First settled by the Dutch in 1648, the islands were annexed in 1672 by the English. The economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is the legal currency.
Location
Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Area Comparative
About 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Maritime Claims
Territorial sea: 3 nm
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate
Subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Natural Hazards
Hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)
Environment Current Issues
Limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchments)
Geography Note
Strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
