Coastal Zone Management U.S. Virgin Islands

Part of the Lesser Antilles chain of islands in the West Indies, the United States Virgin Islands are located east of Puerto Rico, between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 1,630 miles from New York City, 1,115 from Miami and 70 miles from San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Surrounded by crystal clear blue waters, the United States Virgin Islands consists of four (4) major islands and 60 smaller islands and cays.

Home to more than 108,000 residents, each of the four major islands has a unique structure. Major business industries include tourism, petroleum refining, construction, water and power generation and various manufacturing operations, including watch assembly, rum distilling, pharmaceuticals, textiles and electronics.

The second largest USVI island and most densely populated, St. Thomas measures 28 square miles. Numerous offshore islands and cays around St. Thomas add approximately 4 square miles to the land area. Approximately 12 miles long and 3 miles wide at its widest point, St. Thomas is host to the USVI's capital city of Charlotte Amalie.

St. Thomas has one of the best and most beautiful natural deep water harbors in the Caribbean. In addition, it holds the distinction of being one of the Caribbean’s most frequently visited ports.

The third largest island is St. John, which has a area of 20 square miles, of which two-thirds are a national park. St. John possesses some of the most breathtaking aerial, land and shoreline views in the world. The geography of both St. Thomas and St. John primarily consists of steep hills and mountains, with lush vegetated valleys and gorges that slope to the shoreline.

St. Croix, the largest landmass of the USVI, measures in at approximately 84 square miles. Comprised of soft rolling green hills, mild basins and stretches of flat land, St. Croix is the USVI’s agricultural hub (small farms and ranching) and is the locale of one of the world’s largest petroleum refineries.

The smallest and newest of the four major islands is Water Island. It is located within the Charlotte Amalie harbor area about .4 miles from St Thomas. The island is .62 miles long with a total area of 492 acres. Water Island is a residential community.