United States Virgin Islands

Did you know?

• 🏝An unincorporated territory of the United States in the Caribbean, comprising St. Thomas, St. John, St. Croix, and Water Island.
• 🏳️What does its flag mean? The white background symbolizes purity and peace. A golden American eagle displays a modified version of the US Coat of Arms holding a laurel branch (peace) and three arrows (the three main islands: St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix). The letters 'V' and 'I' flank the eagle, standing for 'Virgin Islands'.
• 🚗Left-side driving in a US territory: The USVI is the only United States jurisdiction where vehicles drive on the left side of the road (even though most cars are left-hand drive imported from the US mainland!).
• 🌴Virgin Islands National Park: Over 60% of the island of St. John is preserved as protected forest, historic sugar plantations, and coral reefs within the Virgin Islands National Park.
• 🇩🇰Danish colonial past: The US purchased the islands from Denmark in 1917 for $25 million in gold, leaving behind historic Danish street names and architecture in towns like Charlotte Amalie.