Map of Bermuda, Hamilton

Bermuda is a group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean. It is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom.

Bermuda was discovered in 1505 and claimed as part of the Spanish Empire by the Huelva navigator Juan Bermúdez, from whom they received their name. This sailor visited the islands twice, but never set foot on land because he did not want to cross the dangerous reef that surrounds the archipelago. In 1609 the Virginia Company, which had founded the Virginia Colony and the mainland town of Jamestown two years earlier, created a settlement on the islands after a hurricane pushed the crew of the Sea Venture ship across the reef and get to land.