30 Interesting Facts About the Bermuda Islands

The world-famous Bermuda Islands are widely known not only for their pristine beaches and stunning natural beauty—although they certainly have those—but also because of the myth and legend surrounding the Bermuda Triangle, a region believed to have an unusually high number of aircraft and ship disappearances. The islanders themselves are happy to perpetuate this legend, as it attracts many tourists, who are an important source of income.

Facts About the Bermuda Islands:

1. The Bermuda Islands are named after the island of Bermuda.
2. All the islands in the archipelago are of coral origin, meaning they are atolls.
3. Bermuda consists of 181 islands and one reef.
4. The Bermuda Islands are not an independent country. Both officially and practically, they are part of the United Kingdom and are classified as British Overseas Territories.
5. Most of the local population are descendants of mixed marriages between Africans, who were brought here as slaves, and Europeans.
6. Only about twenty of the Bermuda Islands are permanently inhabited.
7. The 10 largest Bermuda Islands are connected by a system of bridges. Collectively, they are known as the “Main Island.”
8. The Bermuda Islands are named after Captain Juan de Bermúdez, who was the first European to visit them.
9. Although the Bermuda Islands were discovered by the Spanish, they did not take an interest in them. Therefore, the first settlers here were the English.
10. The first Europeans to settle here were colonists headed for what is now the United States. However, they were shipwrecked and eventually settled on the Bermuda Islands.
11. The total land area of all the Bermuda Islands is about 53 square kilometers, which is roughly four times smaller than the area of a city like Astrakhan.
12. All local residents speak English, though the local dialect differs slightly from the English spoken in the United States or the United Kingdom.
13. Geologically, the Bermuda Islands are fascinating. They are atolls, which are fossilized coral colonies, but they formed on top of an ancient, dormant underwater volcano.
14. The only plant that is unique to Bermuda is the Bermuda juniper.
15. There are no rivers or freshwater lakes on the islands. While there are small ponds, the water in them is salty. As a result, the only source of fresh water here is rain. Water is also imported to Bermuda via tankers.
16. The most popular mode of personal transportation on the Bermuda Islands is the bicycle.
17. About 65,000 people live on the Bermuda Islands. In the capital, Hamilton, the population is just over 1,000. Despite this, Hamilton is officially the only city in Bermuda.
18. Around 80% of all food, materials, and other goods are imported to Bermuda. There is almost no local production, and the economy largely depends on tourism.
19. The official local currency is the Bermuda dollar, which is pegged to the U.S. dollar at a 1:1 ratio. However, U.S. dollars are also widely accepted.
20. There are just under 250 kilometers of roads across all the Bermuda Islands.
21. Bermuda is the oldest British colony.
22. In the Bermuda Triangle, compass needles indeed behave erratically due to magnetic anomalies.
23. Personal automobiles were banned on the islands until 1948.
24. Hamilton, the capital of Bermuda, is the antipode of Perth, Australia—it is located on the exact opposite side of the globe.
25. Bermuda has more golf courses per capita than any other country in the world, occupying about 40% of the island’s land area.
26. Most Bermuda beaches are safe for swimming as they are protected from the ocean by coral reefs. However, dangerous jellyfish, such as the deadly Portuguese man o’ war, can be found here.
27. The highest point on the Bermuda Islands is only 69 meters above sea level.
28. Wherever you are on Bermuda, you can almost always see the ocean.
29. Before European colonists arrived, there were no indigenous people on the islands.
30. Bermuda is considered the unofficial shipwreck capital of the world. There’s no mystery here—navigation is hazardous due to the numerous reefs, which was especially true during the age of sailing ships.