The Turks and Caicos is a popular destination and I’m excited to finally check it out for myself when I attend Social Media on the Sand<\/a> at Beaches Resorts. First, though, I wanted to learn more about it, so here are some fun facts about the Turks and Caicos.<\/p>\n

The Turks and Caicos are comprised of 40 islands and cays, eight of which are inhabited. They are located in the Eastern Caribbean, approximately 1,000 miles east-southeast of Miami, and are not all that far from the Bahamas.<\/p>\n

Vital Statistics<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Population: approximately 50,000<\/p>\n

Language: English<\/p>\n

Largest City: Providenciales, commonly known as “Provo”<\/p>\n

Capital: Grand Turk<\/p>\n

Currency: U.S. Dollar<\/p>\n

Area: 948 square kilometers (It’s roughly twice the size of Washington, D.C.)<\/p>\n

Time Zone: Same as Eastern Standard Time in the U.S.<\/p>\n

More facts about Turks and Caicos<\/strong><\/p>\n

They are a British Overseas Territory consisting of the larger Caicos Islands and smaller Turks Island in the Eastern Caribbean. Turks and Caicos was part of the United Kingdom’s Jamaican colony until 1962, at which time Jamaica became independent. It was then that Turks and Caicos assumed the status of a separate crown colony.<\/p>\n

Tourism is the main industry, with more than 1 million visitors annually. The US is the leading source of tourists, accounting for more than three-quarters of them, many arriving by cruise ship.<\/p>\n

The Beaches Resort<\/a> and other resorts and hotels are located near Providenciales, which is at the western end of the territory. Cruise ships most often dock at Grand Turk, which is several islands to the east.<\/p>\n

these are not exactly mountainous islands, with the highest point being Flamingo Hill, which is 48 meters high (or 144 feet.)<\/p>\n

The flag of the Turks and Caicos features the Union Jack of Great Britain and a yellow shield taken from the coat of arms that features three items: a conch shell, a cactus, and a lobster.<\/p>\n

Airline service is seasonal, with more flights during the winter travel season, which is busier.<\/p>\n

Provo is home to one of only two conch farms in the world, and you can find conch in many local delicacies.<\/p>\n

The Turks and Caicos Rock Iguana, Cyclura carinata<\/i>, is the largest non-extinct indigenous land animal found in the country, and can be found on Little Water Cay, also known as Iguana Island. They are critically endangered.<\/p>\n

Source: The World Fact Book<\/a> by the U.S. CIA; TurksandCaicosTourism.com<\/a>; VisitTCI.com<\/a><\/p>\n