World Country Guide

General Information

Area
347.1 sq km (134 sq miles).

Population
110,000 (UN estimate 2001).

Population Density
312.9 per sq km.

Capital
Charlotte Amalie (St Thomas). Population: 11,044 (2000).

Geography
The islands are situated 64km (40 miles) east of Puerto Rico and comprise some 50 islands covered with lush tropical vegetation. St Thomas is long and narrow, rising abruptly to a ridge with an excellent deep-water harbour. St John is covered partly in bay forests. St Croix consists of 215 sq km (83 sq miles) of rolling ex-plantation land.

Government
US External Territory (Unincorporated). Gained a measure of self-government in 1954. Head of State: President George W Bush since 2001. Head of Government: Governor Thomas Macan since 2002.

Language
English is the official language. Spanish and Creole are also widely spoken.

Religion
Christian, mainly Protestant.

Time
GMT - 4.

Electricity
110 volts AC, 60Hz.

Communications

Telephone
IDD is available. Country code: 1 340. There are no area codes. Outgoing international code: 001. The USA (including most toll-free numbers) can be dialled directly from the islands. Efficient overseas cable and telephone services are in operation.

Mobile telephone
GSM 1900 network.

Fax
Services are available.

Internet
ISPs include VIAccess (website: www.viaccess.net). Internet cafes exist on St Thomas.

Post
Airmail to Europe takes up to one week. The postage is the same as in the USA. First-class post to the USA automatically travels by air through the US postal service. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700, Sat 0900-1200.

Press
The daily newspapers are St Croix Avis and Virgin Islands Daily News.

Radio
BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.