About Turks And Caicos Islands

Explore this Turks And Caicos Islands map to learn everything you want to know about this country. Learn about Turks And Caicos Islands location on the world map, official symbol, flag, geography, climate, postal/area/zip codes, time zones, etc. Check out Turks And Caicos Islands history, significant states, provinces/districts, & cities, most popular travel destinations and attractions, the capital city’s location, facts and trivia, and many more.

Introduction of Turks and Caicos Islands : the group of islands located in the Caribbean region and called the Turks and Caicos Islands are the answer to every water baby’s prayer.

It is here that you can truly let go and take a plunge (and I mean it literally!). Knowing this well the islands also has a thriving water-sports industry. The islands derive its name from different sources. The name ‘Turks’ comes from the Turk’s head cactus that is found all over the islands. On the other hand, the name ‘Caicos’ is derived from a phrase of Lucayan origin called “caya hico”, which translates as ‘string of islands’. These islands are an overseas territory of the British and are inhabited by people whose ancestors were once slaves.

The natives of the Turks and Caicos Islands call themselves ‘Belongers’.

Location of Turks and Caicos Islands : located in the northern region of the Caribbean, the Turks and Caicos Islands are a group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean. Miami lies some 575 miles northwest of this archipelago, and Haiti to its south.

Physical Map of Turks and Caicos Islands : Turks and Caicos Islands are two groups of North Atlantic islands. They are originally limestone based and so are made up of flat and plain landscapes. Water patches on the islands comprise mostly of marshlands and swampy mangroves. As a result of its limestone build-up, fresh water is hard to come by in the islands.

Climate of Turks and Caicos Islands : temperature variations in the Turks and Caicos Islands are never drastic. What’s more, the regular sweep of the easterly trade-winds helps in maintaining this balance. However, the general tendency of the weather in the Turks and Caicos Islands is to stay on the warmer side. The peak of summer is between September and October, while the winter peaks in the months of December, January and February.

Flag of Turks And Caicos Islands : the flag of Turks and Caicos Islands is rectangular in shape and have all the things that are markers of its identity. To begin with, the backdrop is a dark shade of blue. On this is base, on the top left corner is to be found the Union Jack. Towards the center of the right is superimposed the yellow colonial shield. In the shield, forming a triangular pattern is a lobster, a cactus and a conch shell (clockwise from top).

Flora and Fauna of Turks and Caicos Islands : the Turks and Caicos Islands do not have a very exotic list of flora and fauns to boast of. The richness found in their natural surroundings is restricted to the water bodies that surround it. However, they are not devoid of plant and animal life either. Their flora consists of most varieties that are considered to be typically tropical. So, you will find plenty of palms. There are several species of exotic flowers, like the orchid, for instance, to be scattered over the island. Yet, it is for their marine life that the Turks and Caicos Islands are most famous. It has mesmerizing expanses of coral reefs all around it. Various types of fishes and other marine animals can be sighted as they use the waters around the islands as a migratory transit. So, some of the species to look out for are the manta rays, turtles, humpback whales, dolphins and spotted eagle rays.

People of Turks and Caicos Islands : the dominant population in the island belongs to people of African origin, whose ancestors were brought to slave in the islands’ many cotton plantations and salt ponds. This group is called the ‘Belongers’. Apart from them, there are several expatriates from the neighboring archipelagos of Haiti, Bahamas and Dominica. There are also people of America, Britain, Canada and other parts of Europe living in harmony with the Belongers.

Arts, Culture and Music of Turks and Caicos Islands :

Art : the art and crafts in the Turks and Caicos Islands comprise of conch-shell art, paintings on silk, sea sponge and sea stars crafts by local artisans.

Culture : the culture is a combination of Polynesian, African and global.

Music : a unique feature of the Turks and Caicos Islands music is the specialty of the instrument that accompanies it. One traditional form is the ‘ripsaw’.

It is so called because of the unique use of a carpenter saw as a musical instrument. However, the ripsaw is performed to the music of several other instruments like the accordion, box guitar, maracas, goat and cowskin drums, triangles, concertina and conga drums.

Economy of Turks and Caicos Islands : the economy of the Turks and Caicos Islands is sustained primarily by money earned from offshore financing and revenues from customs. These two singly handedly support the economy of the islands. Aside of these, tourism and fishing for lobsters and conch shells are thriving industries and export commodities.