Grand Turk Turks and Caicos Islands
The political capital of the Turks & Caicos Islands for over 400 years, Bermudian colonial architecture is still in evidence. Recent years have seen the development of an offshore finance industry. Many believe that Grand Turk was Columbus’ first landfall in the New World, fitting his journal description of a low-lying “bean-shaped” island with ponds in the middle.
Pristine diving areas in shallow water and the world’s best wall diving on coral cliffs that drop from 30 feet (9m) to over 7,000 feet (2,000m) lie within 300 yards (274m) of the western shore. Mooring buoys protect the fragile corals and three dive operations cater to the Grand Turk diving visitor. Quiet beaches surround the island.
A visit to the Turks & Caicos National Museum is a must. The history of the Islands is preserved here in exhibits of tools, pottery and other materials. An extensive collection of artifacts from the Molasses Reef Wreck, the oldest European shipwreck known, have been preserved and are on exhibit. The museum shop has many interesting books and local crafts.
The Old-World charm of Grand Turk is evident on touring the island. Each building has a walled courtyard to keep wandering donkeys from dining on the foliage. Churches are reflected in the salt pans. A 140-plus year old lighthouse stands sentry, at the northern end of the island.
