Located 775 miles southeast of New York in the Atlantic Ocean, the long, curving archipelago of more than one hundred islands comprises England’s well-heeled Crown Colony. The seven principal islands are linked by causeways and bridges which give the impression of one lush body of land surrounded by picturesque islets and reefs. Bermuda was not inhabited until 1609 when the Sea Venture foundered here on a reef. Her crew struggled ashore and remained for about one year before resuming their journey to Virginia. In 1612 a charter was granted by King James I to the Virginia Company, but in 1684 Charles II dissolved the charter and Bermuda became a royal colony. Today the archipelago remains a Crown Colony of the United Kingdom. The capital and port of Hamilton is a leading offshore business center with over 6,200 companies registered. The main attractions, however, are the island’s temperate climate, pink sand beaches, pastel homes and bucolic landscapes that draw thousands of visitors every year to this idyllic spot in the Atlantic Ocean.
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