Bermuda

Bermuda (Bermuda) (Bermuda), possession the Great Britain in a northwest part of Atlantic ocean, near shores of the North America. Occupies about 150 islands, (together with reefs them number to 360) from which are dwelt only nearby 20. Ten islands are bridged among themselves by a network of bridges and over-bridges and compound so-called Basic island - Mejn-Ajlend. Altitude of islands to 79  m, a total area - 53,3  sq. km, the population - 59,5  thousand persons (1993), from them from above 60 % of the person of the African parentage, other natives of Europe and the North America. An official language - English. The majority of believers - anglikane, but nearby 9  thousand persons shrived catholicism. An administrative centre - Hamilton with the population 1,1  One thousand person is had on island Bermuda.

Under the constitution of 1968 Bermuda has intrinsic self-management. The English governor disposes of questions of foreign policy, defence, police. The parliament of two houses, consisting their senate and meeting chamber is engaged in a regulation of intrinsic life. Deputies of chamber of meeting are selected on general election for a period of five years. The executive power is carried out by the government led by the prime minister. On islands the American military bases (including large naval baseline a Kings-point), occupying 11  are had; % of terrain of Bermuda.

Islands have been open by Spanish seafarer H.Bermudesom in 1522. The first English settlement has appeared here in 1609. Bermuda was a part of British Empire in 1684. Intrinsic self-management has been granted Bermuda in 1968. The government of Bermuda in 1989 tried to achieve independence of the country, but these plots have been rejected by the Great Britain.

The Basis of economy of islands - foreign tourism, the income from which compounds 60 % of currency receipts in the budget. In sphere of tourist service it is occupied 70 % of occupied population of Bermuda. In a year of island attend 600  thousand tourists (90 % from the USA ). The further growth of quantity of tourists is restrained for the purpose conservation of natural landscapes; since 1972 on islands it has not been builted any new hotel. 10 % self-sufficient bermudtsev are occupied in industry sphere. On Bermuda the factories on repair of courts, manufacturing of boats, pharmaceutical items, building timbers work. Operations of the foreign companies on islands are released of taxes thanks to what Bermuda has assumed importance the financial centre. On islands it is registered more than six thousand foreign companies, on the tonnage of courts of admiralty (three million gross register tons) Bermuda takes the fifth place in the world. In agricultural an equipment one percent of able-bodied population is occupied. On islands the potato, apples of love, cabbage, bananas are cultivated, fishery is educed (catch compounds nearby 800  t in a year), floriculture is oriented for export. 80 % of the consumed food Bermuda is forced to import from abroad. The basic trading partners of Bermuda: the USA (60  import %), Canada, Japan. Main port of islands - Hamilton. The unique flight strip is in terrain of military-air baseline of the USA. Monetary unit - a dollar Bermuda, to equal 100 cents.