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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 Caribbean Sea and northern Caribbean region.
The first recorded European sighting of the islands now known as the Turks and Caicos occurred in 1512. In the subsequent centuries, 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. When the Bahamas gained independence in 1973, the islands received their own governor, and have remained a separate autonomous British Overseas Territory since.
The eight main islands and more than 299 smaller islands have a total land area of 616.3 square kilometres (238.0 sq mi),[b] consisting primarily of low, flat limestone with extensive marshes and mangrove swamps and 332 square kilometres (128 sq mi) of beach front. The weather is usually sunny and relatively dry, but suffers frequent hurricanes.
Some 60 species of coral live in the waters off the Turks & Caicos. Hard coral varieties include staghorn, elkhorn, pillar, star, and brain. Sea fans, sea whips, and sea plumes number among the soft varieties.
Barrier reefs of coral running parallel to the shore protect the Islands from wave action and stabilize the islands’ plateau edges. Inshore of the barrier reefs, patch reefs range from a few hundred square feet to several acres.
These gorgeous flowers were growing all over the island. You can see why people think they are trees. They are not. They are the flower spike of the agave. It's sad that the agave will die after reproducing. It goes out in a blaze of glory. It also spreads by making pups. Agave braceana
These gorgeous flowers were growing all over the island. You can see why people think they are trees. They are not. They are the flower spike of the agave. It's sad that the agave will die after reproducing. It goes out in a blaze of glory. It also spreads by making pups.
This little bird was really enjoying his drink from the agave flowers. Agave braceana
Our Grand Lucayan Resort, Grand Bahama Island.
This is where we ate lunch and enjoyed the beach in the Bahamas.
(There are several photos in the comments. They are what is left of my vacation photos.)
After Kayaking through the mangroves near the Lucayan National Park in Freeport, Grand Bahama, I came out to explore and stumbled upon the Disney crew. They were filming Pirates of the Caribbean three! I didn't see any movie stars but I did get to check out some large buccaneer ships like this one. (It is only "half" a ship because it's open from the other side - for filming interior shots). Unfortunately, I only managed to guerrilla-snap this photo before the security guard started to yell at me!