Tortola

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tortola is the largest of the British Virgin Islands

Roadtown, Tortola, British Virgin Islands

Tortola is the largest and most populated of the British Virgin Islands, a group of islands which form part of the archipelago of the Virgin Islands.

[edit] Geography

Tortola is a mountainous island 12 miles (19 km) long and 3 miles (5 km) wide which was formed by volcanic activity; its highest peak is Mount Sage at 1750 feet (530 m). Tortola lies near an earthquake fault, and minor earthquakes are common.

[edit] Economy and Demographics

The population of Tortola is roughly 14,000. The principal settlement is Road Town, the capital of the British Virgin Islands.

Financial Services are the main source of income to the island. The hugely popular International Business Companies Act, passed in the early 1980s, led to huge growth in government revenue, and BV Islanders are amongst the most well off in the Eastern Caribbean, a fact that sees a large number of 'down islanders' working on Tortola.

Even though the British Virgin Islands (BVI) are under the British flag, the U.S. dollar is the official currency. The island is home to many offshore companies that do business worldwide.

Visitors either arrive by boat or fly to Beef Island and drive across the short Queen Elizabeth Bridge to Tortola. White-sand beaches, such as Cane Garden Bay, are popular attractions.