Virgin+Islands+-By+Ryan

//__ The Virgin Islands __//


 * The V.I. relates to early exploration and early Americas because my project will be about early civilization and the history of the islands. **


 * The Virgin Islands are made up of two groups of islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the British Virgin Islands. **

**__ U.S. __****__ Virgin Islands __** ** St. Croix **** is the largest island in the U.S.V.I. St. John is the smallest. **
 * The U.S. Virgin Islands are made up of 3 islands, St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John. The main islands have nicknames often used by the locals. Twin City is St. Croix, Rock City is St. Thomas, and Love City is St. John. **
 * __History__ **
 * The USVI was settled by Arawak and Carib Indians, but was named by Christopher Columbus on his second voyage in 1493 for St. Ursula and her followers. Over the next 300 years, many European powers held the U.S.V.I including Spain, the UK, Netherlands, France, Norway, and Denmark. A Danish colony settled on St. Thomas in 1672, St. John in 1694, and then bought St. Croix from France in 1733. Sugercane, which was produced by slaves drove the island’s economy in the late 1700’s and 1800’s. **

**__ Legends and Myths __** ** Island legend tells us this huge rounded boulder makes its way down to the sea every year on the night before Easter Sunday on St. John. When it gets to the bay, it takes a drink of water and then returns to its majestic perch before the morning sun rises over Peace Hill, and before the first motorists pass by, unaware of the awesome event that has just occured. **.


 * __USVI Historical Landmarks__ **

** St. **** Thomas- Bluebeard’s Castle **
 * Local stories state that the structure was built by the pirate Bluebeard for his love Mercedita. The Danes actually built the stone tower around 1689 as an extra watchtower to aid the defense’s of Fort Christian. It was called Frederik's Fort when originally constructed and is actually on the site of a fortification the first colonists to the island had started. **


 * St. Croix- **** Salt River Bay **
 * In 1493, Christopher Columbus and his fleet anchored in this river. He spotted a settlement on the shores and sent a group to explore and look for potable water. A fight ensued between the Caribs and the explorers. Today the site of Columbus’ landing is a National and Territorial Park. **

** In the late 1700’s and early 1800’s, the plantation was producing sugarcane by slaves. **** The plantation was first built in 1718. Most of the buildings that are left standing today are from the 19th century, but the wall of the horse mill and the slave house were built during the 28th century. Many slaves in the 1770's died of starvation after the long drought. In the year 1867 a large hurricane hit this area and the Annaberg plantation was left abandoned by the owner. The slaves had to fend for themselves and were not allowed to stay and work at the plantation. **
 * St. John- Annaberg Sugar Plantation [[image:Virgin_Gorda_The_Baths.jpg align="right"]] **

** British Virgin Islands **


 * The BVI is a British overseas territory, located east of Puerto Rico. The islands consist of Jost Van Dyke, Virgin Gorda, Tortola, Anegada, and many other small cays. About fifteen of the islands are actually inhabited. **

**__ History __**

** The Spanish empire claimed the islands by discovery in the early 1600’s, but never settled them, **** and subsequent years saw the English, Dutch, French, Spanish and Danish all jostling for control of the region, which became a notorious haunt for pirates. The Dutch established a permanent settlement on the island of Tortola by 1648. In 1672, the English captured Tortola from the Dutch, and the English annexation of Anegada and Virgin Gorda followed in 1680. Meanwhile, over the period 1672–1733, the Danish gained control of the nearby islands of St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix. **

**__ Legends and Myths __**
 * Many years ago, legend has it that Captain Bluebeard hid one of his many treasures in the massive boulders of the caves of Virgin Gorda. Now, many tourists are able to go visit those same rocks that have many years of history in them. You can get to them by swimming off a boat, or by the local airplane station. **

**__ BVI Historical Landmarks __** Built in the 1640s as a military gun post, these ruins remain intact and is the oldest historical landmark on the island of Tortola. It is also located by the beach around the coastal area. ** ** Virgin Gorda- Copper mine After the islands came under British control, the Copper Mine was constructed in 1837 and its first shaft was sunk in 1838. In two separate periods over the next 24 years, 36 Cornish miners extracted ore from this site with the aid of some 140 British Virgin Islands workmen. **
 * Tortola- Fort Recovery