Scrub Island (British Virgin Islands)

Scrub Island of the British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean is apart of the Lesser Antilles, a group of islands that are young volcanic or coral islands. It is currently undergoing production of a multimillion dollar resort and marina which will be the home of Scrub Island Resort Marina and Spa.

Location

Scrub Island is located approximately 74 miles (119 km) east of Puerto Rico (eastern Fajardo, Puerto Rico to Scrub Island), 28 miles (45 km) NE of Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas of the U.S. Virgin Islands, and 1.66 miles (2.7 km) North of Trellis Bay (Trellis Bay dock and Scrub Island Marina).

Geography

Formed by volcanic activity, Scrub Island is 8,520 feet long (1.6 miles) and made up of a total 230 acres which includes Big Scrub (170 acres) and Little Scrub (60 acres). The mountainous island highest eastern peak reaches a whopping 438 feet and the highest western peak reaches 313 feet.

History

Earliest inhabitants that paddled up from South America were recorded about 5000 years ago on Scrub Island. At this time, Scrub was presumably connected to Great Camanoe and Marina Cay Island due to the fact that sea level was significantly lower.Fact|date=March 2008 The first record of Territory was claimed by the Arawak Indians who had left traces of Arawak pottery around 200BC, and they were preceded by Ciboney Indians who settled in nearby St. Thomas in 300 BC.

The European discovery of the British Virgin Islands is attributed to Christopher Columbus. During his second voyage on November 2, 1493, small islands now know as the Lesser Antilles were discovered, one of which was Scrub Island. For many years after the discovery, the islands were untouched until privateers, pirates and buccaneers used the island as a haven. Concrete evidence also shows buried pirate treasures. During the early 1600’s, the Dutch expressed interest in the copper mines that were discovered, but due to the Dutch’s interest in piracy and a Spanish attack, the settlement was economically unsuccessful. In 1672, the British took control. Presently, Scrub Island is occupied by Scrub Island Resort Marina and Spa which first development in the British Virgin Islands in the last 15 years.

External links

* [http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/index.pl/article_business?id=17612711 "Virgin Islands Daily News" report on the development]

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References

1. Oldendrop, C.G.A. (1987) [1777] . A Caribbean mission: History of the mission of the Evangelical Brethren on the Caribbean islands of St. Tomas, St. Croix, and St. John. Edited and translated by A.R. Highfield and Vladimir Barac. Ann Arbor: Karoma.

2. Putley, Julian. “A Glimpse of BVI History”. The British Virgin Island Tourism Directory 2007: 9.

3. "Christopher Columbus," Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2007
* http://encarta.msn.com © 1997–2007 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.