Cayman islands

Fans of diving or surfing should definitely visit a corner of picturesque tropical vegetation called the Cayman Islands. Here you can enjoy plenty of quiet and measured rest, as well as developed infrastructure.

Cayman Islands on the world map

The Cayman Islands can hardly be called a separate state, since they belong to the overseas possessions of Great Britain.
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Picturesque island lands are located in the West Indies in the middle of the legendary Caribbean Sea. The group of islands includes very small territories with an area of ​​only 264 square kilometers, which puts these lands on the 210th place in the world in terms of size.

The three Cayman Islands are named Little Cayman, Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac. Their location in the middle of the sea explains the lack of common borders with other states. Cuba is the closest to the Caymans – about 240 kilometers to the north. Other neighbors include Jamaica (267 km) and Miami in the United States (730 km). The Cayman Islands are home to more than 54 thousand people who speak English. The lands are subordinated to the British Queen Elizabeth II.

Cayman islands

On the territory of Grand Cayman there is a city called Georgetown, which is the capital of these lands. It is this island that is the largest and covers an area of ​​almost 200 square kilometers. The altitude maximum of Grand Cayman is only 16 meters. The main feature of the relief here is the North Sound Lagoon, which stretches for tens of kilometers in length.

The second largest island is Cayman Brac, which lags behind the main island by 142 kilometers by sea. Its entire area of ​​38 square kilometers belongs to a limestone plateau called Bluff. It is here that the high-altitude maximum of the Cayman Islands is located, numbering about 42 meters. There is no separate name for this point, but it is known that it is located in the east of the island. Very close to Cayman Brac is Little Cayman, an area of ​​28 square kilometers. The relief of the local lands is predominantly flat, only in the north you can see small hills up to 12 meters.

As for the fresh water sources in the Cayman Islands, there is not even a reminder of the rivers. Although the island territories are shrouded on all sides by waves of the seas, there can be problems with drinking water here, but the desalination systems work without interruption. There are large reefs in the coastal area, and the coast itself is famous for its mangrove vegetation. Some areas of such thickets smoothly turn into swampy foci right in the middle of the islands. The fauna and flora of the islands are not particularly rich and diverse, but the sea inhabitants completely balance out such disadvantages, since there you can see several types of fish, crayfish, turtles and other interesting creatures.

The relief of the Cayman Islands is determined by the seamount of the same name, which begins near Cuba. It is in this geographical area that the Caribbean Sea reaches its maximum depth, approximately 6.4 kilometers. The location on the border of tectonic plates creates favorable conditions for earthquakes in the Cayman Islands. The maximum value in points is 7 units. Recently, such seismic activity has been very rare and only in the form of small shocks. That is why tourists do not stop visiting these islands with great pleasure. As statistics show, more than 70 percent of the income of the country’s inhabitants comes from tourism.

State flag of the Cayman Islands

The color scheme and pronounced symbolism of the national flag of the Cayman Islands shows an inextricable connection with Great Britain and the Queen. It is the blue English stern flag that underlies the creation of the main state symbol of the Caymans. The modern appearance of such a flag is an oblong rectangular canvas of rich dark blue, which is complemented by the British flag in the upper left corner, and the coat of arms of these tropical flourishing lands on the right.

On the coat of arms, green stars in gold rims represent the three major Cayman Islands. The wavy blue and white lines are considered the symbol of the Caribbean. The lion on the red canvas shows the main symbol of Great Britain. The turtle with a pineapple on its back is also of particular importance, representing the nautical history of the island territories and the traditional industry that thrives in the Caymans. The English inscription at the bottom of the shield represents an extract and scripture that shows the Christianity of the people of the Cayman Islands.

At the state level, such a flag in the Caymans was adopted only in May 1958 by a government decision.

Features of the climate in the Cayman Islands

The geographic location of the Cayman Islands near the equator in the tropics determines local weather patterns. That is why a tropical climate and trade wind air circulation dominate the local lands. In addition, the weather conditions in the Caymans are accompanied by stable high temperatures and humidity. In the cold season, average temperatures fluctuate within 15 degrees with a plus sign. In summer, the air warms up and up to 30 degrees Celsius.

From May to the end of October, temperature indicators remain stable almost all the time and are 29 degrees with a plus sign. During the winter, which lasts from November to the end of April, locals take a break from the heat and enjoy the dry weather. In such a season, the temperature drops significantly and fluctuates between 17-24 degrees.

As for precipitation, about 1,300 millimeters of moisture falls over the Cayman Islands annually in the form of rain or fog. Heavy rainfall is observed mainly in summer and is characterized by abundance, but short duration. It is in the summer that tropical storms and violent hurricanes can pass through the Cayman Islands. However, in winter, rains also occasionally visit the Cayman Islands, particularly in the evening and at night. During the day, the weather is almost ideal, as it is accompanied by clear skies and dry air.

If you are planning to go on a trip to the Cayman Islands in the near future, then you should definitely choose for such a trip a period starting in mid-December and coming to the end of April. It is at this time that the peak of the tourist season begins here. However, during such a period, you can face rather high prices for accommodation. For this reason, some travelers choose summer for romantic and tourist tours, despite the rainy weather.

Recreation and attractions of the Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands, which were first visited by Christopher Columbus back in 1503, today attract huge attention from tourists from all over the world. The lion’s share of the guests of these island lands are Europeans, who gladly return here again and again.

There is nothing strange in this, because at present the Cayman Islands are a real paradise filled with lush tropical greenery, a marvelous favorable climate and picturesque coral reefs. It is ideal for sailing, surfing and diving. The safety of tourists in this region is at an incredibly high level, which simply cannot but rejoice. Clean well-groomed beaches open their gentle embrace to everyone, and the abundance of comfortable hotels and constantly improving infrastructure helps to attract new tourists.

The most developed part of the country is Grand Cayman Island. This is where most of the population lives. Among the legendary landmarks of this land, it is worth mentioning the numerous offshore banks and reefs, which are especially loved by beginners and experienced divers. In its geometric shape, the islet resembles a sperm whale. Due to the really great depths, even large sea vessels can be approached to the shores of the Grand Cayman.

The capital of the Cayman Islands, the amazing city of Georgetown, also deserves special attention of tourists. If you compare it with other world capitals, then it will seem very small and calm to you. In fact, Georgetown can easily be called a city of contrasts. Here, the ancient flavor is perfectly combined with modern buildings, creating a unique and indescribable atmosphere. You will hardly find a traditional European layout here, it has survived only a few blocks in the central districts of Georgetown. The new part of the city is filled with luxury glass shopping malls, high-rise office buildings and numerous aerials. Here you can see duty-free shops everywhere, where you can buy a variety of really interesting things.

Sparkling emeralds and all kinds of jewelry with them, as well as traditional Cuban cigars and modern electronics developments, are brought from the Cayman Islands as souvenirs. In Georgetown, you should definitely visit the small historic center and a couple of museums. Almost all of the architectural structures of Georgetown, which have historical and cultural value, can also boast a rich, centuries-old history. Therefore, you should definitely book a couple of excursions to learn more about this amazing place.

In the northwestern part of Grand Cayman, you can see the famous natural landmark called Hull, which is a huge array of jagged outlier rocks. Such scenic landscapes can only be seen in the Cayman Islands. Connoisseurs of nature should definitely visit the turtle farm, where more than 16 thousand of these cute creatures lead their carefree lives. In addition, the Queen Elizabeth II Botanical Garden is a special natural attraction. The park covers over 65 acres of land. Hundreds of amazing plant species grow here, but orchids deserve special attention. All of the Cayman Islands offer their guests a luxurious seaside experience.

A trip to the Cayman Islands is sure to add a fairy tale to your daily life!