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Bermuda

INTRODUCTION

Tourism to Bermuda first developed during the Victorian era out of an effort to escape North American winters and continues to be important to the island's economy, although international business has overtaken it in recent years. Bermuda has also developed into a highly successful offshore financial center. Although a referendum on independence from the UK was soundly defeated in 1995, the present government has reopened debate on the issue.

HISTORY

Bermuda was discovered by Spanish explorer Juan de Bermudez in the early 1500's. The country's name is derived from his surname. Spanish and Portugese ships frequently stopped off at the islands to resupply, but constantly stormy weather, as well as stories about evil spirits and devils, kept these islands, also dubbed "The Isle of Devils", from being permanently settled for about a century.

In 1609 England's King James I granted a royal charter to the Virginia Company and a group of ships, led by Admiral George Somers, set sail to relieve the settlement of Jamestown in Virginia. A storm later disbanded the group, wrecked the flagship, the Sea Venture, off the coast of Bermuda, and left the survivors to settle a new territory. England claimed the island as a colony and expanded the Virginia Company's charter to include it. Many survivors returned to Jamestown in 1610--among them John Rolfe, who married the famous Native American Pocahontas, daughter of chief Powhatan.

During the first couple of centuries of settlement, Bermuda relied heavily on emigration to keep the population up. Nearly 10,000 Bermudians immigrated to the American South before the American Revolution and the poplutaion continued to slowly decrease because the establishment of a strong seafaring industry kept about a third of the people at sea. The Somers Isle Company, formed by George Somers and other shareholders of the Virginia Company (which held the charter that included Bermuda after the Virginia Company), tried to steer the islands away from the seafaring industry and push it in an agricultural direction, but this was met with very little success and islanders cried for a revocation of the company's charter, which was granted in 1684 when the company was disbanded. Afterward, Bermuda also established itself in the salt, whaling, privateering, and merchant trades.

Following the American Revolution the Royal Navy established Ireland Island as its main naval base. The British attacks against Washington D.C. and Chesapeake in the War of 1812 were launched from Bermuda. The Royal Naval Dockyard was fortified by James Arnold, son of infamous Revolutionary War traitor Benedict Arnold, in 1816. During the American Civil War, Bermuda was used by Confederate blockade runners to transport war goods from England to the South. The Royal Naval Dockyard is now part of the Maritime Museum, which showcases artifacts from various periods of the base's military history.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Capital: Hamilton

Climate: Bermuda has a subtropical climate with generally mild, but humid, winds and strong gales during the winter.

Currency: Guilder - Currently 1 BMD = 1 USD

Languages: English and Portuguese.

Passport and visa requirements: Passport (or proof of U.S. citizenship with photo ID) and onward/return ticket required for tourist stays of up to 3 months. Departure tax of $10 is paid at airport. Bermuda Tourism(approve sites)

Power: 110V, 60Hz AC

Time Zone: UTC-4

ATTRACTIONS

The Arboretum offers beautiful trails beneath a canopy of exotic trees, while Paget Marsh and Warwick Pond offer unspoiled native environments that will enthrall any birdwatcher. The Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo presents a superb glimpse of the undersea delights around Bermuda and allows visitors to get up close to some very cool creatures. For awesome underground sightseeing explore the sparkling Crystal Caves. Bermuda is also home to some golf courses with splendid scenery, like the Ocean View and Port Royal.

Bermuda is so steeped in history that the entire northeast end of the island has been declared a World Heritage site. Step back into a colonial setting at the Verdmont Museum, a former plantation house. Two grand standouts among Bermuda's numerous colonial forts are Fort Hamilton, towering above the City of Hamilton, and Scaur Hill Fort, which stretches clear to the amazingly narrow Somerset Bridge. The Royal Naval Dockyard marks the island's west end with a plethora of maritime sites, including the island's largest history museum.

Bermuda's pink sand beaches, with their glistening turquoise waters, are world famous. Elbow Beach caresses beachgoers with some of the softest sand imaginable. Warwick Long Bay offers a splendid unbroken stretch that lures beachcombers and leads to a run of secluded coves and bays. A great way to enjoy the morning with someone special is by taking a horseback ride along the south shore's lovely beaches. Ideal swimming conditions can be enjoyed all year round in the protected waters of John Smith's Bay while Tobacco Bay stands out for stunning scenery both above and below the surface of the water.