Bermuda — map and facts

About Bermuda

Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory located in the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately 1,070 kilometres east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. It is not part of the Caribbean but is often grouped with Atlantic island territories. The capital is Hamilton, and the total population is around 64,000. Bermuda has a significant degree of internal self-governance, with its own Parliament — the oldest in the Commonwealth outside the British Isles — premier, and cabinet, though Britain retains responsibility for defence and foreign affairs. The economy is one of the most prosperous in the world per capita, driven by an internationally significant reinsurance and financial services industry alongside luxury tourism. The Bermuda dollar is pegged at parity with the US dollar. English is the official language. Bermuda has consistently ranked among the world's wealthiest territories and serves as the global headquarters for many major insurance and reinsurance companies.

Geography and Landscape

Bermuda consists of approximately 181 small islands and islets, the majority of which are connected by bridges and causeways, forming a single landmass of about 54 square kilometres. The main island, also called Bermuda or Great Bermuda, runs roughly 35 kilometres from east to west and is narrow, rarely exceeding 3 kilometres in width. The terrain is gently hilly, composed of aeolian limestone overlying volcanic rock, and rises to a maximum of 76 metres at Town Hill. The coastline features pink sand beaches, derived from eroded coral and shell fragments, along with sea caves and rocky headlands. The islands are surrounded by coral reefs. Bermuda's climate is subtropical and humid, warmed by the Gulf Stream, with mild winters and warm summers. The island lies outside the main hurricane belt but can be affected by passing storms. Vegetation includes the endemic Bermuda cedar and cahow seabird.

History

Bermuda was uninhabited when the Spanish explorer Juan de Bermúdez sighted it around 1503, lending the archipelago its name. The islands gained wider notoriety after the English ship Sea Venture wrecked on the reefs in 1609 during a supply voyage to the Virginia colony; the survivors' experience inspired Shakespeare's play The Tempest. Permanent English settlement began in 1612 under the Somers Isles Company. The islands' strategic position led to their role as an important British naval and military base, particularly during the American Revolutionary War and both World Wars. Slavery was practised until emancipation in 1834. Bermuda's Parliament dates to 1620, making it one of the oldest in the world. The territory's economy shifted from maritime industries and tourism in the mid-twentieth century to become a global financial centre. In 1995, a referendum on independence was defeated, and Bermuda remains a self-governing British Overseas Territory.