Friday, April 3, 2009

The Turks Islands and Grand Turk - A Lesson


Yesterday we crossed the Turks Island Passage (sometimes called the Columbus Passage). This is a 25 mile wide, 7,000 foot deep trench connecting the Caribbean and the southwest north Atlantic and separating the Turks Islands from the Caicos Islands. Between January and March, an estimated 3,000 humpback whales traverse the Turks Island Passage to their winter breeding grounds. (I guess the one we saw yesterday (in April) was a slowpoke or curious one.)

The Turks Islands were once called the “Salt Islands.” There are two opinions as to the “Turks” name of this island group. The first comes from Sir William Phipps, who, in 1687, possibly named them after the native turk’s cap or turk’s head cactus (Melocactus intortus). Phipps and his men were in the area recovering 26 tons of gold and silver from a wrecked Spanish galleon when he noticed the cactus that reminded him of a Turkish fez. The second opinion as to the name origination is thought to come from a time when the islands were used as hideouts for pirates, some of whom were said to be of Turkish descent, It is suggested that in the 16th and 17th centuries, under the leadership of the two Barbarosa brothers, a band of Barbary pirates operated out of this area.

Grand Turk is the capital of the Turks and Caicos Islands. It is the largest of the Turks Islands and only one of two inhabited islands in this group Approximately six miles long and three miles wide, Grand Turk is often argued as Columbus’ first stop in the New World. There is a long running argument of where he really landed – and this is one of the possibilities.

Grand Turk first gained prominence in the 1600’s for its salt-making stations. In 1962, John Glenn, after his famous space flight, first set foot back on planet earth at Grand Turk. Over the years, five Gemini and one Apollo craft splashed down in the waters around Grand Turk.

For our sailor friends – the first great American Merchantman sailing vessel to trade with the Orient was “Grand Turk.” This 300-ton, three-masted vessel boasted 22 guns and was originally designed as a privateer. The “Grand Turk” is best known however, as the ship seen on the bottles of “Old Spice” aftershave and cologne.

Last year it was hit hard by the hurricane and the damage is still quite visible on land. A blue tarp covers the roof of St. Mary’s and many of the buildings on the side of the island we’re anchored are damaged. Some quite badly. From the boat we see the parliament building which is lovely. There are a few churches, banks and of course a beach bar (that played music until 3 am this morning!).

The Parliament building late in the day.


Today, we’ll row to shore (against some pretty good wind) and roam around the island. More on our discoveries in the next post.

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