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Immediately to the northeast of the U.S. Virgin Islands are the British Virgin Islands, a British dependency (1995 est. pop. 13,000), 59 sq mi (153 sq km). They are ruled by a governor (appointed by the crown) and an executive and a legislative council. There are more than 30 islands; 16 are inhabited. The principal ones are Tortola, Anegada, and Virgin Gorda. Road Town, the capital, is on Tortola. Tourism and offshore banking are the most important economic activities. Britain acquired the islands from the Dutch in 1666.
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