Total area: 166 sq mi (430 sq km)
Population (2006 est.): 21,746
Capital (2003 est.): Cockburn Town (on Grand Turk) - 5,000
Currency: U.S. dollar
Language: English (official), Creole
Religions: Roman Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Baptist, Seventh Day Adventist and Pentecostal
Time zone: GMT-5, DST: GMT-4
Electricity: AC 120V/60Hz, American plugs are used
The Turks and Caicos Islands are a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean, situated 80 km (50 miles) southeast of the Bahamas. The territory occupies two groups of sub-tropical islands: Caicos Islands (larger) and Turks Islands. The archipelago (geographically it is part of the Bahamas) consist of 40 islands, from which the major, inhabited ones are: Grand Turk and Salt Cay (in the Turks group) and South Caicos, East Caicos, Middle (or Grand) Caicos, North Caicos, Providenciales, and West Caicos (belonging to the Caicos group).
Main source of revenue on Turks and Caicos is tourism, but the islands are still relatively unspoiled and untouched by heavy development and commercialization. Nature parks, white, sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and some interesting historical sites are the main tourist attractions of Turks and Caicos.
