education
4 Images
5 External links

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). Plate tectonics and hotspots Divergent plate boundaries At the Mount Sage is a volcanic peak which is the highest point in the British Virgin Islands. Tortola lies near an earthquake fault, and minor earthquakes are common. An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth 's crust that creates Seismic waves Earthquakes are recorded with a Seismometer

Economy and demographics

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

Financial services are the main source of income to the island. An offshore financial centre (or OFC) although not precisely defined is usually a low- Tax, lightly Regulated jurisdiction which specializes in providing The hugely popular International Business Companies Act, passed in the early 1980s, led to huge growth in government revenue. The International Business Companies Act 1984 was a Statute of the British Virgin Islands which permitted the incorporation of International Business Companies 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. An offshore company is a company which does not conduct substantial business in its country of incorporation.

Visitors either arrive by boat or fly to Beef Island and drive across the short Queen Elizabeth Bridge to Tortola. Beef Island is an Island in the British Virgin Islands. It is located to the east of Tortola, and the two islands are connected by the Queen The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge is a Bridge that links Beef Island with Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. 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 significally 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.