Norman Island facts for kids
View of Norman Island from Sage Mountain on Tortola
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 Norman Island
Location in British Virgin Islands
Norman Island
Location in Caribbean
The location of Norman Island within the British Virgin Islands
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Caribbean Sea |
| Coordinates | 18°19′N 64°37′W / 18.317°N 64.617°W |
| Archipelago | Virgin Islands, Leeward Islands |
| Administration | |
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United Kingdom
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| British Overseas Territory | British Virgin Islands |
| Additional information | |
| Time zone | |
| ISO code | VG |
Norman Island is an island at the southern tip of the British Virgin Islands archipelago. It is one of a number of islands reputed to be the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson's pirate novel Treasure Island.
Today
The island is uninhabited and privately owned by Henry Jarecki. Its area is about 600 acres (242.8 ha), and it is about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) long. A large harbour known as the Bight offers one of the most protected anchorages in the area. It is one of the "Little Sisters", along with Pelican Island, Peter Island, Salt Island, Dead Chest Island, and Ginger Island. This group of islands is smaller, lower, and more arid than other islands to the north and west.
Norman Island is a well-known destination for cruisers and other tourists because of three water-level caves at the base of cliffs just outside the western edge of the Bight. The caves are ideal for snorkeling, and, if one goes deeply enough into the cliffs, darkness makes the experience like a night dive.
The island has no permanent inhabitants (other than wild goats), but there are two restaurants on the island, Pirates Bight and The Club. Previously anchored in the Bight was a modern copy of an old schooner named the Willy T, which operated as a bar and restaurant. In September 2017, the Willy T was destroyed by Hurricane Irma. The owners of the Willy T had a new ship built and in May 2018 it was announced that the BVI government would not let the Willy T anchor on Norman Island, but would instead be able to anchor in Great Harbour on Peter Island. The Willy T has since returned to its original location on Norman Island.
Cultural legacy
Some think that Norman Island and the tales about its treasures have inspired Robert Louis Stevenson to write Treasure Island. The estimated timeframe of Treasure Island approximates to the time of the salvaging of the booty of the Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe on Norman Island.
Norman Island has so many caves, hidden bays, and wrecks that many tourists still explore hoping to find treasure one day, and tourism operators in the British Virgin Islands have no interest in trying to discourage this.
See also
In Spanish: Isla de Norman para niños
