Geography of United States Virgin Islands – The Ultimate Free Guide 2021
Learn facts and Geography of United States Virgin Islands, including Major Geographical Features, Natural resources, Region, area, Capital, Border countries, rivers in United States Virgin Islands.
- The United States Virgin Islands, officially the Virgin Islands of the United States, are a group of Caribbean islands and an unincorporated and organized territory of the United States.
- The islands are geographically part of the Virgin Islands archipelago and are located in the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles to the east of Puerto Rico and west of the British Virgin Islands.
- The U.S. Virgin Islands consists of the main islands of Saint Croix, Saint John, and Saint Thomas, and 50 other surrounding minor islands and cays.
- The total land area of the territory is 133.73 square miles (346.36 km2).
- The territory’s capital is Charlotte Amalie on the island of St. Thomas.
- The U.S. Virgin Islands were originally inhabited by the Ciboney and Arawaks, with some scholars thinking that the islands were inhabited from as early as 1000 BC.
- The Caribs arrived circa 1500 AD.
- The United States Virgin Islands are a group of several dozen islands and cays located in the Caribbean, about 1,100 miles (1,770 km) southeast of Florida, 600 miles (966 km) north of Venezuela, 40 miles (64 km) east of Puerto Rico, and immediately west and south of the British Virgin Islands.
- The U.S. Virgin Islands lie near the boundary of the North American Plate and the Caribbean Plate, roughly 100 miles (161 km) south of the Puerto Rico Trench and near the Anegada Passage, a key shipping lane.
Geography of United States Virgin Islands
Sovereign state:
United States
Area:
738 sq mi
Capital:
Charlotte Amalie
Population:
105,870
Official language:
English
Total Size:
346.4 km2
Geographical Coordinates:
18°21′N 64°56′W
World Region or Continent:
North America
General Terrain:
- The islands’ terrain is mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land.
- Crown Mountain, on Saint Thomas, is the highest point in the U.S. Virgin Islands at 1,555 ft.
- Sea level is the lowest point. It has a coastline of 117 mi (188 km).
- The territory is known for its beaches and plentiful sunshine.
Geographical Low Point:
Sea level
Geographical High Point:
Crown Mountain
Climate:
- The U.S. Virgin Islands enjoy a tropical climate, moderated by easterly trade winds and with relatively low humidity. Temperatures vary little throughout the year.
- In the capital, Charlotte Amalie, typical daily maximum temperatures are around 91 °F (32.8 °C) in the summer and 86 °F (30 °C) in the winter.
- Daily minimum temperatures are around 78 °F (25.6 °C) in the summer and 72 °F (22.2 °C) in the winter. Water temperatures are around 83 °F (28.3 °C) in the summer and 79 °F (26 °C) in the winter.
- The islands are subject to tropical storms and hurricanes, with the hurricane season running from June to November.
Major Land forms:
- The Virgin Islands themselves are the peaks of submerged mountains that rise from a submarine plateau.
Major Rivers and Lakes:
Major Rivers:
- Saint Croix.
- Saint John.
- Saint Thomas.
Major Lakes:
- Altona Lagoon.
- Flamingo Pond.
- Fredensborg Pond.
- Great Pond.
- Southgate Pond.
- Southside Pond
Natural hazards:
Frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes; rare tsunamis
Natural Resources:
Natural resources of the US Virgin Islands include its coral reefs and mangrove forests.
Major Geographical Features:
Biomes & Ecosystems:
Virgin Islands National Park located in the tropical Atlantic, contains examples of terrestrial, coastal and marine ecosystems.
Oceans:
Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea
Islands:
- Saint Croix,
- Saint Thomas,
- Saint John,
- Water Island,
- many other islands
Mountain Ranges:
- Crown Mountain
- Mount Eagle
- Bordeaux Mountain
See Also:
World Map – The Ultimate Free Guide
References:
- Geography of United States Virgin Islands
- Geography of United States Virgin Islands
- Geography of United States Virgin Islands
- Geography of United States Virgin Islands
- Geography of United States Virgin Islands
