II.

Land and Resources

The British Virgin Islands are chiefly volcanic in origin with a hilly to mountainous topography and numerous beaches. The only significant exception is Anegada, which is a coral and limestone atoll and very flat; nowhere on the island is more than a few metres above sea level. Mount Sage (542 m/1,780 ft) on Tortola is the highest point in the territory and in the Virgin Islands group as a whole. The climate is subtropical and moderated by the easterly trade winds. Temperatures average 29° C (85° F) during the year, while annual average rainfall is 1,250 mm (50 in).

The islands’ vegetation is generally luxurious and diverse. Palms, mahogany, tamarind, and sea grape trees are found, as well as various species of frangipani, hibiscus, bougainvillaea, and cactus; mangrove swamps are found along parts of the coast. The islands’ many beaches, climate, and clear waters are their main natural resources, attracting more than 200,000 visitors a year, mainly on cruise ships and private boats. The large coral reef that encircles Anegada is the site of more than 300 shipwrecks and a major attraction for divers. On Virgin Gorda’s southern coast is the British Virgin Islands’ most famous natural feature, the Baths—a grouping of giant boulders forming a series of spectacular pools and grottoes.