Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Thursday Thirteen #16 - Lost in the Triangle


13 Facts About Bermuda


As many of you already know, I spent almost 18 years living in Bermuda. Just for fun, here are 13 facts about Bermuda:


  1. Contrary to popular belief, Bermuda isn't located in the Caribbean, but in the Atlantic Ocean, 940 miles north of Bahamas, 650 miles east of Cape Hatteras. It's 770 miles from New York, 3000 from London, England.
  2. Shaped like a giant fish hook, it's only 21 miles long and just over a mile wide at it's widest point, making the whole shebang only 21 square miles total. And it's not just one island! Over 180 islands make up 'The Bermudas', but the nine largest are connected by bridges and causeways to make up the main island.
  3. It's considered a sub-tropical island and boasts the northern-most coral reef system in the world. Bermuda has a year-round mild semitropical climate with temperatures ranging from 68 to 84 degrees. Relative humidity 71 to 84 percent. Average annual rainfall is 57.6 inches. Summer water temperatures reach 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
  4. The island was named for Juan de Bermudez, a Spanish sailor who first recorded it's existence in the 1503.
  5. It was populated in 1609 by British survivors of a shipwreck that was originally bound for the Jamestown Colony in Virginia. Sir George Somers claimed it for Britain and the island was also referred to as Somers Isles.
  6. Bermuda is the oldest British Colony and has the second oldest parliamentary democracy in the world.
  7. There are no fresh water lakes or rivers on the island. The only source of fresh/drinking water is rain, which is collected on roofs and stored in huge tanks under residential homes. In other words, no basements!
  8. Tennis was introduced to the US from Bermuda by an American sportswoman who went on to set up the first US tennis court in Staten Island, NY
  9. Bermuda enjoys the highest per capita income in the world (50% higher than the US). According to statistics from June 2003, the average cost of a house was $976,000 USD (speaking from personal experience... it's much higher now!).
  10. Bermuda is the oldest British Colony and has the second oldest Parliamentary Democracy (after England) in the world. Bermuda’s legal and legislative bodies are fashioned after Great Britain’s – the custom of wearing wigs and gowns for official occasions is still practiced.
  11. Bermuda is mostly famous for three things. The first is the shorts, which were adapted from the British military uniform specifically for the hot climate
  12. The second is the iconic pink sand, which gets its color from the crushed coral skeletons of a tiny creature called a formaniferan. Speaking of sand, Horseshoe Beach is considered one of the top ten beaches in the world. And finally...
  13. No factsheet about Bermuda would be complete without a mention of the Bermuda Triangle, said to be responsible for mysterious ship wrecks, disappearances and air crashes. The other points of the triangle are Miami, Florida and San Juan, Puerto Rico. As a Bermudian, let me assure you that 'The Triangle' wasn't something that came up often, except by curious tourists. In my 18 years there, I didn't disappear, discover bizarre time portals, or see any strange weather occurrences outside of the expected gales, hurricanes and fan-bloody-tastic sunny days. But what good fodder for my next book!
Join in the fun! Leave your name here:


And please don't forget to vote in the Blogger Awards! I'm up for a Blogitzer!!

44 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great list of Bermuda facts! Quite a bit there I didn't know. Bermuda sounds like such a great place! And neat about the Bermuda shorts -- hee hee, I never knew why they were called that, but now I do! And I didn't realize Bermuda was so teensy-weensy, either.

Thanks to you, I've learned quite a few new things today! Happy TT!

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

I did not know you lived in Bermuda. How very cool!!!! One day, I hope I'll get to see the islands myself, but I'm not hopeful.

Happy TT, my friend. I have a TON of writing time tomorrow, so expect more Walter soon!

Anonymous said...

What an awesome post!

Anonymous said...

In my 18 years there, I didn't disappear, discover bizarre time portals, or see any strange weather occurrences outside of the expected gales, hurricanes and fan-bloody-tastic sunny days

Seriously? You never disappeared? ;o)

Amy Ruttan said...

On my large list ... I wanted to go there ever since I saw "That Touch of Mink" with Doris Day and Carey Grant.

Awesome list. Happy TT!!!!

Wylie Kinson said...

Thanks for stopping by TL.

Susan - Someday, when we're rich and famous writers, let's get our tribe together and do a writer's getaway! We can set our laptops up on the beach and stare at the waves and hunks playing frisbee.

Shiloh -- well, there was that one time I blacked out... Oh, wait, that was too many rum punches! :)

Amy - I loved that movie. In fact, it was on last weekend! See my note above to Susan. You in?

Rhian said...

i was utterly fascinated by the Bermuda Triangle when i was a teenager. you do know if i ever get to visit Bermuda we're gonna PARTY.

Wylie Kinson said...

Rhi - OH YEAH, BABY!! One hell of a 'writer's conference' *wink wink*

Chelle Y. said...

Interesting! It sounds like a beautiful place!

Janet said...

I've never been! I need to go :-)

Unknown said...

Bermuda is an interesting location. It's got so many fascinating stories and the pictures are so beautiful...

Thank you for sharing. I definitely learned a bit more about it!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for all the great info and photos that made we want to GO THERE NOW! Would love to learn more about your life in the former British Colony.

I'm all about cows on parade this week.

Jenny McB said...

When I saw how long you lived there, the first thing I thought of was golf. Did you play there? I would have been in heaven living in warmth for 12 months.
Neat list to learn about Bermuda. Thank you for stopping by my list, how observant of you to figure out what phlebs listen to all day long.

Anonymous said...

This is a great list. I didn't know all of these facts before I came to your blog. Now, you make me want to go there and I agree, great fodder for your next book!

What I wouldn't do to be lounging on the pink beach listening to the waves come up on the shore.

pussreboots said...

Thank you for teaching me about Bermuda. I knew where it was but that was about it!

Anonymous said...

I learned something new today. Thank you Wylie.

Rebecca said...

Hi Wylie,

This is going to seem a strange request but would you mind emailing me at beckysjames@gmail.com? All will be explained when (and if) you do....

cheers,

Rebecca

L^2 said...

Very interesting. I've never been to Bermuda, but it sounds like a nice place. Maybe I'll get to visit someday.

Marie said...

very interesting T13 post!!! very informative. thanks for filling us in about your place. gosh, so everyday for you is just like a vacation in paradise, isn't it? lucky you!! :)

Anonymous said...

The hubby was on an exchange with the Bermuda military (or some such) years ago and has been plotting to get back there ever since. He loves the island and will really enjoy your TT this week.

Anonymous said...

This is my first class of Bermuda. At least I know where is the interesting place in Bermuda now. :)

Tink said...

O wow, I want to spend some time in Bermuda... It sounds like a great place! I didn't know a lot about it, so thank you for sharing the facts!
Thanks for visiting my TT!

Tilly Greene said...

The pink sand lures me...is it fine or grainy?

Thank you for putting me in a beachy frame of mind :-)

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed this list. Thanks. You mentioned the per capita income is high but what is the cost of living in comparison. Also, I imagine most jobs are tourism related. How is the employment rate? Have to say the image of being a writer with a house near the beach is...what dreams are made of. And you moved because WHY? **grin**

Happy TT Day!

Anonymous said...

Knowing my luck, I'd be the one to prove that space-time anomalies can and do move ashore simply because I wouldn't eat a mango.

Nice blog, BTW. My wife is in the writing game as well.

Wylie Kinson said...

Gabriella -- you bring up some very good questions!
Here's the short answer - yes, the cost of living is high BUT there is no personal income tax. What you make is yours.
Most jobs are in the business sector. International business (reinsurance companies, captive managements, etc) have taken over from tourism as the number one industry.
There is NO unemployment. Why? Because there are more jobs than Bermudians. In fact, they import workers (which is how I originally ended up there!)

Unknown said...

I don't know how you could have left. It sounds like a wonderful place to live.

Robyn Mills said...

I agree with Christine, it must be hard to leave a place like that.

Lori said...

I wanna go!!

Elle Fredrix said...

Ah, huh? You gave up pink sand beaches for Toronto??

Thanks for the info. I'd love to visit there someday.

Dionne Galace said...

I'd like to go to Bermuda. Hmm... I'd need money for that, wouldn't I?

Anonymous said...

What a fantastic place to have lived!! I agree with Christine, how could you leave a place like that?

Awesome list! Happy TT!

Candy Minx said...

Hi Wylie...whoa, I am completely reeling from some of the information here...I am absolutely ignorant of geography...and I can hardly wrap my head around the idea that Bermuda is east of Cape Haterras...I've been to Cape Haterras...in a Febuary and it was kind of chilly and rainy...sure, warmer than Canada...but still...

And how interesting that that is where tennis came from, sheesh! I thought it came from England.

I am surprised that the Bermuda Triangle figured so minor in your life there...and isn't it a rich concept for story telling? Do you watch LOST by any chance?

I am going to have to take all week to recover from Bermudas location, and hey about a photo of you in shorts urp!

Okay, i'm late and slow today but here goes with my TT list:

http://gnosticminx.blogspot.com/2007/04/shakespeares-baptism.html

Ann Aguirre said...

How do they purify the rainwater before they drink it? Or do they?

Danielle said...

Very educational. Were there any people living there before the English?

Be well and enjoy the day

impwork said...

Thanks for an informative 13.

Durward Discussion said...

Bermuda is one place I've always wanted to visit but given my TT today, I've been warned to stay away. :-)

DK said...

I've never been to Bermuda, so thanks for the tour! I'm not actually a "beach and water" girl; mountains are my thing, but I gotta tell ya, that pink sand is gorgeous! You're right; this place IS a great setting for your writing. Thanks for stopping by, and have a great week,
DK

Rebecca said...

Very informative list, happy TT13!

Kathy said...

I've never been to Bermuda, nor have I ever had a desire to go until........I read this! It sounds absolutely beautiful, with the pink sand and water of 85degrees. Who could resist?!!
Send me a ticket! I'll go visit and say Hi to all your friends!
Thanks for sharing; now, I'm interested!

Sparky Duck said...

your just darn lucky to be able to say you lived their for so long

Sophisticated Writer said...

I didn't know many of these things. I think I was always most scared by the mention of Bermuda Triangle.

But it sounds like a very cool place to live ;)

Shelley Munro said...

Aw, heck. I think I'm disappointed about the triangle. Not one disappearance?

Bermuda looks beautiful. I'd love to visit one day :)

Anonymous said...

Very useful information! I am originally from Hong Kong (used to be British Colony too!), and I am working there now.I live in USA for almost 10 years. This time I am coming back to Seattle for visiting family plus a short trip to Bermuda.Yeah, when I told my co-workers in Hong Kong that I am going to Bermuda, the first word came out was "What?" or "Will you lost?", "Will you come back after 20 years?"
I've been travelled a lot by myself, and if Bermuda is that dangerous due to the Bermuda Triangle mystery, there should not be that many foreign registered companies.

Well, to me, heresay just a heresay, I am going to tell them how nice Bermuda is by traveling there tomorrow!!!~