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The US Virgin Islands

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Saint Croix is the largest of the US Virgin Islands, which lie 1730 miles east south east of Miami and 93 miles west of Puerto Rico. This section of the Virgin Islands has belonged to the United States since 1917 when they were acquired from the Danish government for $25m in gold to protect American shores from German U-boat attack. At the time, it was feared that Germany might subjugate the islands and construct submarine pens there in order to attack American supply shipping, which was essential to the allies in Europe during the First World War. The US Virgin islands is a group of about 60 chiefly unpopulated islands, the four biggest of which are called St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John and Water Island. (By the way, 'Saint' is pronounced in the English manner). The Islands' residents, however, have other names for these four which are Twin City, Rock City, Love City and Small City respectively. …show more content…

In fact, the Arawaks and the Caribs made up the islands' populace, before the Europeans got there. Possession of St Croix and the other Virgin Islands changed a great deal over the following centuries, but it became infamous to many people as Santa Cruz, which is its Spanish name. As Santa Cruz, St Croix featured prominently in 17th and 18th century stories of pirates and buccaneers on the Spanish Main. In fact, after Spain initially took control of the island, it changed hands seven times; having been Spanish, British, French, Maltese, Dutch, Danish and now American. The inhabitants of the US Virgin Islands are now US citizens and carry US passports. They also use the US dollar and US

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