\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFruits are big in the Virgin Islands as many of these exotic varieties are grown here. On the top of the list you will find sugar apple, mango, papaya, soursop, genip, sea grapes, tamarinds and goose berries. These fruits often show up in the dessert menu as ice creams or dumplings. Another popular dessert is Sweet potato pie. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tBecause of inter-Caribbean migration, many foods from other Caribbean countries have been adopted into the Virgin Islands culinary culture. For example, the Indo-Trinidadian rotis, goat curry, stewed oxtail and conch as served with plenty of rice, peas, and plantains. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tBush tea is a general term for any herbal tea derived from native plants, including lemongrass. Popular cold beverages include maubi, sorrel, soursop, sea moss and passion fruit.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n \n\t\t\t <\/p>\n \n\t\t\tCulture<\/div>\n \n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe residents are called US Virgin Islander and they hold American citizenship. Most are descendents from Africa, enslaved and brought to the Caribbean to labor on plantations. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tEnglish is the official language but you will often hear Virgin Islands Creole spoken between islanders. This is an English-based Creole and each island has its own dialect. You can also hear locals speak Spanish, French and their Creole derivatives. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe music of the Virgin Islands reflects the cultural mixture of Indian, African, European and North American influences. Imported from the neighboring Caribbean Islands it is common to hear soca, calypso and reggae, to name a few. The indigenous form of music, called quelbe, is performed by a scratch band which uses homemade instruments like gourds and washboards. There are a couple of traditional songs like the cariso as well as St. Thomas' bamboula. The quadrille is the traditional folk dance of the islands. And there is plenty of bachata, meringue and salsa to dance to in clubs.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n \n\t\t\t <\/p>\n \n\t\t\tGeography<\/div>\n \n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPolitically the US Virgin Islands are an organized, unincorporated United States territory. The territory consists of the main islands of Saint Thomas, Saint John and Saint Croix, as well as several dozen smaller islands. They are all run separately on an administrative level but all share the Charlotte Amalie on Saint Thomas. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tTourism is the primary economic activity. Other important sectors are petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics, agriculture and Senepol cattle breeding.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n \n\t\t\t <\/p>\n \n\t\t\tHistory<\/div>\n \n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Virgin Islands were originally settled by the Ciboney, Carib, and Arawaks. The islands were named by Christopher Columbus on his second voyage in 1493. The islands were occupied by several nations over the next century, including England, the Dutch Republic, France, and Denmark. In 1733, the Danish West India Company purchased Saint Croix from the French and brought together Saint Thomas, Saint Croix, and Saint John as the Danish West Indies. Sugarcane, produced by slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries, until the abolition of slavery on July 3, 1848. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tAfter two failed treaties, the islands were finally purchased by the United States in 1917 under the Treaty of the Danish West Indies. US citizenship was granted to the inhabitants of the islands in 1927. During the 30s, the repeal of prohibition in the US and the wartime decision to construct a submarine base on Saint Thomas required a bigger work force than the one available, hence the first of several immigrant waves. The tourism industry started developing in the 1950s. Water Island, a small island to the south of Saint Thomas, became a part of the US Virgin Islands territory in 1996.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n \n\t\t\t <\/p>\n \n\t\t\tNature<\/div>\n \n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe animal life in the US Virgin Islands is just as exotic, iguanas, mongooses, donkeys, deer, pelicans, hummingbirds, herons, bats, lizards, frogs and insects. Divers will enjoy exploring the many coral reefs and the fishes that frequent them. Marine life also encompasses dolphins, sea turtles and crustaceans.<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n \n\t\t\t <\/p>\n \n\t\t\tSports<\/div>\n \n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAmericanization in the US Virgin Islands has led to the popularity of American sports such as baseball, American football and basketball; and popular sports in the Caribbean, such as cricket and soccer, are also played. They have their own independent national sports teams and compete in regional and international events. In cricket, they are represented by the West Indies Cricket Team. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tMany sports and activities can be practiced on the islands. Popular land sports include hiking and walking on the many nature and park trails, golf, tennis and horseback riding. For those who enjoy water sports there is fishing, sailing, yachting, sea kayaking, snorkeling and scuba diving.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n \n\t\t\t <\/p>\n | | | | | |
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