575 miles southeast of Miami and about 90 miles north of the Dominican Republic lay the beautiful Turks and Caicos Islands. The
islands have some powerful attractions:
- a major offshore financial center
- 230 miles of unspoiled white sandy beaches
- premier diving and snorkeling in crystal clear waters
- third largest coral reef system in the world
Depending on the island, the terrain varies from arid sand dunes to lush tropical vegetation.
The principal islands are:
Providenciales
Provo has a large non-native population:
Americans, Canadians, Dominicans, French, Germans and Haitians. The main
tourist island, Provo has become very popular with retirees from around the
world. The completion of the commercial airport made the islands very
accessible. Provo has an 18-hole golf course, casino, modern shopping centres,
a couple of marinas, and several excellent restaurants.
On the western part of the island
is Chalk Sound National Park, a three-mile-long bay, and Northwest Point Marine National
Park.
Other attractions include:
Bamboo Gallery
Bamboo Gallery is the art center of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Cheshire Hall
& Richmond Hill
Cheshire Hall and Richmond Hill are sites of plantation houses built by Loyalists.
Conch Farm
Here is the world's only Conch farm. These mollusks with their beautiful pink shells
can take five years to grow to adult size.
Grace Bay
The resorts are
concentrated along Grace Bay. Diving around the many nearby coral reefs is
very rewarding. There are also many uninhabited cays that are reached easily by chartered boat. Princess Alexandra Marine Park, and the playground of " Jo Jo " the famous bottlenose
dolphin are also at Grace Bay.
Rock Carvings
Stones engraved by shipwrecked sailors can be viewed on the hill overlooking Chalk Sound and Sapodilla Bay.
The Hole
"The Hole" is a deep, wide limestone chimney at Long Bay containing salt water.
It is said to be bottomless.
Tiki Hut
Village
The Tiki Hut village at Northwest Point were built for a French game
show some years age. They have become very popular and are all over Sam's
Beach.
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Grand Turk
Grand Turk is a small, treeless island having several pungent salinas (salt ponds). Once upon a time, salt (locally called white gold) was the most important industry. The beaches, however, are very nice.
North Caicos
North Caicos is 12 miles northeast of Providenciales (Provo).
Boat ( charters) and air connecting flights are available making North Caicos
very accessible from Provo. Cars and bicycles may be rented. Taxis and guided
tours are available.
Along the northern
coast of the island is Whitby Beach, a 7 mile stretch of beautiful, white sand. The famous Three Mary's Cays,
a favorite site for snorkeling, is here. The rare Whistling Duck can
be seen in the area of Pelican Point. The hotels and most of the residents
are in the Whitby Beach area.
The southern part of North Caicos is composed of swamp and tidal
flats, home to the largest sanctuary of West Indian Flamingos in the Turks & Caicos Islands. They
are protected in nature p reserve; even planes are prohibited to fly over
the area and, of course, boats are prohibited. You can view the area
from a bluff; binoculars are recommended.
Areas of interest include:
- Plantation ruins at Wades Green Plantation outside of Kew, one of the
more successful plantations during the Loyalist era. You'll find many well-preserved
ruins here. A lookout tower an excellent view.
- Horsestable Beach and Pelican
Point which are sufficiently isolated from humanity to provide excellent bird watching.
- Near Sandy Point are
some caves ( once used by the Lucayans) and Cottage Pond, a 50 yard deep sink hole surrounded
by tropical flora. The locals claim it is bottomless.
South Caicos
Tiny South Caicos island is an arid wasteland mostly populated by by wild donkeys and horses. Scuba diving, here, is very popular; a reef with a plummeting wall runs the entire length of the eastern coast of the island. Much of the island is protected within the Admiral Cockburn Land & Sea Park. The reserve protects the mangroves, bonefish flats and coral reefs.
Bordering the edges of the islands are some of the finest coral reefs and walls in the world.
Starting in late December and continuing to May, the remaining Atlantic herd of some 2,500 Humpback Whales make their way through the deep offshore waters off the Turks Bank on their annual migration to the Mouchoir Bank about 25 miles to the southeast. Divers can hear the wale's' songs as they communicate with each other. In the summer, divers can view Dolphins and Manta Rays cruising along the face of the walls.
The inland salt ponds and marshes are feeding grounds for many migratory birds such as the Great Blue Heron, Flamingo, Osprey and Pelicans and other water birds. Many cays have been set aside and are protected for breeding grounds as part of the National Parks system.
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