Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands, Caribbean Sea

Grand Turk Island is an island in the Turks and Caicos Islands. It is the largest island in the Turks Islands (the smaller of the two archipelagos that make up the island nation) with 18 km2 (6.9 sq mi). Grand Turk contains the territory's capital, Cockburn Town and the JAGS McCartney International Airport. The island is the administrative, historic, cultural and financial center of the territory, and has the second largest population of the islands at approximately 3,720 people.

Grand Turk was first colonised in 1681 by Bermudians, who set up the salt industry in the islands. In 1766 it became the capital of the country. For some time, at least until the early 19th century, Grand Turk was often referred to as Grand Cay, not to be confused with either Grand Cay in the Bahamas or Grand Cayman.

The name comes from a species of cactus on the island, the Turk's Cap Cactus (Melocactus intortus), which has a distinctive cap, reminiscent of an Ottoman fez.

From 1957 to 1959 USN Mobile Construction Battalion 7 constructed a LORAN Station on the island.

In 1962, John Glenn's Friendship 7 Mercury spacecraft landed in the vicinity of Grand Turk Island off the southeast shoreline. A replica of the Friendship 7 is on display in Grand Turk at the entrance to the Grand Turk Island airport.

In 1966 at least five Arcas (All-Purpose Rocket for Collecting Atmospheric Soundings) sounding rockets were launched from Grand Turk Island by the USA.

Credit for the data above is given to the following website:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Turk_Island

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

Taken in: Turks and Caicos Islands / Palm Grove (show map)

Taken on: May 10, 2020

Tags:

Grand Turk

Turks and Caicos Islands

Grand Turk Island

Turks and Caicos

Completed: 1852

Alexander Gordon

Height 59 ft (18m)

town

urban beach

Caribbean

nautical

boating

sand

tropical

buildings

tourism

Chance Brothers

ocean

Caribbean Sea

boat

beach

swimming

water sports

blue water « less

Sets appears in: • Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands

Groups appears in: • travelers and landmarks • Caribbean more » • visit the world - the travel guide • Travel Photography • Geotagged: Travel • Caribbean Architecture • TRAVELPIX • Travelling Fool • Traveller's World • the World Traveller • * Travel Photography for World Nomads * • *Inspirational Travel Photos • Caribbean Flickr Group: post 1, comment 1 • TRAVEL Photography! • Frequent Traveler • Travel Scrapbook • worldwidewandering - a travel atlas • Architecture Travellers • The Turks and Caicos • Travel-Around • Travel Photo Guide • We travel the World • TRAVEL...MY OWN IMAGES • Traveler's Photos • World Photography - Public Photos - Traveling - Life • The Travel Experience - Travel photos from around the world • Caribbean Beaches Photography • Travelling Around • Travel: The World Through a Lens • Beautiful Grand Turk Turks and Caicos • Travel Planet • Travel and Escapades • Destinations around the world - The travel group • Travelling Lens • i love Traveling • * TRAVEL * (Please COMMENT with the CODE !) • The Traveling Camera Projects • Architecture Caribbean • Caribbean as we see it. • iTravel: Travel Photography • World travel photography • Travel - Around the World • Caribbean Travel & Vacation Network • WORLD TRAVEL : Your traveling experience (50 photos@day) • World Travel: Geotagged Only • Travel Experiences (Worldwide) • Caribbean Waters in Vivid Color • Flickr Travels Around the World • Turks and Caicos Islands • Travel Trekkies • Caribbean by tips4travels • Travelers and Viajeros • Travel photos on Cities and Architecture • Travels, Perspectives and Such Things • Caribbean Photographers • Caribbean Landscapes/Seascapes • Everything Everywhere Travel Photography • Caribbean Sunshine • Travelling Pixels • Travelling Vicariously • Lost in Travel • TRAVEL&LANDESCAPE • Travel Photography - Through the eyes of the world • Travelporn • The Traveler's Bucket List • City, Urban & Engineering Images • Travel the world with photos • Urban travellers « less

Stats: 3,015 views / 7 comments

Link to this photo view:
Link to this photo large view: