- Population:
- 57,196
- Religion:
- Christianity
Turks and Caicos is an archipelago of 40 low-lying coral islands in the Atlantic Ocean a British Overseas Territory southeast of the Bahamas. The gateway island of Providenciales known as Provo is home to expansive Grace Bay Beach with luxury resorts shops and restaurants. Scuba-diving sites include a 14-mile barrier reef on Provo’s north shore and a dramatic 2134m underwater wall off Grand Turk island.
The islands were part of the UK's Jamaican colony until 1962 when they assumed the status of a separate crown colony upon Jamaica's independence. The governor of The Bahamas oversaw affairs from 1965 to 1973. With Bahamian independence the islands received a separate governor in 1973. Although independence was agreed upon for 1982 the policy was reversed and the islands remain a British overseas territory.
