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Turks and Caicos Islands
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Map showing the location of the Turks and Caicos Islands, a British Overseas Territory, in the Atlantic Ocean southeast of the Bahamas and north of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Neighboring countries such as Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela are also labeled, with Cockburn Town marked as the capital. Aerial view of Cockburn Town beach on Grand Turk island, Turks and Caicos, showing turquoise water, white sand shoreline, and buildings along the coast. Rocky white cliffs and sparse vegetation overlook turquoise waves along the rugged shoreline of the North Coast of Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands. Regional map of the West Indies showing the islands of the Greater and Lesser Antilles, including Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Puerto Rico, and numerous smaller islands. The map uses color shading to indicate elevation, with higher elevations in orange and yellow, and labels major cities and territories, including those administered by the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, and the United States. Surrounding bodies of water such as the Caribbean Sea, Gulf o A blue heron stands in shallow water near a large pile of empty conch shells on a sandy shore in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, with turquoise sea in the background. Grace Bay beach in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, with white sand, turquoise water, palm trees, and beach umbrellas under a clear blue sky. Islands of the Caribbean Sea.
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Island, New Caledonia.
Islands and Archipelagos
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Turks and Caicos Islands: References & Edit History

Additional Reading

Travel guides include Stephen J. Pavlidis, The Turks and Caicos Guide: A Cruising Guide to the Turks and Caicos Islands, 2nd ed. (2002); Blair Howard and Renate Siekmann, Adventure Guide to the Islands of the Bahamas and Turks & Caicos, 4th ed. (2007); and Jill Kirby, Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, 3rd ed. (2005). Donovan S. Correll and Helen B. Correll, Flora of the Bahama Archipelago: Including the Turks and Caicos Islands (1982, reissued 1996), is an extensive reference. Historical works include H.E. Sadler, Turks Islands Landfall: A History of the Turks & Caicos Islands, rev. ed., ed. by Marjorie Sadler and Karen Collins (1997); and James H. Stark, Stark’s History and Guide to the Bahama Islands…Including Their History, Inhabitants, Climate, Agriculture, Geology, Government and Resources (1891), a classic background study.

James A. Ferguson

Article Contributors

Primary Contributors

  • James A. Ferguson
  • John H. Bounds
  • The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
    Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors

Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Modified link of Web site: Official Tourism Site of Turks and Caicos Islands, West Indies. Aug 01, 2026
Add new Web site: Digital Commons at University of South Florida - Anchialine biodiversity in the Turks and Caicos Islands: New discoveries and current faunal composition (PDF). Dec 19, 2025
Population updated. Sep 04, 2025
Add new Web site: BirdLife International - Turks and Caisos Islands (PDF). Dec 17, 2024
Add new Web site: Official Site of Turks and Caicos Museum. Oct 25, 2024
Add new Web site: Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands - Historical Background - Outline of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Oct 10, 2023
Add new Web site: Official Site of the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands. May 22, 2023
Add new Web site: GlobalSecurity.org - Turks & Caicos. Mar 31, 2023
Add new Web site: CRW Flags - Flag of Turks and Caicos. Jan 05, 2023
Population data updated. Oct 12, 2022
Add new Web site: Official Tourism Site of Turks and Caicos Islands, West Indies. May 25, 2018
In History section, updated with results of December 2016 election. Feb 21, 2017
Media added. Feb 21, 2017
Population data updated. Aug 10, 2015
Media added. Aug 10, 2015
Updated for new constitution and the return to democratically elected government. Mar 20, 2013
Updated for closure of privately owned conch farm; population data updated. Aug 21, 2012
Add new Web site: Fact Monster - World - Turks and Caicos Islands. Nov 22, 2011
Add new Web site: Fact Monster - World - Turks and Caicos Islands. Aug 10, 2011
Updated for British government's August 2009 suspension of constitution and imposition of direct rule by the governor. Aug 25, 2009
Updated for British government's August 2009 imposition of direct rule by the governor. Aug 25, 2009
Updated for resignation of prime minister and possible imposition of direct rule by Britain. Apr 22, 2009
Article revised and updated. Sep 11, 2008
Article revised and updated. Sep 05, 2008
Added new Web site: How Stuff Works - Geography - Turks and Caicos Islands. Jul 11, 2008
Added new Web site: Lonely Planet - Turks and Caicos. Jul 09, 2008
Bibliography revised and updated. May 30, 2008
History updated. May 30, 2008
Geography section revised. May 30, 2008
Added new Web site: Official Site for the Department of Economic Planning and Statistics - Turks and Caicos Islands. Dec 21, 2006
Added new Web site: Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - Turks and Caicos Islands. Jul 25, 2006
Article revised. Mar 13, 2003
Article added to new online database. Jul 26, 1999
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