The Parliamentary British Colony of Bermuda, situated in the western Atlantic Ocean 660 miles (1,062 km.) east of North Carolina, has an area of 20.6 sq. mi. (53 sq. km.) and a population of 60,100. Capital: Hamilton. Concentrated essences, beauty preparations, and cut flowers are exported. Most Bermidians derive their livelihood from tourism. ,Bermuda was discovered by Juan de Bermudez, a Spanish navigator, in 1503. British influence dates from 1609 when a group of Virginia-bound British colonists under the command of Sir George Somers was shipwrecked on the islands for 10 months. The islands were settled in 1612 by 60 British colonists from the Virginia Colony and became a crown colony in 1684. Internal autonomy was obtained by the constitution of June 8, 1968.,, ,In February, 1970, Bermuda converted from its former currency, the British pound, to a decimal currency, termed a dollar, On July 31, 1972, Bermuda severed its monetary link with the British pound and pegged its dollar to be the same value as the U.S. dollar.,, Rulers:,,, ,British,, Monetary System:,,, ,1 Shilling = 12 Pence,, ,1 Pound = 20 Shillings, to 1970,, ,1 Dollar = 100 Cents, 1970-,,