Origin of Name: | Spanish for "Turtle Dove". |
Location: | Approximately 71 miles east of Fajardo, Puerto Rico. |
Description: |
Volcanic island which is the largest of all the British Virgin Islands. Tortola is 12 miles long and 3 miles wide at the widest point with high hills, winding (steep) roads, many small villages and some truly wonderful beaches!
Road Town, Tortola is the capital of the BVI. Though the island is still quite sparsely populated, there has been a flurry of building activity in recent years and the main harbour in Road Town is undergoing a massive cruise ship pier expansion with a new pier park being built adjacent to the pier. |
Population: | 23,908 (estimate only) |
Main Town or Village: | Road Town |
Maximum elevation: |
Mount Sage - 1,710' above sea level
Map Series E803 - BVI 2 - Tortola Edition 5 |
Land Mass: | Approximately 21 square miles. The island is about 14.5 miles long (as the crow flies) from Steel Point to Hawks Nest and roughly 4.5 miles wide at the widest point from Rough Point to Slaney Point. Measurements taken from map noted above. |
Main industry: | Offshore Banking and tourism. |
National Parks: |
J.R. O'Neal Botanic Gardens
Mount Sage Mount Healthy Shark Bay Queen Elizabeth Park |
Marinas offering overnight dockage: |
In Road Harbour:
West of Road Harbour:
East of Road Harbour:
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