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BERMUDA
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Bermuda (fully, The Bermuda Islands, alias The Somers Isles) is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom in the North Atlantic Ocean, situated around 640 miles (975 km) off the coast of the United States. The oldest remaining British overseas territory, it was settled by England a century before the Acts of Union, and two centuries before the creation of the United Kingdom. Although commonly referred to in the singular, it consists of around 138 islands, of total area 58.8 square kilometres (27.7 sq. mi). Compiling a list of these islands is often complicated, as many have more than one name (as does the entire archipelago, which, in addition to its two official names, has historically been known as La Garza, Virgineola, and the Isle of Devils). Despite the limited land mass, there has also been a tendency for place names to be repeated (there are two Long Islands, for instance, and two Long Bays, and the town of St. George is located on the island and within the parish of St. George's). The largest island, Main Island (also called Bermuda, or Great Bermuda), is the location of the capital, the City of Hamilton (which is in Pembroke Parish, and is often confused with Hamilton Parish). Bermuda has a thriving economy, with a large financial sector and tourism industry.
Bermuda world locator map
GeographyBermuda is located in the North Atlantic Ocean roughly 580 nautical miles (1074 kilometers) east-southeast of Cape Hatteras on the Outer Banks of North Carolina and roughly 590 nautical miles (1093 kilometers) southeast of Martha's Vineyard. There are two incorporated municipalities in Bermuda; the City of Hamilton, and the Town of St. George. There are also a number of localities which are sometimes termed villages, among them Flatts Village, Tucker's Town and Somerset Village.
Contrary to common misconception, Bermuda is not located within the tropics. The subtropical climate is influenced by the Gulf Stream. Bermuda has a very humid climate and, as a result, the summer-time heat index can be very high, even when the actual temperature seems moderate. Winters are mild with average daytime temperatures in January and February around 20 degrees celsius. The powerful winds and heavy rain mean that the felt temperature can fall below freezing, even though the actual temperature may rarely drop much below 10° C. The only source of fresh water in Bermuda is rainfall, which is collected on roofs and catchments, or drawn from underground 'lenses', and stored in tanks (of which, each dwelling usually has at least one forming part of its foundation).
Map of Bermuda
EconomyBermuda, as offshore domicile of many foreign companies, has a highly developed economy focused on international business and tourism. Its per capita income is approximately 50% higher than in the United States. CIA data shows a GDP of $4.5 billion in 2004, per capita, $69,900. Based on 2004 data, Bermuda has the highest GDP per capita in the world.
Bermuda is regarded as a premier offshore business jurisdiction, with no direct taxes on personal or corporate income. The local tax system is based upon import duties, and payroll and consumption taxes. Many leading international insurance companies are based in Bermuda and the island is considered the world's reinsurance centre. Bermuda is a financial exporter both in insurance and other financial services.
Tourism is the second largest industry, with the island attracting most of its visitors from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Much of this traffic arrives at Bermuda International Airport, the country's air link to the outside world.
The currency used is the Bermuda dollar which is pegged to the US dollar. Bermudian notes carry the image of HM Queen Elizabeth II. US Dollars and coins are used interchangeably with Bermudian notes and coins within the islands.
Bermudian banknotes
Demographics
54.8% of the population is listed as black, 34.1% as white and 6.4% as Mixed Race . The island has a growing Asian community. A significant segment of the population is of Portuguese heritage, the result of immigration from Portuguese islands, especially the Azores, over the past century.
It should be noted that these racial demographic terms are misleading. A small minority the island's black population has a diverse ancestry, including significant European and Native American bloodlines. Portuguese Bermudians are often thought of as constituting a separate racial group, as is the case with Hispanics in the USA. Immigrants from Portuguese islands included blacks from the Cape Verde Islands, and many Portuguese intermarried with black and 'white' Bermudians. Consequently, there are many islanders with Portuguese ancestry, heritage, and names who are not considered among the 10% of the population typically listed as 'Portuguese'. Racial identity and labelling became a hot topic with the last census, which offered greater flexibility in how respondents could identify themselves racially. Resurgent interest in the island's Native American past, especially in St. David's, is leading many to identify themselves with the various Algonquian peoples sold into slavery on the island during its first century of settlement.
In addition to large-scale Portuguese immigration, which began with several families from Madeira in the 1840s, there has been sustained immigration from the West Indies over the past century. English is the official language. Portuguese is also spoken by a minority of the population, mostly Azorean immigrants.
Bermud as Coat of Arms
LINKS and RESOURCES
Saint David's Lighthouse, Bermuda
A taste for adventure capitalists
Solar Cola - a healthier alternative
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