Which Country Does Bermuda Belong To?

Bermuda is a group of islands located in the North Atlantic Ocean, and it is a territory of the British government. Known for being among the best tourist destinations, Bermuda has also been subjected to wild conspiracy theories, some attempting to explain why planes have gotten lost in the Bermuda Triangle.

Bermuda’s History

After being discovered by Spanish explorer Juan Bermudez in 1505, Bermuda was occupied by the British who were shipwrecked by a storm in 1607. The Virginia Company expedition members that survived the storm stayed on the island before some members returned to mainland United States where the British controlled Virginia. Full occupation was achieved in 1615, and the new colony of Bermuda underwent a period of tumultuous events: a civil war in 1649, the American War of Independence of 1774 that sucked in the island, and the near-collapse of its economy due to the international ban on the slave trade in the early 1800s. During the two devastating World Wars, Bermuda served both the British and the American armed forces as a resupply and patrol base.

Bermuda’s Geography And Climate

Bermuda is indeed a beautiful place. Tourists love to see the pristine pink beaches and the coral reefs, and they also enjoy the world-class hotels that dot the place as well as flora and fauna. The climate is conducive for sunbathing since it is a sub-tropical climate, though it is predisposed to hurricanes. However, this does not mean that hurricanes ravage the islands since they generally weaken as they approach. The presence of volcanic rocks is a result of volcanic activity that helped to form the islands. Bermuda covers an area of 53 square km and the eight largest islands are connected by bridges. Some of the islands do share a single name.

Bermuda’s Population

The population of Bermuda is more than 50,000 living in the nine parishes, two incorporated municipalities and two informal villages. The population is multi-racial due to immigration from other places like Europe. However, the people of African descent are the majority followed closely by whites and other races, and 67% were born here. Immigration has largely benefitted Bermuda as a large number of expatriates with skills in accounting, engineering, medicine, and others have settled here. The languages spoken here are Bermudan English and Portuguese.

Administrative Matters Of Bermuda

The Queen of the UK is the head of state, and her authority is manifested in the governor-general she appoints. Bermuda has a Westminster style of government and a bicameral legislature of an upper house and a lower house. The Lower House is the House of Representatives with 36 members elected by universal suffrage while the Upper House is the Senate with eleven members appointed by the governor. The constitution, established in 1967 and amended in 1983 and 2003, guarantees this model of government.

Bermuda’s International Relations

Bermuda is home to consulates and embassies of major countries like the US which is its largest trading partner and a member of the Caribbean Community. International conferences have been held here due to its proximity to the US.