Turks and Caicos Islands "the longest coral reefs in the world, making it a premier diving destination."
The
beautiful Turks and Caicos Islands are situated 575 miles southeast of
Miami and 39 miles south east of Mayaguana in the Bahamas. Covering 193
square miles of the Atlantic ocean, Turks and Caicos Islands has one of
the longest coral reefs in the world, making it a premier diving
destination.
One of the most valuable
possessions of the islands are the white sandy beaches, which in total
cover 230 miles and are complimented with crystal clear waters. The
islands are relatively flat but depending on the island, the terrain can
vary from sand dunes to lush green vegetation. There are eight major
islands: Salt Cay, Grand Turk, South Caicos, East Caicos, Middle Caicos,
North Caicos, Providenciales and West Caicos. The people on the islands
are known for their friendliness. East Caicos and West Caicos are
uninhabited.
The Tourism industry gives
Turks and Caicos its main revenue. In addition to this the islands are
also a major offshore financial center. There is a small traditional
fishing industry that continues throughout Turks and Caicos. On the
islands of Providenciales and Grand Turk you will find International
style hotel accommodations, each one has its own unique set up and
surroundings. Native dishes are served along with international cuisine,
you will find this at most of the restaurants. More casual and serene
accommodations can be found on the other islands and smaller cays.
Cockburn Town
Cockburn
Town is the administrative capital and the historic and cultural center
of the islands. It is strongly reputed to be the landfall island of
Columbus during his discovery of the New World in 1442. The town itself
is well suited for a walking tour. Duke and Font Streets are lined with
historic 18th and 19th century landmarks that reflect the Bermudan style
architecture of the salt era. Two of these buildings are now popular
inns, another in the governor's residence, other government offices, the
public library, churches and private residence and fraternities. At the
Turks an Caicos National Museum you will find a central exhibit that
tells the story of the Molasses Reef Wreck, the oldest European
shipwreck discovered in the Western Hemisphere (dated around 1505). It
also discloses the rich cultural and natural diversity of the islands.
Other historic sites include the Lighthouse, Fire hill and the Hawks
Nest Anchorage.
Grand Turk
Grand
Turk is the capital of Turks and Caicos and the financial center of the
islands. It has the second largest population of around 3,720 people.
Grand Turk is one of the main historical points of Turks and Caicos. You
will find many old buildings and ruins along with The Turks and Caicos
National Museum. Grand Turk's main attraction is diving, with many dive
operators and schools it can cater for novice snorkels to experienced
divers. The major income for the island is dive orientated tourism.
There is an outstanding protected coral reef which has clear and calm
waters. There are 6 major accommodations.
Salt Cay
It
has the air of a frozen moment, a place where time stands still. Salt
Cay was the center of the Bermudan salt industry, the mainstay of the
Turks and Caicos economy from the late 1600's until the early 1960's.
When the salt industry stopped, the tools fell where they were being
used. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, Salt cay is a time
capsule from the days "when Salt was king." She is a community of 200
hundred souls, surviving on an arid islands with one unarmed policeman
and a strong sense of family and order. The island is largely divided
into squares controlled by windmills that no longer turn and salinas
holding slowly evaporating seawater.
Twelve
cars wander her roads, soft beaches border much of her shore line,
herons feed in the salinas and others in the marsh land to the south.
The distinctively Bermudan style homes, all with dusty but neatly swept
dirt yards, set a tone, and possess an undeniable style. The White
House, owned by descendants of Bermudan salt rakers, is a landmark and
contains the original antique furniture.
Salt
Cay also hosts relics of the whaling industry that once existed. The
whaling station at Taylor's Hill has long been lying in ruins, visitors
to this land in the winter stare in amazement at the gigantic Humpback
Whales. The residents are very friendly and are always ready with a bit
of conversation. This is old Turks and Caicos, a direct line to a
simpler and slower time.
South Caicos
South
Caicos is the fishing capital of the islands, and boasts the best
natural harbour and several fishing plants, processing most of the
nation's seafood harvest of lobster, conch and fish for export and local
consumption. Other features of the island include the 18th century
Commissioner's House, old salt works, and the Boiling Hole which fed the
salt pans that once made South Caicos the islands' largest producer of
salt.
East Caicos
East
Caicos is an uninhabited island but is large in size being 18 square
miles. A majority of the island is inundated by swamps and mangroves,
you can find the highest point of the islands here. There is a splendid
17 mile beach on the north coast of the island, this is usually only
used by Sea Turtles to lay their eggs because of the large mosquito
population. Near Jacksonville in the north west of the island there are a
series of caves that used to be used for mining bat guano, and
petroglyphs shows early evidence of settlers on the island.
Middle Caicos
Being the largest of the islands Middle Caicos is 48 square miles of
natural beauty. There are 3 settlements on the island, Conch Bar,
Bambarra and Lorimers and there is a population of 275. The
coastline around Middle Caicos is more dramatic than that of the other
islands, to the north there are Limestone cliffs with long sandy
beaches. The south is dominated by swampland and tidal flats which
almost covers half the island. Rain is plentiful on Middle Caicos, which
is why the island is so green and ideal for agriculture. Middle
Caicos is home to the largest caves in all Turks and Caicos at Conch
Bar. There are 2 small but comfortable accommodations.
Mudjin Harbour
Mudjin
Harbour, a half-moon cave and a picturesque beach that juts out from
the land to link up with an offshore Cay is a most dramatic feature. The
huge limestone caves feature stalactites, stalagmites, bats, owls and
salt lakes that link up with the sea, and are considered to be one of
the most extensive cave systems in the region. There also the remains of
huge Lucayan Indian settlements. One site excavated near Armstrong Pond
in 1978 contains a Lucayan ball court, unknown elsewhere in the Lucayan
islands. Artifacts recovered from the caves suggest that they were used
either as shelter or sacred places. Middle Caicos also contains ruins
of Loyalist plantations. A Frigate Bird colony resides on a cay Just
offshore. A large blue hole just offshore in shallow water features an
abundant variety of marine life. The island's Northwest Point is a
combination of beautiful inlets, marshes, mangroves and in land ponds
which serve as a haven for birdlife.
North Caicos
North
Caicos is the lushest of all the islands because of the abundant
rainfall. The population of around 1305, mostly farmers live in the
settlements of Bottle Creek Village, Whitby, Kew and Sandy Point. Bottle
Creek Village boarders a lagoon on the northeast of the island, and is
protected from the ocean by a long ribbon of sand. Like Middle and East
Caicos, the southern part of the island is dominated by swampland and
tidal flats. North Caicos boasts the largest flock of Pink Flamingo in
the islands. There is a Crab Farm on Greenich Creek which grow Caribbean
King Crab from eggs to adults. You can visit the farm by taking a raft.
A tour of the
Crab Farm offers a lesson in a Crab mariculture, marine ecology and an
excellent eco-tour. There are Loyalist plantation ruins, the grandest of
which is Wades green. Lucayan artifacts were found in the caves near
Sandy Point. Cottage Pond at Sandy Point is a large pool of tropical
vegetation. There are flocks of Flamingo at Flamingo Pond and mud Hole
Pond. You will find ospreys and their nesting sites on the adjacent
Three Mary Cays, and a wide variety of other birds on the islands
extensive nature reserves and sanctuaries. Iguanas on the nearby East Bays Cays are an outstanding example of the natural diversity of this green island.
West Caicos
Said
to have the most beautiful diving spots in Turks and Caicos, West
Caicos is a 9 square mile island that is uninhabited. West Caicos is a
favourite for Picnics and Dive Operators with sandy coves and beautiful
waters. There are no accommodations on West Caicos but the island is
visited frequently.
The
ruins of Yankee Town, crested by an osprey's nest, its sisal press,
railroad and steam engine are evidence of the small civilization that
once existed on West Caicos. Lake Catherine is a nature reserve that is
home to a variety of bird life. A number of other islands and cays
remain in their natural state, without human influence, and serve as
protected natural habitats for sea birds, Iguanas, Turtles and other wildlife.
Providenciales
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