Turks and Caicos Islands ((in)Turks and Caicos Islands) | |
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Information | |
Capital city | Cockburn Town (island of Grand Turk) |
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Area | 430 km² |
Population | 21 152 hab. |
Density | 49,19 inhab./km² |
Form of State | Overseas Territory of UK |
Official language | English |
Other languages | Spanish, Haitian Creole |
Change | US dollar (USD) |
Religions | aptists 40%, Anglicans 18%, Methodists 16%, Pentecostals (Church of God Prophecy) 12%, other 14% (1990) |
Telephone prefix | 1649 |
Internet suffix | .tc |
Flow direction | Drive to the left |
Spindle | UTC − 04: 00 |
Location | |
![]() 21 ° 40 ′ 5 ″ N 71 ° 48 ′ 25 ″ W | |
Government site | |
The Turks and Caicos Islands are a British territory of Caribbean located south-east of Bahamas and northwest of the island of Hispanolia (Haiti and Dominican Republic). It is made up of two archipelagos (that of the Turks, to the east, and that of the Caicos, to the west) separated from each other by the channel of the Turks Islands (Turks Island Passage) with a width of approximately 35 km.
Understand
The plant environment of the Turks and Caicos Islands consists of marshes and mangroves that developed on limestone soil. These islands are subject to strong sunshine and are victims of marked aridity. They also suffer from hurricanes, which are frequent in the region. Tourism, fishing and offshore financial services are the main economic activities of the archipelago. Its main natural economic resources are lobster and conch. They constitute an overseas territory of UK and are classified in the list of non-independent territories by the United Nations Committee on Decolonization.
For several decades, the leaders of the island have nevertheless started discussions with the Canadian government with the aim of integrating the island into the Canadian confederation as the eleventh province which poses a problem for the islands because this would require an unwanted constitutional amendment.
In 2004, the province of Nova Scotia invited the archipelago to join the province so that it could integrate into Canada without problems.
Regions
- Caicos Islands
- East Caicos
- Middle Caicos, the largest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, but one of the least populated
- North Caicos, the greenest of all the islands and includes the largest colony of flamingos
- Pine Cay, a small high-end resort island
- Providenciales, commonly called Provo, main tourist center and the most populous island of the Turks and Caicos Islands
- South Caicos, one of the less touristic islands, main center of the fishing industry
- Turks Islands
- Grand Turk, the largest and most populous of the Turks Islands; there is Cockburn Town, the capital of the Turks and Caicos. It would also be, according to some, the island where Christopher Columbus first set foot in America (and not in San Salvador, as popular belief is)
- Salt cay, the southernmost of the inhabited islands of the archipelago, and undoubtedly the most relaxed (because it is sparsely populated and not very touristy). A former center of the salt industry, the island is said to have been nominated to become one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Cities
- Cockburn Town, the capital of the Turks and Caicos, on Grand Turk Island Front Street in Cockburn Town
- Balfour Town, the only town on Salt Cay Island
- Cockburn Harbor, on the island of South Caicos
Other destinations
To go
Formalities
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Visa_policy_of_the_Turks_and_Caicos_Islands.png/700px-Visa_policy_of_the_Turks_and_Caicos_Islands.png)
- Exemption from Visa for a maximum of 90 days
- Visa required
Although the Turks and Caicos Islands are a British overseas territory, they maintain their own immigration rules. In addition to the above exemptions, permanent residents of Canada, United States and UK also do not need a visa to enter the Turks and Caicos Islands.
By plane
- 1 Providenciales International Airport (IATA : PLS, ICAO: MBPV, Providenciales International Airport) (in the middle of Providenciales Island)
Almost all international flights arrive at Providenciales Airport, which is just over an hour from Miami.
From North America, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, U.S. Airways and Spirit Airlines offer flights from various American cities (including Miami, new York, Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale, Charlotte, Boston and Philadelphia). The frequency of these flights varies from three per day (from Miami) to one per week (from Philadelphia). Air Canada also offers a weekly flight from Toronto, of Ottawa and of Montreal.
Bahamasair offers three weekly flights from Nassau, while Air Turks & Caicos, Sky King and Global Airways (three small local airlines) offer several flights, at variable frequency, to the Bahamas, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
The only airline connecting Europe to the Turks and Caicos Islands is British Airways with a weekly flight (calling at Nassau) from Heathrow.
On a boat
Since February 2006, the island of Grand Turk has been equipped with brand new port facilities thanks to which it has become a stopover of choice for several shipping companies (including Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America and Regent Seven Seas). Although the number of cruise passengers continues to increase, they rarely spend more than a day on the island, with ships rarely calling for longer.
Boaters, on the other hand, have the choice of several marinas on the island of Providenciales. Those of Turtle Cove and Leeward are the most popular and offer all the usual services (harbor master's office, fuel pumps, drinking water, toilets, etc.). It is imperative to report to customs and immigration services soon after arrival. Besides Providenciales, the only two islands where it is also possible to complete entry formalities are South Caicos and Grand Turk.
Circulate
On a boat
Speak
The official language of the territory isEnglish. However, given the growing number of Dominican and Haitian immigrants, theSpanish and the Creole are more and more widespread, especially on the island of Providenciales.
Buy
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/USDnotesNew.png/250px-USDnotesNew.png)
The currency of the Turks and Caicos Islands is the United States dollar (USD).
Eat
Have a drink / Go out
The archipelago has limited quantities of running water, so the inhabitants usually install cisterns to collect rainwater for consumption.
Housing
Learn
To work
Communicate
security
Government travel advice
Canada (Government of Canada)