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d islets. They are located in the Virgin Islands archipelago, a few miles east of the U.S. Virgin Islands. The North Atlantic Ocean lies to the north of the islands, and the Caribbean Sea lies to the south. Most of the islands are volcanic in origin and have a hilly, rugged terrain. Anegada is geologically distinct from the rest of the group and is a flat island composed of limestone and coral. In addition to the four main islands of Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, and Jost Van Dyke, other islands include: Beef Island Cooper Island Ginger Island Great Camanoe Great Thatch Guana Island Little Thatch (Owned by John and Jill Maynard) Mosquito Island (Owned by Richard Branson) Necker Island (Owned by Richard Branson) Norman Island Peter Island Salt Island Prickly Pear Eustatia Saba Rock Frenchman's Cay Nanny Cay Scrub Island Sandy Cay Green Cay Sandy Spit Little Jost Van Dyke Great & Little Tobago The Dogs See also Islands of the British Virgin Islands. Climate Main article: Climate of the British Virgin Islands The British Virgin Islands enjoy a tropical climate, moderated by trade winds. Temperatures vary little throughout the year. In the capital, Road Town, typical daily maxima are around 32 �C (89.6 �F) in the summer and 29 �C (84.2 �F) in the winter. Typical daily minima are around 24 �C (75.2 �F) in the summer and 21 �C (69.8 �F) in the winter. Rainfall averages about 1,150 mm (45.3 in) per year, higher in the hills and lower on the coast. Rainfall can be quite variable, but the wettest months on average are September to November and the driest months on average are February and March. Hurricanes occasionally hit the islands, with the hurricane season running from June to November. Politics Main article: Politics of the British Virgin Islands Legislative Council building in Road Town. The High Court sits upstairs. Executive authority in British Virgin Islands is invested in The Queen and is exercised on her behalf by the Governor of the British Virgin Islands. The Governor is appointed by the Queen on the advice of the British Government. Defence and Foreign Affairs remain the responsibility of the United Kingdom. A new constitution was adopted in 2007 (the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007)[4] and came into force when the Legislative Council was dissolved for the 2007 general election. The Head of Government under the new constitution is the Premier (prior to the new constitution the office was referred to as Chief Minister), who is elected in a general election along with the other members of the ruling government as well as the members of the opposition. A Cabinet is nominated by the Premier and appointed by the Governor. The Legislature consists of the Queen (represented by the Governor) and a unicameral House of Assembly made up of 13 elected members plus the Speaker and the Attorney-General. The current Governor is David Pearey (since 2006). The current Premier is Ralph T. O'Neal (since 22 August 2007). Subdivisions Main article: Districts of the British Virgin Islands Economy Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands Main article: Economy of the British Virgin Islands As a tax haven,[5] the British Virgin Islands enjoys one of the more prosperous economies of the Caribbean region, with a per capita GDP of around $38,500 (2004 est.)[6] The "twin pillars" of the economy are tourism and financial services. Politically, tourism is the more important of the two, as it employs a greater number of people within the Territory, and a larger proportion of the businesses in the tourist industry are locally owned, as are a number of the highly tourism-dependent sole traders (e.g. taxi drivers and street vendors). Economically however, financial services associated with the territory's tax haven status are by far the more important. 51.8% of the Government's revenue comes directly from licence fees for offshore companies, and considerable further sums are raised directly or indirectly from payroll taxes relating to salaries paid within the trust industry sector (which tend to be higher on average than those paid in the tourism sector). Tourism accounts for 45% of national income. The islands are a popular destination for U.S. citizens. In 2006 a total of 825,603 people visited the islands (of whom 443,987 were cruise ship passengers). Tourists frequent the numerous white sand beaches, visit The Baths on Virgin Gorda, snorkel the coral reefs near Anegada, or experience the well-known bars of Jost Van Dyke. The BVI are known as one of the world's greatest sailing destinations, and charter sailboats are a very popular way to visit less accessible islands. Every year since 1972 the BVI has hosted the Spring Regatta, which is a seven-day collection of sailing races throughout the islands. A substantial number of the tourists who visit the BVI are cruise ship passengers, although they produce far lower revenue per head than charter boat tourists and hotel based tourists. They are nonetheless important to the substantial (and politically important) taxi driving community. Substantial revenues are also generated by the registration of offshore companies. As of June 2008, 823,502 companies were so registered (of which 445,865 were 'active'). In 2000 KPMG reported in its survey of offshore jurisdictions for the United Kingdom government that over 41% of the world's offshore companies were formed in the British Virgin Islands. Since 2001, financial services in the British Virgin Islands have been regulated by the independent Financial Services Commission. While at one time the BVI was well regarded as a good domicile for captive insurance services, this changed beginning in recent years with the change of insurance regulators in 2007 and the government's increasing pressure to hire only locals ("belongers") in the insurance industry. Agriculture and industry account for only a small proportion of the islands' GDP. Agricultural produce includes fruit, vegetables, sugar cane, livestock and poultry, and industries include rum distillation, construction and boatbuilding. Since 1959, the official currency of the British Virgin Islands has been the US dollar, also used by the United States Virgin Islands. The British Virgin Islands are a major target for drug traffickers, who use the area as a gateway to the United States. According to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, "Problems associated with drug trafficking are potentially the most serious threat to stability in the BVI".[7] Demographics Main article: Demographics of the British Virgin Islands The population of the Islands is around 21,730 in 2003. The majority of the population (83%) are Afro-Caribbean, descended from the slaves brought to the islands by the British. Other large ethnic groups include those of British and other European origin. The 2004 census reports: 83.4% Black 7% White 9.6% Others* * includes Indian , Carib Amerindian and mixed The islands are predominantly Protestant Christian (86%). The largest individual Christian denominations are Methodist (33%), Anglican (17%), and Catholic (10%). The islands are heavily dependent upon migrant labour. In 2004 migrant workers accounted for 50% of the total population. 32% of workers employed in the British Virgin Islands work for the Government. Transport Main article: Transport in the British Virgin Islands There are 113 kilometres (70 mi) of roads. The main airport (Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport, also known as Beef Island Airport) is located on Beef Island, which lies off the eastern tip of Tortola and is accessible by the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge. Virgin Gorda and Anegada have their own smaller airports. The main harbour is in Road Town. There are also ferries that operate within the British Virgin Islands and to the neighbouring United States Virgin Islands. As in the UK, cars in the British Virgin Islands drive on the left side of the road. The roads are often quite steep and winding, and ruts can be a problem when it rains. Education The British Virgin Islands operates several government schools as well as private schools. There is also a community college, H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, that is located on the eastern end of Tortola. This college was named after Honourable Lavity Stoutt (Chief Minister).[8] Sport Because of its location and climate the British Virgin Islands has long been a haven for sailing enthusiasts. Sailing is regarded as one of the foremost sports in all of the BVI. Calm waters along with steady breezes culminate to make some of the best sailing conditions in the Caribbean (some[who?] say the world).[citation needed] Many sailing events are held in the waters of this country, the largest of which is a weeklong series of sailing races called the Spring Regatta. This is the premier sailing event of the Caribbean. With several races hosted each day. Boats include everything from full-size mono-hull yachts to dinghies. Captains and their crews come from all around the globe to attend these races. The Spring Regatta is part race, part party, part festival. There are races, games, and music during the day, and some crazy partying at night. The Spring Regatta is normally held on the first week of April, annually [1]. See also: Cricket in the West Indies Culture Main article: Culture of the Virgin Islands Language Main article: Virgin Islands Creole The primary language is English with a quick creole accent.[clarification needed] Music Main article: Music of the Virgin Islands The traditional music of the British Virgin Islands is called fungi after the local cornmeal dish with the same name, often made with okra. The special sound of fungi is due to a unique local fusion between African and European music. It functions as a medium of local history and folklore and is therefore a cherished cultural form of expression that is part of the curriculum in BVI schools. The fungi bands, also called "scratch bands", use instruments ranging from calabash, washboard, bongos and ukulele, to more traditional western instruments like keyboard, banjo, guitar, bass, triangle and saxophone. Apart from being a form of festive dance music, fungi often contains humorous social commentaries, as well as BVI oral history.[9]The popular singer Iyaz is from the British Virgin Islands. In the music video for his song Replay he had the flag of the British Virgin Islands in the background. See also British Virgin Islands portal Main article: Outline of the British Virgin Islands List of British Virgin Islands-related topics References ^ http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/country-profile/north-central-america/british-virgin-islands/ ^ Wilson, Samuel M. ed. The Indigenous People of the Caribbean. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 1997. ISBN 0-8130-1692-4 ^ In the United Kingdom, a major market for sugar from the Territory, the Sugar Duties Act 1846 also created a considerable downward effect on the price of Caribbean sugar cane. ^ Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007 ^ http://www.timesherald.com/articles/2009/05/09/business/doc4a04ef4f516e1869586320.txt ^ CIA. Economy: British Virgin Islands. The World Factbook, CIA publications, 19 December. 2006. Retrieved 25 December. 2006. ^ British Virgin Islands Country Profile, Foreign & Commonwealth Office ^ British Virgin Islands Schools, BVI Government website ^ Penn, Dexter J.A. Music of the British Virgin Islands: Fungi. Retrieved 13 January 2008. External links Directories British Virgin Islands from UCB Libraries GovPubs British Virgin Islands at the Open Directory Project Find more about British Virgin Islands on Wikipedia's sister projects: Definitions from Wiktionary Textbooks from Wikibooks Quotations from Wikiquote Source texts from Wikisource Images and media from Commons News stories from Wikinews Learning resources from Wikiversity NGO Sources "Non-Self-Governing Territories listed by General Assembly in 2002". United Nations Special Committee of 24 on Decolonization. http://www.un.org/Depts/dpi/decolonization/trust3.htm. Retrieved 10 March 2005. Official sites and overviews The Government of the British Virgin Islands (official government site) The Government of the BVI, London Office � Official government site British Virgin Islands: Nature's Little Secrets � Official site of the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board The British Virgin Islands Ports Authority � Official site National Parks Trust of the British Virgin Islands � Official site British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission � Official site British Virgin Islands entry at The World Factbook Wikimedia Content Wikimedia Atlas of British Virgin Islands British Virgin Islands travel guide from Wikitravel Articles Related to the British Virgin Islands Geographic locale Lat. and Long. 18�25'53?N 64�37'23?W? / ?18.43139�N 64.62306�W? / 18.43139; -64.62306 (Road Town) v � d � e Countries and territories of the Caribbean Sovereign states Commonwealth Realms Antigua and Barbuda � Bahamas � Barbados � Grenada � Jamaica � St. Kitts and Nevis � St. Lucia � St. Vincent and the Grenadines Commonwealth republics Dominica � Trinidad and Tobago Other republics Cuba � Dominican Republic � Haiti Dependencies and other areas by parent state United Kingdom Anguilla � British Virgin Islands � Cayman Islands � Montserrat � Turks and Caicos Islands Netherlands Aruba � Netherlands Antilles (Bonaire � Cura�ao � Saba � Sint Maarten � Sint Eustatius) France Guadeloupe � Martinique � St. Barth�lemy � St. Martin United States Navassa Island � Petrel Islands � Puerto Rico � Serranilla Bank � U.S. Virgin Islands v � d � e Countries and dependencies of North America Several nations listed here straddle both North and South America or can also be considered Caribbean. 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