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Interesting Facts
- The charming Towne of St. George, which was initially settled in 1612, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- The slower pace of island life means folks often run on "Bermuda Time," which is considered to be 20-30 minutes late. Where to use that leisure time? Bermuda has more golf courses per square mile than anywhere else in the world.
- Island-born residents are often referred to as "Onions" (as in Bermuda onions)! Two favorite Bermudian cocktails are the Swizzle (rum and fruit juices) and the Dark and Stormy (rum and ginger beer).
- St. Peter's Church, built in 1612, is the oldest Church in Bermuda and the oldest Anglican Church in the Western Hemisphere.
- Outside of the United Kingdom, Bermuda's parliament is the oldest in the British Commonwealth.
- Bermuda has an unusually high concentration of limestone caves, and spelunking is a popular activity for both locals and tourists
- In 1934, one-half mile off the coast of Bermuda, Charles William Beebe made the world's first deep-sea dive. He rode in a pod called a bathysphere, which was raised and lowered with a cable. On his record-setting dive, Beebe descended to a depth of 3028 feet.
- Despite its tropical reputation, Bermuda's climate is quite temperate. The Gulf Stream flows by the island, which is located 650 miles off the coast of North Carolina. From mid-December to late March lows often dip into the low 60s, with highs around 70 degrees. In the summer, temperatures are rarely above 85 degrees during the day. In the evening, cool ocean breezes prompt visitors to reach for their sweaters.
- Bermuda is named after Juan de Bermudez, the Spaniard that discovered the island in 1503. Early in its history, Bermuda was known as Somers Island. Admiral Sir George Somers, captain of the Sea Venture, was on a voyage bound for Jamestown, Virginia. The ship wrecked off the coast of Bermuda, and the would-be colonists were stranded. Eventually they found their way to the Jamestown settlement, but for many years the island bore the name of that courageous sea captain.
- If you see an eerie green glow in the water about an hour after sunset, don't fret, it's not aliens or ghosts. It's actually Bermuda fireworms. These predictable little marine critters mate every month during the summer: best viewing is three days after a full moon, 56 minutes after sunset.
