Virgin Gorda

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Virgin Gorda
BritishVirginIsland map.png
Virgin Gorda is the third-largest of the British Virgin Islands
Caribbean - Virgin Gorda.PNG
Geography
Location Atlantic Ocean
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Archipelago Virgin Islands
Country
United Kingdom
British Overseas Territory British Virgin Islands
Demographics
Population 3,930[1]

Virgin Gorda is the third-largest (after Tortola and Anegada) and second most populous of the British Virgin Islands (BVI). Located at approximately 18 degrees, 48 minutes North, and 64 degrees, 30 minutes West, it covers an area of about 8 square miles (21 km2). Christopher Columbus is said to have named the island "The Fat Virgin", because the island's profile on the horizon looks like a fat woman lying on her side.

The main commercial and residential area is Spanish Town on the southwestern part of the island.

An unusual geologic formation known as "The Baths" located on the southern end of the island makes Virgin Gorda one of the BVI's major tourist destinations. At The Baths, the beach shows evidence of the island's volcanic origins, as huge granite boulders lie in piles on the beach, forming scenic grottoes that are open to the sea. North of the Baths is the Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbor, formerly owned by Little Dix Bay. The most notable ruin on Virgin Gorda is the old Copper Mine.

Transportation

Ferry services from Virgin Gorda and Tortola as well as small airlines serve the island. In January 2010, Virgin Gorda Airport was restricted to a very small list of airlines by Air Safety Support International, the territory's aviation regulatory agency, which demanded that the airport be brought in line with international safety standards. The airport reopened in December 2010.

Tourists come from neighbouring islands such as Tortola and St. Thomas by boat and return to these islands for air transportation.

Education

The British Virgin Islands operates several government schools.[2] Virgin Gorda residents are served by Robinson O'Neal Memorial Primary School, a primary school, and Bregado Flax Educational Centre, a combined primary and secondary school which opened in 1982.[3] In 2000 the government created plans to create a primary school on the island.[4]

Gallery

References

  1. The BVI Beacon "Portrait of a population: 2010 Census published" pg. 4, 20 November 2014
  2. BVI Government
  3. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

  • Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at Wikimedia Commons
  • Virgin Gorda travel guide from Wikivoyage

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.


<templatestyles src="Asbox/styles.css"></templatestyles>