TURKS AND KAYKOS
(Islands Turks and Kaykos)

Main town: Turkic grand

Archaeological expeditions opened the artifacts testifying to the settlement of the Arawak on islands of TURKS And of KAYKOS. Today only eight of 30 islands are inhabited. The Turks and Caicos Islands, perhaps, were the place of disembarkation of Columbus in his first flight in 1492. Traditionally, however, Juan Ponce de Leon deserves recognition for the European opening of islands in 1512. Then islands served as a shelter for pirates and as port of call for researchers and dealers. Bermudets who, since 1670th years, regularly came for collecting salt were the first European inhabitants.

Islands Kaykos were resolved by farmers Loyalists who left the southern states after the United States won independence of Great Britain. After in 1838 slavery was cancelled, planters left and their former slaves remained. Islands were placed under the power of the Bahamas till 1848, and islands were generally self-governed under the supervision of Jamaica till 1873. From 1874 to 1959 islands were dependent on Jamaica. Islands were under control of the Bahamas until the Bahamas became independent in 1973. In 1976 the Turks and Caicos Islands became colony of a crown. Independence was originally planned for 1982, but change in the government led to cancellation of this policy. Islands still colonies of a crown.

The Turkic grand (also known as the city of Kokbern) is the main town among the islands located on the island Grand-Tyur. The population of the Great Turk makes about 4000 people. Traditional economic activity consisted in collecting salts, but in 1964 the industry stopped the activity. Main types of economic activity are tourism and fishery of lobsters. Offshore financial services also become more and more important. The main port for the Turks and Caicos Islands is in Grand Turk, and in Solt-Kay, Providensialis and Cockburn-Harbor on Saut-Kaykos there are other ports. In the Turkic Grand, Youzhny Kaykos, Providenciales and Northern Kaykos there are international airports. Cable and Wireless (West Indies) Ltd. provides national and international telecommunication services. The Intelsat station on Grand Turk connects the island with the USA, Bermuda and the United Kingdom.

The Provo golf club on the island Providenciales has 18-lunochny superiority. Scuba diving, scuba diving, yachting, fishing, riding, tennis and cycling is popular actions for visitors. The national park of the Turks and Caicos Islands occupies the space in 325 square miles and has 33 the protected immersions. For visitors excursions on observation of whales will be organized. Grand Turk is known for the architecture of the 19th century and horse crews. On nearby Solt-Kay is historical windmills and saline soils. The library in Big Toure doubles as the museum. Its main appeal - manifestation of the Indian artifacts of Lukayan.