Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Jost Van Dyke Island
Jost Van Dyke Island, British Virgin Islands.
Jost Van Dyke Island
island, British Virgin Islands
Jost Van Dyke Island, one of the British Virgin Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, separating the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. It lies 4 miles (6 km) west of Tortola and adjoins Little Jost Van Dyke Island on the east. According to tradition, it was named after a Dutch pirate who lived on the island. Jost Van Dyke Island is roughly tadpole-shaped and the terrain is rugged and elevated, reaching 1,054 feet (321 metres). The chief settlement is Great Harbour, on the southern coast. Probably discovered and settled by the Dutch, the island was British after 1672. Tourism is important to the economy. Area 3.5 square miles (9 square km). Pop. (2001) 244; (2010) 298.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.
Discover the fascinating events that shaped the world, straight from our editors.
By clicking “Sign Up”, you consent to the Britannica
Privacy Policy
and
Terms of Use.