NAVIGATION
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NAVIGATION
United States Virgin Islands
former: Danish West Indies
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into two territorial units, one English and the other Danish. Sugarcane, produced by slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish portion, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848. |
GEOGRAPHY
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Location:
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Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico |
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Geographic coordinates:
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18 20 N, 64 50 W |
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Map references:
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Central America and the Caribbean |
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Area:
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total: 352 sq km
water: 3 sq km land: 349 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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twice the size of Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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188 km |
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Maritime claims:
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exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November |
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Terrain:
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mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m |
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Natural resources:
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sun, sand, sea, surf |
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Land use:
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arable land: 15%
permanent crops: 6% other: 79% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km |
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Natural hazards:
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several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes |
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Environment - current issues:
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lack of natural freshwater resources |
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Geography - note:
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important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the Caribbean |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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124,778 (July 2003 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 26% (male 16,685; female 15,794)
15-64 years: 64.4% (male 36,241; female 44,157) 65 years and over: 9.5% (male 5,078; female 6,823) (2003 est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 31.2 years
male: 28.6 years female: 33.7 years (2002) |
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Population growth rate:
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1.02% (2003 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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15.8 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Death rate:
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5.68 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2003 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 10.12 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 78.59 years
male: 74.73 years female: 82.68 years (2003 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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2.22 children born/woman (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA% |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun: Virgin Islander(s)
adjective: Virgin Islander |
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Ethnic groups:
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black 78%, white 10%, other 12%
note: West Indian 81% (49% born in the Virgin Islands and 32% born elsewhere in the West Indies), US mainland 13%, Puerto Rican 4%, other 2% |
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Religions:
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Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7% |
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Languages:
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English (official), Spanish, Creole |
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Literacy:
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definition: NA
total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% |