Geography of Turks and Caicos Islands – The Ultimate Free Guide 2021
Learn facts and Geography of Turks and Caicos Islands including Major Geographical Features, Natural resources, Region, area, Capital, Border countries, rivers in Turks and Caicos Islands.
- The Turks and Caicos Islands are a British Overseas Territory consisting of the larger Caicos Islands and smaller Turks Islands, two groups of tropical islands in the Lucayan Archipelago of the Atlantic Ocean and northern West Indies. They are known primarily for tourism and as an offshore financial center.
- The Turks and Caicos Islands lie southeast of Mayaguana in the Bahamas island chain, northeast of Cuba, and north of the island of Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic).
- The Turks and Caicos Islands were inhabited for centuries by indigenous peoples.
- The first recorded European sighting of the islands occurred in 1512.
- The islands were claimed by several European powers, with the British Empire eventually gaining control. For many years the islands were governed indirectly through Bermuda, the Bahamas, and Jamaica.
- The name Caico is from the Lucayan caya hico, meaning ‘string of islands’.
- The Turks Islands are named after the Turk’s cap cactus, Melocactus intortus, whose red cephalium resembles the fez hat worn by Turkish men in the late Ottoman Empire.
Geography of Turks and Caicos Islands
Sovereign state:
United Kingdom
Area:
948 km2
Capital:
Cockburn Town
Population:
42,953
Bordering Countries:
Border of Turks and caicos island is southeast of Miami, Florida, roughly midway between the Bahamas and the island of Hispaniola.
Total Size:
366 Sq Mi
Geographical Coordinates:
21°46′48″N 71°48′00″W.
World Region or Continent:
North America
General Terrain:
Turks and Caicos is located southeast of the Bahamas, northeast of Cuba, and north of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Both main groups of islands are separated by the Turks Island Passage and surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. The territory is part of the Lucayan Archipelago and the northern West Indies.
Climate:
- The Turks and Caicos Islands feature tropical savannah climate (AW), with relatively consistent temperatures throughout the course of the year.
- Summertime temperatures rarely exceed 33 °C (91 °F) and winter nighttime temperatures rarely fall below 18 °C (64 °F).
Major cities:
- Cockburn Town
- Wheeland
- Cockburn Harbour
Major Land forms:
- The islands are low-lying and formed by coral reefs. They are characterized by numerous karst features, including banana holes (small sinkholes containing rich soil), caves, caverns, and sea cliffs.
Major Rivers and Lakes:
There are no lakes or rivers in Turks and Caicos island.
Natural Resources:
Natural Resources of Turks and Caicos islands are spiny lobster, conch.
Major Geographical Features:
Topography:
- The Turks and Caicos Islands sit on an underwater plateau which is primarily limestone and rises about 10,000 feet up from the Atlantic Ocean sea floor
Oceans:
Atlantic Ocean
Islands:
- Ambergris Cays
- Big Ambergris Cay
- Little Ambergris Cay
- Bay Cay
- Bush Cay
- Dellis Cay
- Donna Cay
- Dove Cay
- East Bay Cay
- East Caicos
- Fish Cays
- Five Cays
- Five Little Cays
- Fort George Cay
- French Cay
- Little Water Cay
- Long Cay
- Mangrove Cay
- Middle Caicos
- Middleton Cay
- North Caicos
- Parrot Cay
- Pine Cay
- Plandon Cay
- Providenciales
- Seal Cays
- Six Hill Cays
- South Caicos
- Stubbs Cay
- Water Cay
- West Caicos
- West Sand Spit
Mountain Ranges:
- Two Sister’s Hill
- Tatem Field Hill
- Goods Hill
- Village Hill
- Cooper Jack Hill
- Monkey Hill
- Bristol Hill
- Big Hill
- Colonel Murray’s Hill
- Aker’s Hill
- Most Prominent Mountains
- Goods Hill
- Village Hill
- Cooper Jack Hill
- Monkey Hill
- Big Hill
- Colonel Murray’s Hill
- Bristol Hill
- Sapodilla Hill
- Taylor’s Hill
Districts of the Turks and Caicos Islands :
- Providenciales
- North Caicos
- Middle Caicos
- South Caicos
- Grand Turk
- Salt Cay
See Also:
World Map – The Ultimate Free Guide
Web References:
- Wikipedia – Geography of Turks and Caicos Islands
- ducksters.com – Geography of Turks and Caicos Islands
- britannica.com- Geography of Turks and Caicos Islands
- gisgeography.com – Geography of Turks and Caicos Islands
- newworldenclopyedia.com – Geography of Turks and Caicos Islands
