North & Central America and Caribbean

British Virgin Islands (British Overseas Territory)
Last reviewed: 5 August 2008

Country information

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GEOGRAPHY

The British Virgin Islands are adjacent to the US Virgin Islands (USVI) and 60 miles east of Puerto Rico. The BVI comprises over 40 islands, islets and cays (some little more than rocks) with a total land area of only 59 sq miles scattered over some 1,330 sq miles of sea. Sixteen of the islands are inhabited, the largest being Tortola (21 sq miles), Anegada (15 sq miles), Virgin Gorda (8 sq miles) and Jost van Dyke (3.4 sq miles). Lush vegetation, sandy beaches, numerous yachting marinas and fine coral reefs make the islands a natural tourist destination.