WHERE IS BERMUDA

WHERE IS BERMUDA

As the famous Kokomo song associates Bermuda with other top tropical destinations, so do people mistakenly believe it to be a Caribbean Island.

A Spanish explorer, Juan de Bermudez, discovered Bermuda in 1503. However, due to the dangerous reef surrounding the islands, he did find attempt to land. And because of its small size, except for occasional shipwrecked travelers, Bermuda was uninhabited until 1609. The British colonist group led by Sir George Somers was shipwrecked and settled on the island for 10 months. The report of their stay on the island triggered King James in 1612 to include them in the Charter of the Virginia Company. This led to the discovery of St. George, the oldest inhabited English-speaking settlement in the Western Hemisphere.

The seven years that followed was a struggle. Bermuda was trying to put up a profitable economy. Representative government was introduced around 1620 making it a self-governing territory. Bermuda was split into nine equally-sized administrative areas. These are: St. George (public territory), and eight tribes (known now as "parishes").

The colony used to grow tobacco as its only crop. Even if tobacco is its main currency, Bermuda's was not of high quality. Agriculture was not another option. Land area for cultivation was so small that residents resorted to shipbuilding and maritime trades. The Company did not allow this because it receives its profits only from the cultivated land. Its interference to the means of livelihood of the Bermudians led to its dissolution in 1684.

So where is it exactly? Bermuda is actually a group of islands, an archipelago, with eight main islands and about 120 smaller islets. They are known collectively though, as the Island of Bermuda. It can be found in North America. This "group of islands" lies on approximately 1,050 kilometers or 650 miles east of North Carolina.

The Island of Bermuda lies in the North Atlantic Ocean with an area of about 58.8 square kilometers or 22.7 square miles, characterized mainly hilly terrain and semi tropical climate. The Gulf Stream is responsible for the mild climate because it brings in tropical water from the Caribbean Sea.

Not many know that Bermuda is actually an overseas territory of the United Kingdom. However, this British Overseas Territory has been self-governing for centuries. While Her Majesty the Queen is Bermuda's official Head of State, Bermuda makes it own local laws. The Queen however, appoints a governor to represent her.

It is not a downside that Bermuda is not a Caribbean Island. Its being small is not even a disappointment. Bermuda can offer more than what one may think it can. It just takes sometime to get to know it to discover its beauty and mystique. After all, it would not be considered a top destination if it did not earn the spot, right?