Bermuda, a tiny collection of rocks in the Atlantic Ocean some 580 miles due east of Cape Hatteras, is isolated. Even so, this group of British islands is one of the most popular tourist resorts in the Western Hemisphere. On most maps, if it shows at all, it’s no more than a tiny dot. Close up, Bermuda looks somewhat like a fishhook, with the curve at the southwest end and the stem extending to the northeast.

There are about 180 islands in the Bermudian archipelago, but they comprise a total land mass of less than 22 square miles. Only 20 of the islands are inhabited. Of those, the seven largest are joined by a series of bridges and scenic causeways. At its widest point, Bermuda measures just two miles. The sea is never far away and can be seen from almost anywhere. Great Bermuda, the Main Island, is larger than all the other islands combined. Its highest point, Town Hill, rises 260 feet above sea level.

The Bermudian community is divided into nine parishes, each managed by advisory councils. These include Sandy’s, Southampton, Warwick, Paget, Devonshire, Pembroke, Smiths, Hamilton, and St. George’s.

The delightful climate and great natural beauty of Bermuda attract thousands of visitors each year. The average temperature is 70°F. The winter seldom sees temperatures below 55°; in summer it rarely climbs above 87°. Rainfall on the islands is often heavy, with almost 60 inches falling annually. That, accompanied by eight hours of brilliant sunshine 315 days on average each year, ensures an abundance of lush vegetation.

The capital and chief port of Bermuda is Hamilton, located in Pembroke Parish on the Main Island. With a population of only 2,000 and a total area of less than 200 acres, Hamilton is one of the world’s smallest cities. Bermuda’s second city of St. George is a picturesque little port and is one of Bermuda’s oldest settlements. It lies at the East End of the group on St. George’s Island.

In total, Bermuda is home to about 60,000 people, 60% of them black. There is also a large Portuguese population.

Despite its isolation, lack of manufacturing industry and a cost of living that ranks among the highest in the world, Bermuda has almost no poverty or unemployment. No income tax is levied, nor does the government receive any foreign aid. More than 95% of the population is literate, with education free and compulsory between the ages of five and 16.

In an average year, about 600,000 tourists – largely from the US and Canada – visit the islands. The money they spend accounts for about 40% of the colony’s total income. As international insurance and investment companies contribute ever more significantly to the economy through their foreign exchange earnings, tourism is becoming less important. Pharmaceuticals and extracted essences for perfumes are Bermuda’s major exports.

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