the Virgin Islands
/ðə ˈvɜːdʒɪn aɪləndz/
/ðə ˌvɜːrdʒɪn ˈaɪləndz/
- a group of over 90 islands in the Caribbean. The western ones have been governed by the US since 1917 and the eastern ones by Britain since 1666. Christopher Columbus was the first European to visit them, in 1493, and they have long been a popular place for tourists. The US Virgin Islands cover 133 square miles/344 square kilometres. The capital is Charlotte Amalie. The British Virgin Islands cover 59 square miles/153 square kilometres. The capital is Road Town.
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the Virgin Islands