Charlotte Amalie, Caribbean port capital in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Charlotte Amalie is the capital of Saint Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands and sits along a protected bay with deep waters. The settlement spreads across three volcanic hills where narrow streets run between buildings from the Danish colonial era and modern cruise port infrastructure.
The Danes founded the settlement in 1666 as Taphus and renamed it after their queen in 1691. The town remained under Scandinavian control until 1917, when the United States acquired the islands and developed it into one of the region's major ports.
The name comes from Queen Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel, who ruled Denmark in the late 17th century. Merchants built warehouses along the harbor front with red brick roofs, which now serve as shops and restaurants for visitors arriving by cruise ship.
The steep streets in the center require walking, and comfortable shoes are advisable because of the cobblestones and inclines. The harbor sits close to most historical buildings, allowing visitors to reach the town center quickly from the docking area.
The street lamps from the colonial period originally burned kerosene and were lit by attendants at dusk. Some of these lamps still stand on the hillsides and along the oldest lanes, though they now run on electricity instead.
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