Grand Cayman from space, April 1994 |
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Grand Cayman (off the coast of Cuba)
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Caribbean |
| Archipelago | Greater Antilles |
| Area | 196 km2 (75.7 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 24 m (79 ft) |
| Highest point | unnamed |
| Country | |
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United Kingdom
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| British Overseas Territory | Cayman Islands |
| Largest city | George Town (pop. 30,600) |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 52,601 (as of 2010) |
| Density | 224.6 /km2 (581.7 /sq mi) |
| Ethnic groups | mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20% |
Grand Cayman is the largest of the three Cayman Islands and the location of the nation's capital, George Town. In relation to the other two Cayman Islands, it is approximately 75 miles (121 km) southwest of Little Cayman and 90 miles (145 km) southwest of Cayman Brac.
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Grand Cayman encompasses 76% of the country's entire land mass. The island is approximately 22 miles long with its widest point being 8 miles long.[1] The elevation ranges from sea level at the beaches to 60 feet above sea level on the North Side's Mastic Trail.[2][3]
Grand Cayman Island consists of six districts: Bodden Town, East End, George Town, North Side, Sister Islands, and West Bay.[4]
Of the flora, a good representation of the variety of plant life on Grand Cayman can be found at the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park located in the North Side District. Wild Banana Orchids, Ghost Orchids, Thatch Palm trees, Red Birch trees, Mahogany trees and various fruit trees such as Plantain, Mango, Breadfruit, and Tamarind. Yellow Mastics (Sideroxylon foetidissimum), Black Mastics (Terminalia eriostachya) are also seen in the park as well as on the 2 miles (3.2 km)-long Mastic Trail. Elsewhere outside the park, all of these species can be seen around Grand Cayman, including Coconut Palm, Casuarina Pine, Mangrove, and Poinciana trees.
Fauna seen in various locations around the island include Blue Iguanas (Cyclura lewisi), Grand Cayman Amazon parrots (Amazona leucocephala caymanensis), Central American Agouti (Dasyprocta punctata), and Gecarcinus ruricola, a species of land crab. The Cayman Islands Turtle Farm located in the West Bay district raises Green Sea Turtles for their meat and release into the wild. Through breeding, the farm produces upwards of 1800 turtles a year. Between 1980 and 2006, the farm released approximately 30,600 turtles to the wild; because of marking placed on each animal, the released turtles have been seen throughout the Caribbean.[5]
Of the three islands, Grand Cayman contains approximately 95% of the country's entire population.[6]
There are just under 600 banks and trust companies in the Grand Cayman, including 43 of the 50 largest banks in the world.[7] Because of this large financial presence on the island, banking, investments, and insurance drive the economy in Grand Cayman.[8]
There are fast food restaurants, night clubs and resorts on the western side of the island down to George Town. The eastern districts have more restaurants specialising in native Caymanian cuisine.
Because of its clubs, resorts, and hotels, Seven Mile Beach has the largest concentration of visitors and tourists on the island.
Watersports such as scuba diving and snorkeling are among the most popular activities on Grand Cayman as the island is known for its coral reefs and underwater sea walls along with a number of shipwrecks. As well, Grand Cayman Island also has a number of natural attractions: the blow holes in the East End district, the Mastic Trail that runs north to south through the center of the island, Hell in the West Bay, and the acclaimed Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, to name a few.
Owen Roberts International Airport serves Grand Cayman with domestic and international flights. Cayman Airways has its headquarters on Grand Cayman.[9]
Electrical service for Grand Cayman is provided by Caribbean Utilities Company Ltd., with its corporate headquarters located on North Sound Road. Electricity on Grand Cayman runs on a 110 volt electricity system with electrical outlets designed to accommodate a two-pin American plug.
Grand Cayman residents have a choice of telecommunications services from Digicel, LIME, Logic and TeleCayman.
The Cayman Islands Education Department operates government schools.