The British crown colony of Bermuda is a group of islands off the American coast, a little north of Florida. Only about a two-hour flight from New York, the islands are a popular destination for American vacationers.
Bermuda is part of Great Britain, but it is much more relaxed there than in the mother country. The archipelago is not only very prosperous because of its reputation as a tax haven. The unemployment rate is minimal and Bermuda is considered very safe.
According to ehotelat.com, the Bermudas have their own currency, the Bermuda dollar, which has the same value as the US dollar. The US dollar is also recognized as a means of payment. As in the USA, the voltage in the power grid is also 110 volts.
Rental cars are not allowed in Bermuda, the preferred means of transport is the taxi. But these are very affordable and for longer tours you can agree a flat rate per hour.
The Bermudas are famous mainly because of different word creations. For example the dreaded Berumda triangle, the Bermuda shorts or the Bermuda rig. But not only these word creations, which denote a mysterious body of water or pants, made the archipelago famous.
The British traditions that are held here are also unique to the region. While other Caribbean islands have boisterous celebrations, glorious parades are held in Bermudas and festive uniforms are on display. The places and cities are also characterized by the colonial architectural style, in many places the architecture is conspicuously negative. This is not the only one from good old England, most of the kitchen has also been taken over from Bermuda. Many of the culinary specialties in Bermuda are modeled on English cuisine or can be found there.
Bermuda has also adopted the English preference for regattas. The residents of Bermuda are very well versed in sailing. The Berumda Race with its 647 nautical miles is one of the most famous offshore regattas in the world. The route stretches from Brenton Reef to Hamilton.
Bermuda – key data
Area: 54 km²
Population: 68,679 (July 2011 estimate, CIA)
Population density: 1,272 people per km²
Population growth: 0.594% per year (2011, CIA)
Capital: Hamilton (1,500 residents, 2006 estimate)
Highest point: Town Hill, 76 m
Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean, 0 m
Form of government: Bermuda has been a British colony since 1968 with internal self-government. The constitution dates from 1968. The bicameral parliament consists of a Senate with 11 appointed representatives and a House of Assembly with 36 elected representatives.
Administrative division: 9 parishes (Devonshire, Hamilton, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George’s, Sandys, Smith’s, Southampton and Warwick) and 2 municipalities (Hamilton and Saint George).
Head of Government: Prime Minister Craig Cannonier, since December 18, 2012
Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II, since 1952, represented by Governor George Fergusson since May 23, 2012
Language: The official language in Bermuda is English, few residents also speak Portuguese.
Religion: Christianity is widespread in Bermuda, mostly Anglican and Roman Catholic faiths.
Local time: CET -5 h. From the first Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October: CET -4 h. The summer time in Bermuda corresponds to the standard time CET (winter time in Central Europe) -4 h).
The time difference to Central Europe is -5 hours in both summer and winter.
Telephone code: + (441)
Internet identifier:.bm
Mains voltage: 110 V, 60 Hz, corresponds to the USA power grid. American flat plugs.
Bermuda geography
The Bermuda Islands consist of a chain of around 150 coral islands, of which Grand Bermuda is by far the largest. You are located approximately 740 miles to southeast New York. Bermuda borders Somerset Island in the northwest and Saint Georges Island in the northeast.
The highest point in Bermuda is Town Hill at 79 m. The individual islands are strongly fragmented, and there are also numerous karst caves.
The coast consists of numerous bays with pink sandy beaches, which are surrounded by coral reefs in the blue-green sea. These reefs represent the world’s northernmost tropical coral reefs.
In just one place, in the east of Bermuda, the regularly arriving large cruise and container ships can pass these reefs. There are no rivers or streams on the islands, and to meet their freshwater needs, the residents rely on rainwater, which is collected in cisterns.
Typical vegetation of the islands are Bermuda cedar, several species of sage and rubber trees. Mangroves, which are also the northernmost population in the Atlantic Ocean, thrive on some coasts.
Several national parks have been designated in the Bermuda Islands, both on land and maritime.
Bermuda Landmarks
The Bermudas are best known for the area named after the islands (Bermuda Triangle), around which various legends and stories revolve. There are numerous films about the Bermuda Triangle. But you can also spend a wonderful holiday on the Bermuda Islands, as the tourists are offered a wide range of activities. But the islands also have various sights to offer. Definitely check
out Southampten Parish. This is a six square kilometer island that is part of the Bermuda Islands. Here you can see different sights. The most interesting is the 35 meter high Gibb´s Hill Lighthouse which was built in 1844.
The Bermuda Islands are the oldest British crown colony in the middle of the deep blue Atlantic. There are over 150 islands here that attract thousands of tourists every year with their mild climate and beautiful nature.
Nevertheless, the Bermuda Islands are not a mass vacation destination with dumping prices. There is an excellent price-performance ratio here. As well as security, excellent service and absolute hospitality. Since the Bermudas are not overrun by mass tourism, you will of course find the appropriate peace and relaxation here. There are also no ghettos or other inadvisable areas for tourists.
Bermudas are of course ideal for bathing holidaymakers as well as water sports enthusiasts. There are wonderful beaches and an absolutely fantastic underwater world to explore.
It is even possible to spend a golf-only vacation in Bermuda. There are up to eight very challenging golf courses here. The Mid Ocean Club is one of the most beautiful golf courses in the world. The famous PGA Grand Slam was even held here once.
But if you want to play in the golf club, you should definitely remember that soft spikes are mandatory here. There is also a very strict dress code in the club. St. Georg
is also absolutely worth seeing. There are other forts in the vicinity of St. George. St. George as well as this forts in the vicinity are an absolute prime example of the English settlement of the New World. The development of the English military installations can be seen particularly clearly in the fortifications. This is why St. George was also included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The city of the same name was the capital of Bermuda until 1815. There are also some museums to see here, such as the St. Georg Historical Society Museum, the Confederate Museum or the Tucker House.
You can even explore Bermuda on horseback.
