The Turks and Caicos is quickly becoming one of the most popular and trendy destinations in the Caribbean. How much about this chain of islands do you know?
1. The Turks and Caicos are located in the Atlantic, not the Caribbean
With its beautiful turquoise waters, white sand beaches and tropical climate it would seem that the Turks and Caicos are located in the Caribbean. But we’re not! We’re actually located in the Atlantic Ocean—the Caribbean Sea is a long way away.
However, the Turks and Caicos is part of Caribbean culture. You can enjoy the great food, culture and hospitality of the region when you come and visit us.
2. The water temperature is almost like a bathtub
The water is warm here. In the the summer a dip in the surf at Grace Bay Beach will be almost like taking a bath—82 to 84 degrees (28-29 degrees Celsius) to be exact! Tn winter the water temperature is a little cooler at about 74 to 78 degrees (23-26 degrees Celsius).
3. We may be little, but we’re long
Although the Turks and Caicos Islands are one of the smallest countries in the Caribbean, we boast nearly 400 kilometers of coastline and 40 islands.
4. More than half of our coastline is soft sand
There is over 230 miles of beach, most of it softest white sands on Earth. Need we say more?
5. We have our own “ambassador dolphin”
The dolphin’s name is JoJo, an Atlantic Bottlenose who has visited the crystal clear waters of the Turks and Caicos Islands for thirty years, one of a rare handful of dolphins around the world who voluntarily interacts with human beings in the wild. These types of dolphins are known as lone, sociable or ambassador dolphins.
Loved by the islanders and visitors alike, the government has recognized JoJo as a National Treasure, and has appointed a warden to protect him. There is even talk of providing him with a luxury Caribbean villa with a saltwater swimming pool.
6. The Turks and Caicos is the site of an annual Humpback whale migration
From January to March, the Humpbacks make their way from the northern waters of the Bay of Fundy in Canada to Silver Bank off the Dominican Republic where they mate and calve. Along this migration route is they travel near Providenciales and around Salt Cay, in the Turks and Caicos.
7. There are no lakes or rivers in Turks and Caicos
There are no lakes or rivers – freshwater supplies depend entirely on rainfall or expensive desalinated water.
8. We have the largest above-ground caves in the Caribbean
The Conch Bar Caves, located on Middle Caicos, is the largest above-ground cavesystem in the Bahamas-Turks and Caicos Islands archipelago.
9. The Turks and Caicos played a role in the space race
NASA’s Friendship 7 mission ended when John Glenn splashed down in his capsule in the Atlantic, off the Turks and Caicos Islands.
10. It’s a British territory that uses American currency
The islands have gone through plenty of different owners. Currently, the British own the islands. However, the currency most commonly used on the islands, is the US dollar.