Geography

The Bermuda Islands are located bout 650 miles (1,050 kilometers) east of Cape Hatteras in North Carolina. There are seven main islands and about 170 additional small islands. The entire Bermudan archipelago, or chain of islands, is about 24 miles (40 kilometers) long and averages less than 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) wide. Great Bermuda, usually called Main Island, is larger than all the other islands put together. It is 14 miles (22.5 kilometers) long.

Bermuda's soil is very fertile. It lies on top of a layer of limestone that is 200 feet (60 meters) deep. Beneath the limestone is a range of ancient volcanoes.

The Bermudas are surrounded by coral reefs. Huge rocks along the shores have been carved into amazing shapes by wind and water. The highest point in Bermuda is on Main Island. This hill, which is 259 feet (79 meters) above sea level, is called the Peak.

Bermuda has no lakes or rivers, but there is no shortage of fresh water as the islands receive heavy rainfall. Bermuda's climate is mild and humid.

Plants and animals

The vegetation on Bermuda includes such flowering shrubs as bougainvillea, Easter lilies, oleander, hibiscus, and poinsettia. Palm, pine, casuarina, and mangrove trees are found on most of the islands. A number of birds visit the islands every year as they migrate. The only other kinds of wildlife on the islands are lizards and frogs.

People and culture

About three fifths of the people in Bermuda are descended from African slaves who were brought to Bermuda by white settlers. The white population in Bermuda includes the British and the descendants of Portuguese laborers. Main Island has the largest concentration of people. The main language of Bermuda is English, though some people also speak Portuguese. Most of the people practice some form of Christianity.

Economy

Bermuda's economy depends heavily on tourism. As many as 300,000 tourists visit the islands each year. Bermuda is also an important center for many insurance and investment companies.

Bermuda's mineral industries are limited to the production of sand and limestone for local construction. A few manufacturing industries produce paint, medicines, and electronic products.

Agriculture is not an important part of Bermuda's economy, though the islands do produce fresh vegetables, bananas, citrus fruits, milk, eggs, and honey. Farmers also grow large crops of Easter lilies to sell to other countries and to companies that make perfumes. There is a small fishing industry. Most goods have to be brought in from other countries. These include food, textiles, furniture, motor vehicles, and fuel.

History

The first time that Bermuda was mentioned in writing was in 1511. A map made in Spain included an island named “Bermudas.” Fernández de Oviedo, a Spanish navigator, sailed close to the islands in 1515. He said that his countryman Juan Bermúdez had discovered the islands, probably in about 1503. Bermuda was named after Bermúdez.

In 1612, a group of English settlers was sent to colonize the islands. By 1617 Indian and African slaves were brought to the islands, and soon there were more slaves than white settlers on the islands. Britain took control of the islands in 1684. The colonial capital was transferred from St. George to Hamilton in 1815.

In the 20th century the colony built up its tourism and international finance industries. The United States government established military bases on the islands in 1941 but closed them in 1995. The British army post, which had been set up in 1797, was withdrawn in 1957, and a Royal Navy base ceased operating in 1995.

Also in the 20th century, tensions between blacks and whites came to a head. In 1977, there were riots and demonstrations for civil rights. This led to changes to Bermuda's laws in an effort to end racism. In 1981, lawmakers passed the Human Rights Act, which made it illegal to treat blacks unfairly. Bermuda is still a British colony. In a popular vote held in August 1995, nearly three fourths of the voters voted against independence. Population (2000 estimate), 63,000.