Bermuda

Overview

The bridged islands and islets will be of interest to those on a cruise or those choose them as a destination in their own right. A local law is that drinking water must be collected on the roofs of all buildings as there are no rivers or freshwater lakes. This fact is just one of the indicators that should make it clear that the country is not part of the Caribbean. Others are the ample rainfall and the humid subtropical maritime climate.

The capital is Hamilton and has all the shops and amenities that the visitor might expect from an offshore banking centre. There are the botanical gardens, a museum, an aquarium, the Bermuda Exploration Institute and a zoo with international denizens. Views of the islands are available from Gibb's Hill Lighthouse. The original settlement on Bermuda is St. George. It is now UNESCO protected and is the oldest continually inhabited British settlement in the New World. Change happens elsewhere, not St. George. King's square still has stocks, a pillory and whipping post from when such punishments were deemed acceptable. The State House, from 1619 is amongst the country's oldest buildings.

Unsurprisingly water sports feature highly on any things to do list. The pink beaches make a change, and those interested in diving will be kept busy. The famous Bermuda Triangle effect is possibly due to the coral reefs which not only provide exciting dives in themselves but are the cause of many wrecks that can be seen. Experienced divers can go...more

History

Bermuda was first settled in 1609 by shipwrecked English colonists headed for Virginia. Tourism to the island to escape North American winters first developed in Victorian times. Tourism continues to be important to the island's economy, although international business has overtaken it in recent years. Bermuda has developed into a highly successful offshore financial center. A referendum on independence was soundly defeated in 1995.