If you want to increase your exposure
to the millions of people who come to
WorldWeb.com each month to plan their
business trips and vacations, please refer
to our advertising information.
Named
in reference to the island’s indigenous Turk’s Head cactus, the Turks
are a chain of tropical islands in the Atlantic Ocean east of Cuba and
southeast of the
Bahamas. Boasting almost 350 days of sunshine per year, miles
of white sand and sparkling turquoise waters, the islands are a largely
undiscovered jewel in the Caribbean.
Together with the Caicos
Islands just across the Columbus Passage, the Turks are an
overseas territory of the United Kingdom
and consist primarily of two main islands–Grand
Turk and Salt
Cay. While the Caicos group is larger and claims
most of the country’s population and tourism, Grand Turk has the
distinction of being home to the territory’s capital and seat of
government, Cockburn
Town. Founded in the late 1600s when the islands
were an important source of salt, the town is one of the country’s
oldest settlements and is known for its long, narrow streets and fine
examples of Bermudian colonial architecture. An historic l9th
century lighthouse
still stands and guards the northern tip of Grand Turk but these days
salt raking has been replaced by tourism and offshore financial
services, both of which play prominently on the Turks. Grand
Turk is considered the financial and business centre of the country and
is also home to its chief cruise port, the Grand
Turk Cruise Centre.