The US Virgin Islands are a US territory in the Caribbean, consisting of three major islands and smaller ones. The islands were inhabited by the Ciboneys, Arawaks, and Caribs before European colonization and the importation of African slaves. The islands were sold to the US in the early 20th century and have since become a popular tourist destination, known for their beaches, diving, snorkeling, and national park. Flights and ferries connect the islands to the US and Puerto Rico.
The US Virgin Islands are an unincorporated territory of the United States in the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean. They cover 134 square miles (346 square km), making them about twice the size of Washington, DC. They consist of three major islands, Saint Croix, Saint John and Saint Thomas, as well as Water Island and a few dozen smaller islands.
The first people to inhabit the US Virgin Islands were the Ciboneys, a group who lived there during the Stone Age, about whom little is known. The next group to arrive were the Arawaks from mainland South America, who settled to farm and fish. The Arawaks lived in relative tranquility for some centuries, until the arrival of the Caribs in the 15th century, virtually eradicating the Arawaks and colonizing the islands themselves.
At the end of the 15th century, Christopher Columbus landed at Saint Croix, continuing shortly after to Saint Thomas and Saint John. Over the next two hundred years, after slavery, disease, murder and suicide, the Arawaks had completely disappeared from the US Virgin Islands. A few Caribs survived, but not enough to constitute a labor pool. Thus, at the end of the 17th century, Europeans began to import slaves from Africa.
Less than 60 years later conditions had become severe enough to cause a massive slave revolt, with slaves from Ghana’s Akwamu tribe taking control of St. John’s, at this point controlled by the Danes. The Danes called on their French neighbors for help, and six months after the Akwamu took control, they finally managed to reclaim the island. A number of minor uprisings occurred over the next century, but the islands were largely kept in check.
In 1848, however, a larger uprising occurred. This time, instead of enlisting the help of the French, the Danish governor, Peter von Scholten, emancipated every slave on the island. While the local economy has suffered greatly as a result, it has allowed the islands to begin working towards a collective future.
In the early 20th century, just before the outbreak of World War I, the United States bought the islands from the Danish government for $20 US dollars (USD). The United States was concerned that in the event of war, which seemed inevitable at this point, if the Germans conquered Denmark they would have claims to the islands and would have bases close enough to the United States to launch attacks. The islands were later granted a certain level of autonomy and the inhabitants were given limited US citizenship in 25,000,000.
The US Virgin Islands has tourism as its main source of income. This means that the various islands have a lot to offer tourists. From beautiful scenery and pristine parkland, to luxurious amenities, to fine dining, everything you could hope for in a destination can be found in the US Virgin Islands. And while they’re not as cheap as some places in the world, the US Virgin Islands are also surprisingly affordable, making them an ideal Caribbean destination.
The main attraction of the US Virgin Islands are of course the beaches. Beautiful stretches of white sand with sparkling blue water await visitors year-round. The diving and snorkeling on the islands is some of the best in the Caribbean. There is also good surfing, particularly off the island of St. John. The highlight of the islands, however, is the US Virgin Islands National Park. Covering nearly 60 percent of the island of St. John, this park features beautiful hiking trails through lush forests and incredible underwater trails that showcase the region’s coral reefs.
Flights regularly arrive in both St. Croix and St. Thomas from the United States, and Europeans can reach the islands via Florida or Puerto Rico. Ferries connect the islands and also connect St. Thomas to Puerto Rico. Cruise ships also make regular calls, most in Frederiksted or Charlotte Amalie.
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