Information About Turks and Caicos Islands

History of Turks and Caicos Islands

Taino people were the first people to settle in the Turks and Caicos Islands after they moved from the Hispaniola in the 500 AD. African slaves provided labor in the sea salt processing in the island after the Britain annexed the Turks and Caicos as part of the Bahamas. In 1841, an illegal Spanish ship carrying 20 men and 192 African captives was wrecked off the Caicos coast but all the passengers survived the sinking. Turks and Caicos were designated separate colony by the Britain in 1848 under the council president until 1894 when the chief official was changed from the president to commissioner. In 1873 to the end of 1959, the islands were under the Jamaican colony though in 1917, the British prime minister refused the suggestion of the Canadian prime minister for the Turks and Caicos to join Canada. After Jamaica gained independence in 1962, the two islands were granted a crown colony where the governor of Bahamas was also the Turks and Caicos' governor. The two islands acquired their own governor in 1973 after Bahamas gained their independence and from 1976 Turks and Caicos had their own government under the chief minister after the administrator was restyled.

Geography of Turks and Caicos Islands

The Turks island passage with a depth of about 22, 00 meters separates the Turks and the Caicos islands in the North Atlantic Ocean whiles the Bahamas islands are separated from the Caicos Island by the Caicos passage. Hispaniola and the Bahamas are the neighbors of the island in the northern and south-eastern regions. The islands cover a total area of 948 square kilometers with a coastline of about 389 kilometers. Mangrove swamps and extensive marshes make the terrain of the two islands and even the low lying flat limestone stretches. The Caribbean Sea at zero meters below the sea level is the lowest point in the islands while the highest points are occupied by the flamingo hills.

Climate of Turks and Caicos Islands

Sunny and dry marine tropical is the climate experienced in Turks and Caicos Islands. The average temperatures range from 29 to 32 degrees Celsius although over the summertime they rarely exceed 33 degrees Celsius and go below 18 degrees Celsius over the winter. The climate over the islands is moderated by the trade winds.

Natural Resources in Turks and Caicos Islands

Although tourism is the major activity in Turks and Caicos, conch and spiny lobsters are the major exports from the islands.

Tourist Attraction in Turks and Caicos Islands

Tourism is among the major departments which contribute greatly to the economy of the Turks and Caicos. The country has diverse natural and man-made sites which are usually crowded by the tourists over the holidays. The excellent feeding grounds in the salt ponds and the inland marshes occupied by a great number of birds species such as herons, flamingos, pelicans and other water birds, the Caicos conch farm with the raised king's Caribbean queen, the historic Cheshire hall with the striking cotton plantation and even the clear Kayaking and Eco safaris which will allow you to take in the tranquillity of nature and enjoy observing the beauty as you explore the coast on foot. The wonders of the Grand Turk and the Salt Kay that allows the visitors to see the north Atlantic Humpback whales over the late January, the great knowledgeable tour guides who will describe the cultural and the historic information as you go down the island adventure and the trams, the shallow waters of Turks and Caicos island where Jojo the unique Atlantic Bottlenose dolphin has been playing since 1980 and the middle Caicos caves of limestone will keep you day occupied and later prepare yourself for the have a smile at the flower riders and power snorkel beach buddies. The major cities of the Turks and Caicos Islands include:

• Cockburn town
• Providenciales
• Cockburn harbor
• Middle Caicos
• Parrot Cay
• Salt Cay
• Blue hills

Famous Hotels in Turks and Caicos Islands

• Beaches Turks and Caicos Islands Resort village and spa
• Grace Bay Cub
• The Regent Palms
• Royal West Indies Resort
• The Venetian on Grace Bay
• Beach House Turks and Caicos
• Kokomo Botanical Resort and spa

Turks and Caicos Islands Culture and Cuisine

The Turks and Caicos Islands are known for their rip saw music and other cultural festivals held annually with attractive presentations from Caribbean and the united state celebrities. Cricket-the national sport, sailing, fishing and soccer are the most popular sports in the islands. The African slaves transferred the craft cultural skills where up to date; women in Turks and Caicos Islands make baskets and huts from the straw using the crafting techniques. Most restaurants in the islands feature both the continental and Asian cuisine. For breakfast, boiled fish and grits are usually served while the fish and johnnycake are also consumed. The staple food in the islands is the sea foods which are served along with peas and hominy.

International and Domestic Airports in Turks and Caicos Islands

• JAGS McCartney international airport
• Providenciales international airport
• North Caicos airport
• Harold Charles international airport
• Middle Caicos airport
• Salt Cay airport
• South Caicos airport