British overseas territories: a list. Fragments of the Empire: Crown Lands and Overseas Territories

The official name of Great Britain sounds proud: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In addition to old England, special territories are included in the Kingdom called overseas: Cayman, Malvinas, Virgin, Bermuda, Antilla, Montserrat, Gibraltar, etc. The Channel Islands and separately standing island Men who are not part of the Kingdom and are not members European Union. They have the status of a special, "crown" territory. In addition, there are a number of countries (Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, Solomon islands, New Zealand and others), considering acting queen their rightful monarch. They are called Commonwealth countries.

So, how to visit countries with a special status?

Some features of obtaining an entry document to the "crown" territories

If for a tourist the main purpose of the trip is to visit one of the Channel Islands (Jersey or Guernsey) or the Isle of Man, then the British Consulate must obtain a visa to enter their territory. It is not difficult to do this.

First, you need to prepare the same list of documents as for, but without biometric data. It is not necessary to go through this specific procedure in this case.

Secondly, be patient, because the submitted documents are first considered by the visa officer of the British Consulate, and then transferred to the hands of the representation of the islands, and this takes some time. Thus, the consideration period may double, so it is recommended to prepare and submit a package of documents in advance, preferably three months before the planned date of the trip.

In the event that the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands are included in an additional sightseeing tour while in the UK, then if you have an English visa, you can safely go on a trip. As such, England has no borders with the islands, and all existing flights there are considered internal, but at the border point they may be asked about the purpose of the visit to the "crown" islands. If the visitor proves that the main purpose of his trip is to visit the UK (it is desirable to provide tickets, hotel reservations or other supporting documents), then there should be no problems with entering the territory of the “crown” islands.

If the islands are an intermediate point in the journey, then it is worth issuing a special transit visa.

Features of obtaining a visa to countries that are part of the Commonwealth or overseas territories of the Kingdom

The procedure for issuing and obtaining a visa to any of these countries is similar to that in the case of issuing an entry document to the "crown islands". As a rule, consideration and study of all submitted documents takes place directly by the authorities of the country that is planned to be visited. The term for making a decision can be up to 3 months from the date of submission of documents to the consulate, however, the UK does not bear any responsibility and does not guarantee that a visa will be received on time. In addition, migrants who previously did not have British visa, the entire package of documents with copies to the consulate will have to be submitted in person. It should be noted that all certificates included in the package required documents(a standard list of papers on the basis of the reliability of which a UK visa is issued) have legal weight for one month prior to the date of application.

As in the case of visiting the "crown" islands, in order to obtain a visa to one of the countries that are part of the Commonwealth or overseas territories, it is not necessary to undergo biometrics. Before visiting the British Consulate, you will need to book a time and exact date.

There is also good news for travel lovers. A number of Commonwealth countries and overseas territories do not require a visa for Russian citizens (for a fixed period of stay). For example, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, St. Kitts and Nevis can be visited freely, at the time of arrival in the country. Visas to Granada and Montserrat can be obtained with a letter and 40-50 dollars.

Therefore, when traveling to one of the countries that are part of the Commonwealth, overseas territories or to the "crown" islands, you need to contact professionals who assist in obtaining visas and have complete information about the current visa regime for each of these countries.

British Overseas Territories (eng. British overseas territories) - fourteen territories that are under the sovereignty of Great Britain, but are not part of it.

The name "British Overseas Territories" was introduced in 2002 by the British Overseas Territories Act and replaced the term "British dependent territories”(Eng. British-Dependent Territories), contained in the British Nationality Act 1981. Prior to this, the territories were called colonies or crown colonies. The British Overseas Territories may also be referred to as "British Overseas Territories", or simply "Overseas Territories" when appropriate from the context.

The islands of Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man are also under the sovereignty of the British Crown, but have somewhat different constitutional relations with Great Britain, and are consistently classified as Crown dependencies rather than overseas territories. Overseas and dependent territories should be distinguished from the Commonwealth of Nations, a voluntary union of former British colonies, and more recently, some other countries, such as Mozambique, which joined the Commonwealth for financial and political reasons.

In a historical context, the colonies that were part of Great Britain should be distinguished from the protectorates, which, while under British control, nominally retained their independence. They also should not be confused with dominions, independent states that had equal status with Great Britain in british empire, and after the 1931 Statute of Westminster, in the British Commonwealth of Nations. Crown colonies, such as Hong Kong, differed from other colonies in that they were governed directly by the Crown and did not have the autonomy that was in self-governing colonies, such as Bermuda.

The current population of the Overseas Territories is estimated at 247,899.

Story

The first British colonies in the New World were settlements of British subjects in lands hitherto outside the domain of the Crown. The first such colony was Newfoundland, where British fishermen founded seasonal settlements in the 16th century. In 1607, the settlement of Jamestown appeared, the first permanent colony in Virginia (a term used for the entire North America). In 1609, a second colony was founded in Bermuda by shipwrecked settlers, which, after the loss of the American colonies in 1783, became the oldest existing British colony (the English colonies became known as British in 1707, after the union of England and Scotland and the formation of the Kingdom of Great Britain).

The final list of territories that received crown colony status:

* Trinidad and Tobago - in 1797
* Dominica - in 1805
* Saint Lucia - in 1814

The growth of the British Empire in the 19th century, peaking in the 1920s, resulted in Great Britain annexing over a quarter of the land, including territories in Asia and Africa that had significant local populations and were held not for colonization, but for commercial or strategic reasons. . At the end of the 19th century, large settlement colonies in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, became self-governing and gained independence in all matters except foreign policy, defense and trade. The scattered self-governing colonies united to form federations: Canada in 1867 and the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. These and other large self-governing colonies were called dominions in the 1920s and gained full independence by the 1931 Statute of Westminster. The Empire was renamed the British Commonwealth, which became known as the Commonwealth of Nations in 1949. Most of the British colonies in Africa, Asia and the West Indies gained independence. Some former colonies became Commonwealth realms, retaining the British monarch as head of state, others became republics but recognized Queen Elizabeth II as Head of the Commonwealth.

City of Saint George in Bermuda. The colony was founded in 1609 by shipwrecked settlers from the flagship of the Virginia Company. In 1612, the privilege of the company was extended to Bermuda, and since that time they have been an English (since 1707 - British) colony. Since independence, Virginia is the oldest British colony, and the city of St. Georges is the oldest continuously inhabited English settlement in the New World.

In the 1980s, Britain lost its last mainland colonies - Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in Africa in 1980, and British Honduras (now Belize) in Central America in 1981. The last major colony was Hong Kong, which had a population of over 5 million people. Unlike other territories, Hong Kong from an administrative point of view consisted of two parts:

* Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula were permanently annexed by Britain through the Treaty of Nanjing and the Treaty of Peking in 1860.
* The territory of mainland China, the so-called New Territories, was leased by Britain for 99 years starting in 1898 to accommodate the growing population of Hong Kong.

As 1997 approached, the UK and the PRC signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration establishing all of Hong Kong as a "special administrative region" of the PRC in 1997, under numerous conditions that were to ensure that Hong Kong's capitalist economy and the way of life developed during the British dominion for at least 50 years after its transfer. The transfer of all of Hong Kong was dictated by the fact that its infrastructure was largely connected with the province of Guangdong, and the British territories proper could not exist without Chinese supplies.

After the return of Hong Kong to China, the remaining colonial possessions of Great Britain were mostly small island territories with a negligible population, as well as the uninhabited British Antarctic Territory. These territories did not gain independence for various reasons, in particular:

* Lack of outside support for independence local population
* A small population, making it problematic for the territory to function as an independent state.
* Dependence on UK economic aid
* The need for a British military presence to protect against neighboring states
* Lack of economic and political prerequisites for independence
* Some territories are not inhabited and are used for scientific and military purposes

In 2002, the British Parliament passed the British Overseas Territories Act. He changed the name "dependent territories" to "overseas territories" and restored full British citizenship for their inhabitants (with the exception of the territory of military bases in Cyprus).

Currently British overseas territories exist in all regions of the world - in the Caribbean (North America), Falklands (South America), Saint Helena in Africa, Pitcairn in Oceania, Gibraltar in Europe, British territory V Indian Ocean in Asia and South Sandwich islands in Antarctica.

head of state

The head of state in the Overseas Territories is the British monarch (currently Queen Elizabeth II) as head of the UK, and not under the laws of the individual territories. In each territory, the queen appoints her representatives to exercise executive power. In territories with a permanent population, on the recommendation of the British government, the Queen appoints a governor, usually a senior retired officer, or a civil servant. In territories without a permanent population, a commissioner is usually appointed. In overseas territories having dependent possessions, the governor may appoint an administrator to represent him in the dependent territory.

The governor is the de facto head of state. He is usually responsible for appointing the head of government and other civil servants. The Governor is also responsible for liaison with the UK government and has representational functions. The commissioner has the same powers as the governor, but also performs the functions of the head of government.

Government

All Overseas Territories have their own governmental system and local laws. Their structure correlates with size and political development colonies.

Legislative system

Each Overseas Territory has its own legislation, independent of UK law. The legislative system is generally based on English common law, with some local differences. Each territory has its own attorney general and judiciary. In smaller areas, the UK appoints a judge or lawyer who handles court cases.

Such a system is especially important in cases involving serious crimes and where it is impossible to find an unbiased jury, for example, on sparsely populated islands. An example of UK intervention in a specific trial is the 2004 Pitcairn Island rape investigation.

Relations with Great Britain

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is responsible for overseeing the interests of all Overseas Territories, except for bases in Cyprus, which are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defence. The Department of Overseas Territories is headed by the Minister for Overseas Territories, currently the Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Meg Mann.

* Self-determination
* Responsibility of UK and Territories
* Democratic autonomy
* Providing help and support

The UK and the Overseas Territories do not have diplomatic missions, however, the governments of the Overseas Territories with indigenous populations (except Bermuda) have their own representations in London. The territories are also represented by the London-based United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association (UKOTA).

Financial assistance is provided through the Department of International Development. Currently, only Montserrat and Saint Helena receive budgetary assistance. In addition, there are several special funds, for example:

* The Good Government Fund, for the development of government administration
* The Economic Diversification Program Budget, the purpose of which is to diversify the economy of the territories

Foreign relations

Foreign affairs of the Overseas Territories are handled by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. In addition, some areas have neighboring countries diplomatic representatives dealing with immigration foreign economic issues. A number of Caribbean territories are members of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and the Caribbean Community. None of the overseas territories is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, although they take part in the Commonwealth Games.

Gibraltar is the only overseas territory that is part of the European Union, but it is not an independent member and is not part of Customs Union. The rest of the overseas territories are not members of the European Union and most EU laws do not apply to them. Certain parts of EU law apply to them as members of the Association of Overseas Countries and Territories (eng. OCT Association), but in practice they are rarely applied by local courts. On the same basis, Structural Funds are provided to the Overseas Territories for rehabilitation projects.

Since the return of full British citizenship to most residents of the Overseas Territories (mainly by virtue of the British Overseas Territories Act 2002), subjects of these territories have parallel EU citizenship, giving them the right to move freely within the territory of all EU member states.

Several states have territorial claims against Great Britain, affecting the following overseas territories:

* British Antarctic Territory - not recognized by the world community (see Antarctic Treaty), in addition, part of the territory is disputed by Chile and Argentina.
* British Indian Ocean Territory - disputed by Mauritius and Seychelles
* Falkland Islands– disputed by Argentina
* Gibraltar - disputed by Spain
* South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands - disputed by Argentina
* Military bases of Akrotiri and Dhekelia - disputed by Cyprus

Citizenship

None of the Overseas Territories has its own citizenship, and all citizens are classified as British Overseas Territories citizens (BOTC). However, territories are self-governing in matters of migration, so obtaining BOTC status does not automatically grant the right to stay in other territories, as this depends on the migration laws of a particular territory. An Overseas Territory may grant Belonger status, which gives the right to reside. Persons who do not have British Overseas Territories citizenship can acquire this status for the purpose of residing in a particular territory, and thereafter, if they wish, undergo naturalization and acquire citizenship.

Historically, most of the inhabitants of the former British Empire had British citizenship, which was usually lost after the territory gained independence. Since 1949, British subjects in Great Britain and the remaining Crown Colonies have been called citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies. However, changes made to the Citizenship and Immigration Act between 1962 and 1983 led to the creation in January 1983 of a separate British Dependent Territories citizenship, and thus the majority of the population of the overseas territories were deprived of full British citizenship . This was done mainly to prevent mass immigration of Hong Kong residents to the UK ahead of its handover to the PRC in 1997. An exception was made for the Falkland Islands, which had been attacked by Argentina the year before. Due to disagreements with Spain, full British citizenship was soon returned to the people of Gibraltar.

In 2002, the British Overseas Territories Act replaced British Dependent Territories citizenship with British Overseas Territories citizenship, and restored full British citizenship to all its holders, with the exception of the population of military bases in Cyprus. Thanks to this, the inhabitants of the territories again received the right to live in the UK.

At the same time, British citizens do not have an automatic right to settle in any of the Overseas Territories. In some of them, immigration is prohibited and all arrivals must obtain a residence permit from the territorial government. Visits to Ascension Island and the British Indian Ocean Territory are not permitted (with the exception of official visits), as these territories are used as military bases, .

Armed forces

The United Kingdom is responsible for the defense of the Overseas Territories. Many Overseas Territories are military bases of Great Britain and its allies.

* Ascension Island (administratively related to Saint Helena) is an RAF and US Air Force base formerly known as RAF Ascension Island.
* Bermuda - after the declaration of independence, the United States became the main base of the British Navy in the Western Hemisphere. The islands have an admiralty, shipyards and a squadron. A significant military garrison was established to protect them, and Bermuda was viewed by the British government not as a colony, but as a military base - the "Gibraltar of the West". During the Second World War, Canadian and American military bases were established in Bermuda, which also existed during the period cold war. Since 1995, the military presence in Bermuda has been reduced to a territorial battalion (Eng. Bermuda Regiment).
* British Indian Ocean Territory - on the island of Diego Garcia is a large naval and air base, leased by the United States until 2036 with the possibility of extension, or renegotiation of the agreement in 2016.
* Falkland Islands - on the islands there is a British military group (Eng. British Forces Falkland Islands), which includes ground forces, aviation and navy.
* Gibraltar - there is a base of the British Navy, an air base and shipyards, also used by NATO, as well as a garrison (Eng. Royal Gibraltar Regiment).
* The bases of Akrotiri and Dhekelia in Cyprus are a strategic British military base in the eastern Mediterranean.

Symbols and emblems

Each Overseas Territory has its own flag and coat of arms granted by the British monarch. Traditionally, flags follow the design of the Blue Ensign, with the flag of Great Britain in the roof and the coat of arms of the territory. The exception is:

* Bermuda - English merchant flag (English Red Ensign)
* British Antarctic Territory - English naval ensign, eng. white ensign)
* British Indian Ocean Territory - a blue stern ensign with wavy lines symbolizing the sea).
* Gibraltar - a flag with its own coat of arms (the flag of the city of Gibraltar). The coat of arms of Gibraltar is the only one that existed before the arrival of the British colonial administration.

The bases of Akrotiri and Dhekelia in Cyprus are the only British overseas territory that does not have its own flag. In them, as well as on Ascension Island, the flag of Great Britain is used.

Anguilla

Capital: Valley.

Population: about 11.7 thousand people, mostly descendants of the Carib Indians, as well as immigrants from Europe and America.

Official language: English.

Geography. British possession in the West Indies, located 320 km east of Puerto Rico on the islands of Anguilla (Anguilla) and Sombrero in the northern part of the Small Antilles. The landscape is relatively flat high place on the island - Crocus Hill (65 m). The total area of ​​the islands is 155 square kilometers, including small islands and reefs.

Climate: tropical, hot. Average monthly temperatures from +18 C to +24 degrees. Precipitation falls from 700 to 1200 mm per year, mainly from August to November.

political state. Dependent territory of Great Britain, which has internal self-government. The English governor is in charge of foreign policy and defense, police and civil service. The head of government is the prime minister.

Bermuda

Capital: Hamilton.

Population: about 60 thousand people, of which over 61% are of African descent, the rest are from Europe and North America.

The official language is English.

Geography: Located in the western part of the Atlantic Ocean, near the coast of North America at a distance of 1046 kilometers east of the United States. The archipelago consists of 7 large and about 150 small islands, formed as a result of active volcanic activity, surrounded by coral reefs (together with reefs, they number up to 360), of which only about 20 are inhabited. Ten islands are interconnected by a network of bridges and overpasses and make up called the Main Island - Main Island (locals call it simply "island". The total area of ​​​​the archipelago is only 53.3 sq km.

Climate: temperate maritime. The Gulf Stream, passing between Bermuda and the coast of North America, maintains a relatively even temperature on the islands, which rarely rises above +29 degrees. In winter (mid-December - end of March), the temperature can drop to +15-18, but these are isolated cases and you can often swim in January as well as in July, although the wind speed in winter sometimes reaches 40 knots.

political state. According to the constitution, Bermuda has internal self-government, the Queen of Great Britain is represented on the islands by a governor who manages foreign policy, defense and police issues. The regulation of internal life is carried out by a bicameral parliament, consisting of the Senate and the House of Assembly. Executive power is exercised by the government headed by the prime minister.

Falkland Islands

Capital: Port Stanley.

Population: about 2.5 thousand people. The population of the archipelago consists mainly of immigrants from British Isles and Chile.

Language: English, Spanish.

Geography. The Falkland (Malvinas) Islands are an archipelago in the southwestern part of the Atlantic Ocean, 480 km east of Argentina. The archipelago consists of two large islands - Soledad (East Falkland) and Gran Malvina (West Falkland), and many (about 200) small ones. The total area is 12.2 thousand sq. km.

Climate: oceanic, cool and evenly humid. Average annual temperatures do not exceed +10 degrees, January (summer) - +18, July (winter) - +3. Precipitation is about 1500 mm per year, December and January are also the wettest months. The best time to visit the islands is from October to April.

political state. The islands were discovered by Europeans in the 16th century. Possession of Great Britain since 1892 are disputed territory, which is claimed by Argentina. The 1982 conflict ended in the defeat of Argentina, but it continues to consider this territory its own. They are governed by a governor who is accountable to the government and the Queen of Great Britain.

Gibraltar

Capital: Gibraltar.

Population: about 29.1 thousand people, of whom about 20 thousand are indigenous Gibraltarians. All of them are descendants of immigrants from England, Spain, Genoa and Malta. The rest are emigrants from England, the countries of the British Commonwealth, India, Morocco.

Language: Approximately half of the population speaks English as their first language, and Spanish for the other half.

Geography. Gibraltar is a rock-peninsula 425 m high, which is connected to the Iberian Peninsula by a narrow sandy isthmus 1.5 km long. The city and port are located on western slope cliff facing the bay of Algeciras, the enclave is separated from Spain by a neutral zone. To the north, Gibraltar is bordered by Spanish city La Linea, 32 km south of it, in Africa, is the Spanish Ceuta. From the west, Gibraltar is washed by the waters of the Bay of Algeciras, from the east - by the Mediterranean Sea. The area of ​​Gibraltar is about 6.5 square kilometers.

Climate: Mediterranean maritime, with cool, wet winters and dry, hot summers. Distinctive feature local climate are sharp changes in temperature depending on the time of year, which is not typical for the Mediterranean. Summer is usually very hot and sunny, in July-August, when the south wind blows, the air temperature can rise to +32 degrees and above, and in January-February it drops to +10, while rains increase discomfort. The average temperature in summer fluctuates between +28-30 degrees, and in winter about +13 C. Precipitation falls from 400 to 900 mm per year, and in different years their number can vary greatly. The best time to visit Gibraltar is spring and late summer (August - September).

political state. Gibraltar is a self-governing British colony. Issues of security, defense, foreign policy and financial stability fall within the competence of the governor appointed by the Queen of England. He heads the Gibraltar Council, which includes British and senior Gibraltar officials.

Saint Helena

Capital: Jamestown on Saint Helena.

Population: about 7.2 thousand people. The population mainly consists of descendants of English settlers, Creoles, blacks and Chinese. The population of Tristan da Cunha is 313 people, the Ascension Islands - about 1 thousand people.

English language.

Geography. Saint Helena Island is a British possession, including the island of the same name, as well as the Ascension Islands (Ascension), Tristan da Cunha (Tristan da Cunha) and five uninhabited islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, halfway between South America and Africa. The landscape of Saint Helena is elevated volcanic, small plateaus (the highest point - 818 m) are scattered throughout the island and are surrounded by small plains. The most high point on the islands - Queen Mary Peak on Tristan da Cunha - 2,060 m. The total area of ​​​​ownership is 0.4 thousand square kilometers, of which Saint Helena occupies 122 square kilometers, the largest of the islands - Tristan da Cunha - 117 sq km, Ascension Island - 88 sq km

Climate: tropical maritime. Average annual temperatures range from +13 to +30 degrees. Precipitation falls from 400 to 1500 mm per year, December and January are the wettest months. The best time to visit the islands is from October to April.

political state. British colony with limited self-government. The head of government is the English governor, who is appointed by the queen and directly supervises the activities of the Legislative and Executive Councils of the island. The Legislative Council consists of the Governor, Secretary, Treasurer and 12 elected members. The Executive Council performs the functions of government and consists of the Governor, Secretary, Treasurer, and Council Committee Chairmen (must be members of the Legislative Council). The islands of Tristan da Cunha and Ascension are also administratively subordinate to the Governor of Saint Helena.

Pitcairn Island

Capital: the village of Adamstown (the only settlement on Pitcairn).

Population: about 440 people, mostly descendants of mixed marriages of English and Polynesians. The inhabitants of Pitcairn are descendants of the rebels landed here by the British warship Bounty in 1790.

Language: English, but among themselves the Pitcairns speak a slightly distorted version of it, full of local idioms that make it almost incomprehensible to outsiders.

Geography. Pitcairn Island is volcanic in origin (although the volcanoes have long died out, the height is up to 335 m), with steep cliffs and a heavily indented coastline. The nearest neighbors are Easter Island and southeastern islands French Polynesia- Tuamotu and Gambier. The island is only 3 km long and 1.5 km wide. The total area of ​​the islands is 35.5 square kilometers, of which Pitcairn - 4.5 square kilometers, Henderson - 30 square kilometers.

Climate: subtropical maritime. Average monthly temperatures average from +18 degrees in August (winter) to +24 degrees in February (summer). July and August are the driest months. The greatest amount of precipitation falls in November (up to 100 mm), although showers are fairly evenly distributed over all seasons of the year (total precipitation 1200-1500 mm).

political state. Currently, the British High Commissioner in New Zealand is also Governor of Pitcairn. The island operates local authority self-government - the Council of the island of nine people: the master (justice of the peace) of the island, 5 members elected annually, 3 members appointed for one year by the governor, and the secretary of the island.

Turks and Caicos Islands

Cockburn Town is the unofficial capital of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The official language is English.

Geography. Turks and Caicos is an island nation in the Caribbean with an area of ​​500 sq. km, located 900 km southeast of Miami and 70 km southeast of the Bahamas. The islands have the longest reef chain in the world, making them one of the best diving spots. Turks and Caicos is also famous for its white sandy beaches. Some islands of the archipelago are uninhabited.

Climate. In all the Caribbean islands, the climate is even throughout the year. The average temperature is 25-30 degrees during the day, 20-24 degrees at night. The average water temperature is 22-25 degrees. Strong winds are possible in August and September.

Virgin Islands

Capital: Road Town, on the island of Tortola.

Population: About 18 thousand people.

The official language is English. However, most local residents speaks West Indian in English, which is a bizarre mixture of Spanish, Danish, English, French and African dialects.

Geography. British possession in the West Indies, in the northeastern part Caribbean, about 80 km east of the island Puerto Rico occupying part Virgin Islands. The largest islands are: Tortola (54 sq. km), Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke, most of the other 40 islets are uninhabited. All the islands, with the exception of Anegada, have a mountainous surface composed of Cretaceous limestones. On major islands ancient crystalline or volcanic massifs up to 500 m high have been preserved. There are no rivers on the islands, there are many coral reefs, caves and lagoons. The total area of ​​ownership is 153 sq. km.

Climate: tropical maritime, with two dry and two rainy (spring and autumn) seasons, average temperature practically unchanged throughout the year. The average annual temperature is +27 degrees, the annual amount of precipitation is up to 1300 mm, most of them fall from September to December, although even at this time no more than five to six days a month are rainy. Tropical hurricanes are frequent and can strike any time between July and November. The most favorable time for a trip to the islands is from mid-December to the end of April.

political state. A British possession, a self-governing territory headed by an Executive Council, which includes the Governor (appointed by the Department of Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of Great Britain), the Chief Minister, three more ministers (all of whom are members of the Legislative Council) and the Attorney General. The English governor is in charge of defense, finance, foreign policy, justice and civil service, heads the Legislative and Executive Councils of the islands.

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The overseas territories of England - the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, the islands of Anguilla and Montserrat in the Caribbean - are part of the Lesser Antilles, many of which were discovered by Christopher Columbus. A world of beaches, picturesque coves and tropical jungle, monuments of colonial architecture, pirate caves and mysterious legends associated with them.

BRITNS OF THE CARIBBEAN

The term "British Overseas Territories" was coined in 2002.

It replaced the obsolete in the XXI century. the concept of "British Dependent Territories", contained in the British Nationality Act 1981. Before that, the same territories were called colonies or crown colonies. The words “dependents” and “colonies” have gone into the archives of British history. A landmark amendment, although, in fact, it did not introduce anything fundamentally new to the position of the former colonies.

The British Overseas Territories are 14 small regions. Four of them are called the British Antilles. In addition to the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Anguilla and Montserrat, this island community also includes the Terke and Caicos Islands of the Bahamas. On portolans (portolans) maps of the 15th century. Antilia is a large, elongated, rectangular island in the Atlantic Ocean to the west of the Iberian Peninsula. An island that never existed... The Portolans did not take into account the curvature of the earth's surface, AND THEY SEEKED THAT Antilia is located somewhere 700 nautical miles from Europe, roughly speaking, "opposite" Portugal, which is hinted at by the name "island" . That is why its imaginary outlines were so similar to the map of Portugal. Antilia first appeared on the Pizzigani map in 1367, next to it there are three more hypothetical islands, the last time - in 1508 on the map of Johannes Ruysch, although the discovery of the New World by Columbus (1492) has already taken place. The same region of the ocean was later named the Caribbean Sea, after the Caribbean Indians. Since Columbus believed that he had arrived in India, this whole area became known as the West Indies, while the islands were generally called the Antilles, although each of them, as well as their archipelago groups, had their own specific name. By the way, Columbus planned to make a stop at Antilia on his way to Asia. In the XVI century. Antilia is gradually disappearing from the maps and the "earth apple" globe. But the term Antilles took root and entrenched. In the concept of the island West Indies, it is customary to include the Antilles (Large and Small) and the Bahamas. The Caribbean Sea washes only the Antilles. So we say "Antilles", we mean - the islands caribbean.

There is one more geographical term which must be kept in mind. when it comes to the British Antilles. They are either leeward or windward. Leeward (partly) are the British Virgin and Cayman Islands, Anguilla and Montserrat windward. This is determined by their location in relation to the vector of the northeast trade wind, although even Brockhaus and Efron noted that "there is no unanimity in this nomenclature." There is none even now. In their geological genesis, the British Antilles differ from each other. The Virgin Islands and their British part (most of which belongs to the United States) are of mixed, shelf, volcanic and coral origin. The Cayman Islands are located at the junction between the North American and Caribbean lithospheric plates, tremors of the earth's crust are often felt here, although, most often, not very strong ones. Anguilla coral island, Montserrat volcanic origin. Coral reefs and atolls, noticeable and very small, can be found near almost all of the British Antilles.

The British Antilles are part of the Lesser Antilles group and the so-called island arc of the Caribbean. Poets call this chain of islands the "Caribbean necklace", geologists - ledges above the sea surface of the underwater mountain range of the Caribbean lithospheric plate, with the addition of a coral component.

WESTIND STORIES

There are no two identical islands, with all that they have in common, being and developing in the same region. On the example of the British Antilles, this pattern is very clear.

The Virgin Islands were discovered by Columbus in 1493. A chain of low mountainous islands and rocks reminded him of people walking one after another, and he called the archipelago the Islands of Eleven Thousand Virgins (abbreviated as las Virgenes). In the time of Columbus, a Catholic church legend was popular about that. what Saint Ursula and 11,000 virgins with her did in the 4th century. pilgrimage to Rome, and on the way back they were killed by pagans. In the XII century. near Cologne, an abandoned grave was discovered, and on it was the inscription "Ursula and the 11 martyrs." How did 11 martyrs become 11,000? - History is silent about this At the end of the 17th century. these islands pass to England and the USA. the name is reinterpreted as the Virgin Islands, in honor of the Virgin Queen Elizabeth I. The Cayman Islands were also discovered by Columbus, in 1503, during his fourth expedition to New World, and called, seeing a lot of turtles on the shore. Turtle Islands. The name Cayman Islands, which replaced the Turtle Islands, is again a misunderstanding. Spanish conquistadors, who arrived here in 1523, mistook iguanas for caimans. On the contrary, the name Anguilla accurately reflects specific features of this island: it is narrow, elongated and somewhat sinuous, in its outline it resembles an eel (anguilla). The island of Montserrat was discovered by Columbus in 1493 and named after the monastery of Montserrat in Catalonia. The last period of the history of this island is associated with a great natural disaster. On June 25, 1995, the Soufriere Hills volcano began to erupt. After 300 years of "sleep", he demolished Plymouth, the capital of the island, completely, and two years later, two-thirds of the inhabitants of the island left him. Last eruption Soufrière Hills happened in 2010, it is included in the list of one of the most dangerous volcanoes Earth. But Montserrat remains beautiful" Emerald Isle”, as the Irish called it in memory of their homeland, who settled on it in the 17th-18th centuries.

Historians date traces of the first period of development of the islands around the 1st century BC. BC e. These footprints are rock paintings, of which there are quite a lot in the British Virgin Islands, left by the Arawak Indians, immigrants from the basin of the South American Orinoco River. In the XV century. the peaceful Arawaks were almost driven out by the warlike Caribs. The Arawaks, and also secretly, the Caribs, the Siboneans, were what Columbus called the original inhabitants of these islands. The history of the conquest, which began in the 16th century, touched almost all the islands now called the British Antilles. The conquistadors, obsessed with the search for gold, treated the Indians as just an annoying hindrance in this. By the end of the XVI century. indigenous Indian population The islands were practically destroyed. The Indians were replaced by pirates who found safe havens in the bays and caves of the islands. Economic development, which is also the colonization of the islands, begins in the second half of the 17th century. The role of Spain in the development of the Lesser Antilles is declining, and the Spaniards here are replaced by rival colonists from France and Britain, they bring black African slaves to the islands. History has firmly linked the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Anguilla and Montserrat with Great Britain since the 18th century.

Today's fame of the British Antilles is associated primarily with their resorts. It brings a tangible material result, about 90% of the income of the islands comes from tourism, with the exception of Montserrat (in the state in which it is now). Snow-white beaches, yachting, windsurfing, cricket, golf, carnivals - a holiday of life on these islands is guaranteed. Plus political stability, English charm and romantic flair of pirate legends.

CURIOUS FACTS

■ The Cayman Trench between the Cayman Islands and Jamaica is the deepest part of the Caribbean Sea (maximum depth 6.4 km).

■ The third largest island in the British Virgin Islands, Virgin Gorda, was the base of "Black Sam" Ballamy, one of the Caribbean's most famous pirates in the early 18th century. He took Negroes into his gang, which in the era of slavery was considered a great eccentricity. In 1982, the sunken gallion of Black Sam was raised from the bottom of Cape Cod. On it, according to rumors, 4.5 tons of treasures were found.

■ Proper English etiquette is maintained in the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands. In beachwear, being somewhere other than the beach is absolutely unacceptable, although in shorts and a shirt with short sleeves, but strictly classic, nothing is possible. For profanity in a public place, you can get such a fine that you will generally be speechless. In the evening, ladies must appear in restaurants only in evening dresses. Men, due to the climate, are not required to wear a tuxedo and tie, but a light suit and a snow-white shirt, albeit with an unbuttoned collar, are a must.

■ The legends of Norman Island in the British Virgin Islands say that it was he who was the prototype of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island.

ATTRACTIONS

■ Anguilla: Valley - Wallblake House (1787). former planter's house in the form of a ship, now Catholic Church, Marjorie Hodge Manor, marine park StoneyTround;
■ Montserrat: Soufriere Hills volcano.

■ BVI, Fr. Tortola, Road Town: Fort Recovery 1640), Fort George (XVII century), Fort Burt (built by filibusters in the middle of the XVII century, by 1776 rebuilt by the British, rebuilt in 1874 again, to prison), Post Office (XVIII century), St. Philips Anglican Church (1840). the building of the old Governor's residence Old Government House (Public Museum). National Museum; near Road Town - ruins of Fort Dungeon (1794) at Poquewood Pound Zion Hill Chapel (1834) at Saupers Hole, Hopt Shoe Shell Museum in Carrot Bay (collection of sea shells, fishing boats and gear, the historic sloop "Vigilent" (XVIII century), national park Mount Halty with the ruins of a sugar plantation and windmill(XVIII century), Ssij Mauitin National Park (forest of mahogany, white cedars and kapok trees), Shark Bay Ecological Reserve,

■ Cayman Islands: Grand Cayman - in George Town: 18th century colonial architecture, National Museum of the Cayman Islands, over 150 years old building that has been a courthouse, prison, ballroom and temple in the past. Maritime Museum treasures. National Gallery, Pirate Caves near the town of Bodden; in the eastern part of the island, the Botanical Garden of Elizabeth II; Little Cayman - hiking trail Mastic Trail, Cayman Brac - Christopher Columbus Park with Pirate Caves, Parrot National Park.

Atlas. The whole world is in your hands #138

Hyperheading:
Introduction
1. History
2. List of territories3. Control
3.1. head of state
3.2. Administration
3.3. Legislative system
4. Relations with the UK
5. External relations
6. Citizenship
7. Armed Forces
8. Symbols and emblems
9. Gallery

Plan
Introduction
1. History
2 List of territories
3 Management
3.1 Head of state
3.2 Administration
3.3 Legislative system

4 Relations with the UK
5 Foreign relations
6 Citizenship
7 Armed Forces
8 Symbols and emblems
9 Gallery

Introduction

The name "British Overseas Territories" was introduced in 2002 by the British Overseas Territories Act and replaced the term "British Dependent Territories". British Dependent Territories) contained in the British Nationality Act 1981. Prior to this, the territories were called colonies or crown colonies. The British Overseas Territories may also be referred to as "British Overseas Territories", or simply "Overseas Territories" when appropriate from the context.

Financial assistance is provided through the Department of International Development. Currently, only Montserrat and Saint Helena receive budgetary assistance. In addition, there are several special funds, for example:

5. External relations

Gibraltar is the only overseas territory that is part of the European Union, however, it is not an independent member and is not part of a customs union. The rest of the overseas territories are not members of the European Union and most EU laws do not apply to them. Certain parts of EU law apply to them as members of the Association of Overseas Countries and Territories. OCT Association), but in practice they are rarely used by local courts. On the same basis, Structural Funds are provided to the Overseas Territories for rehabilitation projects.

Since the return of full British citizenship to most residents of the Overseas Territories (mainly based on the British Overseas Territories Act 2002), subjects of these territories have parallel EU citizenship, giving them the right to move freely within the territory of all EU member states.

Several states have