DISCOVER ST. CROIX
Saint Croix (Spanish: Santa Cruz) is an island in the Caribbean Sea, and a county and constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), an unincorporated territory of the United States.
Saint Croix is the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, being 28 by 7 miles (45 by 11 km). However, the territory's capital, Charlotte Amalie, is located on Saint Thomas.
 GEOGRAPHY
There are two towns on the island; Christiansted and Frederiksted. The total population of the island is about 60,000. Inhabitants are called Crucians and English is the most common language. Spanish is spoken by the large Puerto Rican and smaller Dominican (Dominican Republic) populations, and a French Creole is spoken by the large St. Lucian and Dominican (Dominica) populations. A native English-based dialect known on the island as Crucian, but formally known as Virgin Islands Creole, is also spoken by the majority of the population in informal situations.
Fort Christiansvaern built in 1749 and other buildings are maintained by the National Park Service as the Christiansted National Historic Site.
Buck Island Reef National Monument preserves a 176 acre (71 ha) island just north of Saint Croix and the surrounding reefs. This is a popular destination for snorkelers.
There are several scuba diving companies operating from Christiansted. Off the north coast of the island, there are many good destinations for diving, featuring scenic coral reefs, clear water, and abundant tropical fish. Prominent among these are Cane and Divi bays along with Long reef which encompasses a large portion of the northern side of the island. The reef also serves as a natural barrier against sharks and jellyfish. However around other portions of the island, notably Frederiksted, hammerhead and tiger sharks can be seen. Shark attacks on the island are very rare.
CHRISTIANSTED
Christiansted is the former capital of the Danish West Indies and home to the Christiansted National Historic Site. Christiansted as of 2004, has a population of about 3,000. Christiansted has preserved the 18th-century buildings of its Danish settlers. Solid stone buildings in pastel colors with bright red tile roofs line the cobblestone sidewalks, adding a touch of European charm. The town's symmetry, with streets running at right angles to the waterfront, makes it popular for walking tours. The shopping area centers on King and Company streets, adjacent to the Christiansted National Historic Site. The residential area inland from the shopping area, however, is run down. The town has several small hotels and many restaurants. Several scuba shops operate in the town, as the wharf has easy access to many diving attractions on the north side of the island.
The botanist Julius von Röhr started a botanic garden in Christiansted in the eighteenth century and produced a number of landscapes of the island.
FREDERIKSTED
Frederiksted is a town on the west end of Saint Croix. It is home to Fort Frederik, constructed to protect the town from pirate raids and attacks from rival imperialist nations. It was named after Frederick V of Denmark, who purchased the Danish West Indies in 1754.
Frederiksted is often referred to as "Freedom City" by locals. This nickname has to do with the fact that the town was the site of the emancipation of slaves in the then-Danish West Indies. The emancipation of slaves was proclaimed on July 3, 1848 at Fort Frederik on the waterfront at the northern edge of Frederiksted by Governor-General Peter von Scholten after slaves led by General Buddhoe (a slave) revolted.
Frederiksted is home to one of two deep water ports on Saint Croix, the other being located at the Hovensa oil refinery. It is the main port for cruise ships visiting the island. Passengers are typically escorted from the ships to waiting taxis to bring them to the more picturesque and developed Christiansted.
The town was destroyed by a labor revolt (known as "The Fireburn" because arson was utilized as a means of revolt) in October 1878, which was led by four Crucian female laborers. Frederiksted was later restored during the Victorian era, as reflected in the town's architecture.
Modern Frederiksted operates at a slower pace than Christiansted, except for carnival in January and whenever cruise ships dock in Frederiksted's deepwater port. In recent years successful redevelopment efforts have begun to restore and revitalize this National Historic Site. The 2000 census population of the town was 732, and that of the larger sub-district was 3,767.
Frederiksted maintains its original seven street by seven street city design and is host to several historic structures. Among them are St. Patrick's Catholic Church built in the 1840s and its primary school, the Customs House, the 19th Century Apothecary, and many other buildings; some which due to hurricanes past have fallen into ruins.
TRANSPORTATION
Island roads tend to be poorly surfaced due to the terrain, and may take sharp turns. Cars drive on the left hand side of the road, but nearly all the automobiles on the island have left side steering columns. This has proven difficult for new residents and visitors from right-hand drive locales such as the mainland United States and Puerto Rico.
There is a public bus service called Virgin Islands Transit VITRAN, operated by Department of Public Works.
In addition to taxis and buses, Saint Croix has shared taxis, locally known as "taxi buses" (these are also found on the other U.S. Virgin Islands). Taxi buses are full-sized vans which follow a predefined route from Frederiksted to Christiansted. These taxi buses are privately owned and operated; they do not follow a regular schedule, and there are no pre-specified stops. Instead, people simply wait by the side of the road until a taxi bus approaches, then flag the driver down by waving. Passengers can be dropped off anywhere along the taxi route. Taxi buses charge a flat rate for the trip, regardless of where a rider gets on and off. Taxis to specific locations are much more expensive and are mostly used by tourists. They are not metered and are required by law to charge a flat fare that varies by destination.
The Henry E. Rohlsen International Airport services Saint Croix with regular flights from the U.S. mainland, Puerto Rico, and the rest of the Eastern Caribbean. Seaplanes, operated by Seaborne Airlines, also service the island, taking off and landing in Christiansted Harbor. Ferry service to Saint Thomas runs from Gallows Bay. Although Saint Croix is a U.S. territory, travelers to the continental United States and Puerto Rico need to pre-clear U.S. customs and present a passport or proof of U.S. citizenship or nationality, because the USVI is maintained as a "free port" in a separate customs zone. The immigration status of non-U.S. citizens may be checked during this process as well.
CULTURE
Along with other nearby islands, locals celebrate what is known as a full-moon party at the end of every month when there is a full moon in the sky. The annual Agricultural and Food Fair is held in mid-February.
A local festival, termed "Crucian Christmas Festival", is celebrated on Saint Croix throughout late December and early January. Every year on the Saturday before Mardi Gras there is a local Mardi Croix parade and a dog parade through the North Shore. Several times a year, there is a nighttime festival in Christiansted called "Jump-Up" and a monthly event called "Sunset Jazz" in Frederiksted, where local jazz musicians play along the Frederiksted waterfront.
The Saint Croix Half Ironman Triathlon is held in the first week of May. The Triathlon includes a 1.4-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride, and a 13.1-mile run. Because the bicycle route includes a ride up an extremely steep hill known as "The Beast", this triathlon is often nicknamed "Beauty and the Beast".
From Wikipedia.org, the Free Encyclopedia
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