one of the British Virgin Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, separating the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. It lies 4 miles (6 km) west of Tortola and adjoins Little Jost Van Dyke Island on the east. According to tradition, it was named after a Dutch pirate who lived on the island. Jost Van Dyke Island is roughly tadpole-shaped with an area of 3.5 square miles (9 square km). The terrain is rugged and elevated, reaching 1,054 feet (321 metres). The chief settlement is Great Harbour, on the southern coast. Probably discovered and settled by the Dutch, the island was British after 1672. Tourism is important to the economy. Pop. (2000 est.) 176.