According to abbreviationfinder, Bermuda Archipelago, a British colony for three centuries, is located in the Atlantic, 1000 km from the American continent. Formed by 360 large and small islands with an area of 53.5 km and an estimated population of 60,976 residents, of which 20 are inhabited by 30% white and the rest mulatto and black. See Bermuda facts.
History
The Bermuda Islands take their name from the Spanish navigator [Juan Bermúdez], who was the first to arrive in the archipelago between 1503 – 1515. For a century it remained uninhabited, although at times it was a refuge for shipwrecked people. In 1611 the English Somers settled in the archipelago and, in this same year, the Virginia Company had Bermuda, which took the name Somers Islands, included in its own Charter. The first settlers settled on the islands and since then they have remained under British control, first in concession to the Virginia Company; later to the Bermuda Company, 1613 – 1684, and finally, from 1684 to the present day as a British colony. Originally it served as a stopover for English sailboats en route to other American colonies; Then, in 1767, it served as a base for the Navy with a shipyard that remained in operation from 1810 to 1951. In 1941, a contract was signed with the United States that allowed the establishment of US naval and air bases on the islands for a period of 99 years.
Under the 1968 Constitution, Bermuda is governed by a Governor General, who has exclusive powers over defense, foreign affairs, and internal security; an Executive Council with 9 members, of which 3 are ex officio; a Legislative Council with 11 members; and a House of Representatives with 40 members elected by suffrage and for a period of 5 years. The government of Bermuda resides in Hamilton, the capital. The judicial system includes, in addition to the Courts of First Instance, a Supreme Court and a Court of Appeals. The May 1976 elections gave victory to the Bermuda United Party, whose program was based on a moderate policy, of racial cooperation controlled by the whites. In opposition is the Progressive Labor Party that advocates immediate independence and the total emancipation of the population of color.
Geography
The Bermuda Archipelago, which as a whole stretches in a SW, NE direction, constitutes the emerged part of a relief that rests on a wide and low underwater platform located in the center of the northwestern Atlantic Basin, between the continental slope of North America and the great Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The structure of the islands is made of magmatic rocks, but the emerged surface is largely of a coral nature. The materials of aeolian origin and calcareous nature that appear stratified and covered by subtle coral extracts are testimony to the alternate movements of rise and fall that the archipelago suffered in earlier times. The largest of the islands is Greater Bermuda with 39 km2 and a length of 22 km, which surrounds, on the S part, a lake called [Great Sound], limited by Somerset Island and other smaller ones. This oval shape of the archipelago is repeated both in the reefs and islets that emerge out of the water, as in other submerged areas, even at great depths. The maximum heights, up to 79 m above sea level are to the SE.
Climate
Bermuda’s climate is very benign and pleasant, the temperature always maintaining quality with an annual average of 21oC due to the influence of warm ocean currents. The climatic characteristics have turned the archipelago into a tourist destination. There are no water courses or natural springs, but extensive mangrove formations extend along the coasts.
Vegetation and fauna
The vegetation is generally rich and develops rapidly due to the abundant autumn and winter rains, and is largely made up of plantation bananas. In terms of fauna, Bermuda belongs to the North American area in regards to invertebrates, birds are very numerous, although many are passing through.
Economy
Tourism is the main source of wealth in Bermuda, always having a large flow of passengers or temporary residents. The main center of the archipelago is Hamilton, capital of the colony from 1815; located to the N of an inlet of the Graat Sound, it has a first-rate hotel infrastructure. Its port can accommodate large ships and the movement of its airport is intense. The soil of Bermuda is very fertile, but its limited territory is not enough to meet the needs of the population and tourism, so the vast majority of food products are imported from the American Continent ; manufactured products also come from the United States, Canada and Great Britain. Exports are minimal but tourism provides considerable benefits.
Demography
The population of Bermuda comes from America, from where it arrived mainly after the emancipation of the blacks. The stable population increased gradually as communications improved. The Protestant religion predominates among the residents of the islands, with a minority of Catholics. The English is the official language.
Culture
In the less developed outlying islands, crafts include basket weaving made from palm leaves. This material, commonly called “straw”, is folded into hats and bags that are the most popular tourist items. Another use is for so-called “voodoo dolls”, even though the dolls are the result of the American imagination and are not based on historical facts.
