Jost Van Dyke

At roughly 8 square kilometers, Jost Van Dyke is the smallest of the four main islands of the British Virgin Islands, the northern portion of the archipelago of the Virgin Islands, located in the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. Jost Van Dyke lies about 5 miles to the northwest of Tortola and 5 miles to the north of Saint John.

History

Jost Van Dyke was likely first spotted by Christopher Columbus and his crew on their second voyage in 1493. The island's name comes from that of a Dutch pirate. Although the island is small, Jost Van Dyke boasts several notable natives, including William Thornton, architect of the U.S. Capitol Building, and John C. Lettsome (of Little Jost), founder of the London Medical Society.

Related Topics:
Christopher Columbus - 1493 - Dutch - Pirate - William Thornton - U.S. Capitol Building - John C. Lettsome

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