The Cayman Islands are a country in the Caribbean Sea, not far from the coast of Jamaica.

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It owes its name not to the toothy caiman crocodiles, which never existed here, but to the biological illiteracy of the captains who sailed there later than Columbus, who actually discovered these islands. They mistook large lizards - iguanas - that inhabited the islands for crocodiles. However, the cartographer who replicated the maps of the local territories was most likely mistaken. Columbus himself called the Las Tortugas Islands “the turtle islands.” The turtles were then continually caught and eaten with gusto until they were all eaten. There were no permanent settlements on the islands for a very long time. Victims of shipwrecks and fugitives settled there, creating pirate fame for these territories.

By the Treaty of Madrid in 1670, the Cayman Islands were ceded to Great Britain, which administered them through the Governor of Jamaica. In 1802, the first population census was carried out, as a result of which it was calculated that a thousand people lived on the islands. Of which more than half are slaves. In 1962, Jamaica gained independence, and the Cayman Islands (which were part of Jamaica at that time) expressed a desire to remain under the jurisdiction of Great Britain.

Remaining subjects of a great power, the Caymanians did not make a mistake. Despite the small size of the state, it has one of the highest standards of living of the population. Tourism is widely developed, specializing in diving and spearfishing.
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The Cayman Islands are inhabited by about 50 thousand people, and among them there are not only diving personnel who can only drive stingrays within range of a successful shot. If laptop diagnostics are needed, local specialists will always provide it. They are not difficult to find in the capital - Georgetown.

Two hundred kilometers from Cuba in the Caribbean Sea there are three small islands of only 260 square meters. kilometers in area. Together they form the rather young state of the Cayman Islands, which is not yet 100 years old from the date of independence.

Cayman Islands on the world map

Initially, everything here was controlled by Great Britain, later by Jamaica. It was only in 1962 that the Caymans became an independent country.
Three small islands - Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac got their name in honor of the large cayman crocodiles, which never existed here. But there was a misunderstanding: the islands were originally called Lagartos, which means large lizards. But later Europeans confused the lizards, mistaking them for crocodiles. Hence the name.
The capital of the state, Georgetown, is located on the largest island - Grand Cayman. It forms its own district of 30 square meters. km. Also located here are the following districts: Bodden Town, East Ent, North Site, West Bay. The other two islands are not divided into districts or regions.

Map of the Cayman Islands in Russian

All islands are quite low - no higher than 20 meters above sea level. Several rivers flow here, although the islands are surrounded by reefs. The Cayman Islands are prone to tremors and earthquakes as the country lies on the border of two tectonic plates. The climate is tropical, solar activity is high.
Tourists who decide to visit this state will be able to find a lot of interesting things in the exotic archipelago. The capital, Georgetown, is the largest port city in the country. Fort George, which was built by the British at the end of the 18th century, still remains here. In addition, there is the National Museum and the Old Court building, which over its 150-year history has served as a court, prison, hall and museum.
The island of Grand Cayman itself will be of interest to any tourist. There is a pirate cave surrounded by many legends related to treasure hunting, an ancient castle, a large turtle farm (by the way, the only one), a botanical park, a long hiking trail, and many parks and resorts.
Little Cayman, despite its small size, can surprise and captivate visitors. Here you can enjoy relaxing on the beach or engage in active recreation, diving into the sea and exploring the reefs. The island is also home to a marine park and a National Bird Sanctuary.
Cayman Brac is the wildest of the islands in the archipelago. But he will also be able to please tourists. Magical beaches and unusual views. This is what the Cayman Islands represents.

Cayman islands is not only a world famous offshore area, but one of the best places in the world for diving.
The Cayman Islands are located in the Caribbean Sea.

Island Grand Cayman- the largest of the three islands that make up the Cayman Islands.

The name Cayman comes from the Caribbean name for crocodile.

These islands were originally called Las Tartugas (the turtle islands) due to the abundance of turtles on this uninhabited island.

This is what Columbus named these islands in 1503. The Spanish were not too interested in these coral islands with poor soil, but ships of the English, Dutch and French regularly visited the Turtle Islands to stock up on fresh water and turtle meat.

Now all marine life of the Cayman Islands - the habitats of crabs, shellfish, and turtles - are under protection. A law was also adopted to protect coral reefs, which were previously damaged by ship anchors. Therefore, cruise ships do not come close to the islands, but stop at a distance and passengers get ashore using boats.

History of the Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands had been a British colony since 1670, and were populated by a motley crew: retired pirates, sailors from lost ships, deserters and slaves from Africa who gained freedom when the ships they sailed on crashed on the reefs near the Cayman Islands.

Slavery was abolished in Cayman in 1833.
Until 1954, the year an airport was built on the Cayman Islands, the Caymans were islands that could only be reached by sea. But until the 70s. years of the last century, the Caymans were not attractive for tourism, as the islands were infested with mosquitoes. But as soon as they managed to get rid of the mosquitoes, tourists immediately fell in love with these fertile islands. Beautiful beaches, mild climate, interesting underwater life around the island - all this could not help but attract tourists. At the same time, the Cayman Islands became a large offshore zone.
In 2004, the islands were seriously damaged by Hurricane Ivan. But fortunately there were no casualties.

Cayman islands- a British overseas territory in the Caribbean Sea, 240 km south of Cuba, 730 km south of Miami (USA) and 267 km northwest of Jamaica. The territory includes the islands of Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. Area - 264 sq. km. The capital is George Town, located on the west coast of Grand Cayman.

The largest island in the Cayman Islands is Grand Cayman, with an area of ​​197 square kilometers. km, and the length is 35 km with a width of 6.5 km. The highest point of the island is 16 m. A significant part of the island is occupied by the North Sound lagoon (56 sq. km).

Little Cayman Island lies 8 km west of Cayman Brac Island. Little Cayman's area is 16 km². The surface of the island is low, only in the northern part the coast reaches a height of 12 m.

Cayman Brac Island lies 142 km northeast of Grand Cayman. Length - 19 km with an average width of 2 km, area - about 24 km². The highest point of the island is 46 m.

There are no rivers on the islands. The coast is surrounded by reefs and in some places mangroves, which sometimes extend into the marshy interior of the islands. Plant cover and fauna are poor, but the surrounding waters are rich in fish, turtles, crustaceans and molluscs.

Climate in the Cayman Islands

Climate in the Cayman Islands- tropical, trade wind.

Average monthly temperatures range from +15°C in winter to +30°C in summer. From May to October the temperature practically does not change and is about +28°C...+30°C, from November to April it is dry and relatively cool, the average daily temperature is +17°C...+24°C.

The rainy season is the period from May to October (showers are usually heavy but short-lived). From November to April the weather is relatively dry and clear, rain is rare and mostly occurs in the evening or at night. Between June and November, hurricanes and storms may pass through the Cayman Islands.

The best time to visit the Cayman Islands is from mid-December to mid-April (peak tourist season).

Population

Population of the Cayman Islands- about 50.2 thousand people (2010).

Average life expectancy is 78 years for men, 83 years for women.

Ethno-racial composition: mulatto 41%, white 20%, black 20%, immigrants (mostly Cubans) and other 20%.

The majority of believers (about 90%) are Christians (Catholics, Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, Anglicans, Pentecostals and other denominations).

The official language is English. Spanish is also spoken.

About money

Cayman Islands dollar(KYD or CI$) is the currency of the Cayman Islands. 1 KYD = 100 cents. 1, 5, 10 and 25 cent coins and 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 dollar bills.

US dollars circulate freely throughout the islands and are accepted or exchanged at most banks and commercial establishments.

You can exchange currency in banks, hotels and exchange offices located at the airport and in numerous banks in the capital.

Most hotels, shops and travel agencies accept credit cards from the world's leading payment systems. ATMs are ubiquitous. However, in some small restaurants, hotels and cafes, especially in Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, credit cards are extremely difficult to use.

Travel checks can be cashed at most major stores, hotels, banks and travel agencies. To avoid additional costs associated with exchange rate fluctuations, it is recommended to bring checks in US dollars.

Communications

Telephone code: 1 - 345

Internet domain: .ky

Emergency assistance (ambulance, police, fire): 911

How to call

To call from Russia to the Cayman Islands, you need to dial: 8 - dial tone - 10 - 1 - 345 - subscriber number.

To call from the Cayman Islands to Russia, you need to dial: 011 - 7 - area code - subscriber number.

Landline communications

Pay phones are ubiquitous and operate on value prepaid cards sold at company offices, post offices, newsstands and stores.

The cost of a minute of calls within the islands is about 0.25 KYD; a call to another island of the archipelago is charged as a local one.

mobile connection

Standard communications are GSM 850/900/1800/1900. Cellular communications cover almost all of the islands. Local operators are LIME and Digicel Cayman.

Shopping

In the Cayman Islands there are a lot of Duty free stores, where literally everything is sold, from beautiful emeralds to Cuban cigars and modern electronics. There are many tourist shops where you can buy T-shirts, hats, postcards and more.

Where to stay

Holidays in the Cayman Islands are quite expensive. A day in a 5* hotel will cost an average of $300 or more, 4* hotels ask for their services from $200 per day, accommodation in a 2-3* hotel will cost about $100 per day.

Moreover, outside the tourist season, the price level decreases by 20-25%, while during the high season (December - April) hotel prices increase by 50% or more.

Sea and beaches

In the Cayman Islands, nature has created excellent conditions for a beach holiday: beaches with fine white sand, and a warm sea with clear water and excellent snorkeling opportunities.

Story

The islands of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman were discovered by Christopher Columbus on May 10, 1503, during his 4th expedition to the New World, when his ship turned west to "two very small and low-lying islands, which were full of turtles." That is why the islands were named Las Tortugas (Turtle Islands).

Since 1523, the Cayman Islands have been charted under the name "Lagartos", meaning "alligators" or "large lizards". The name "Cayman Islands" has been in use since 1530. The origin of this name is associated with a misunderstanding: European newcomers saw large iguana lizards on the islands and mistook them for caiman crocodiles.

The first Englishman to visit the Cayman Islands was Francis Drake, who landed on the islands in 1586. From then on, the Cayman Islands, while remaining uninhabited, became an important intermediate point for ships sailing in the Caribbean Sea, as provisions were replenished here (mainly local turtles were hunted, which almost led to their complete destruction).

The 1670 Treaty of Madrid formally transferred control of the Cayman Islands to Britain, which administered the islands through a governor in Jamaica. Before this, in 1661, the first settlements were founded on the islands of Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. However, in 1671, due to frequent raids by Spanish privateers, the Cayman Islanders were resettled back to the island of Jamaica.

After that, only shipwrecked sailors, as well as pirates and debtors who fled from their creditors, settled on the islands, mainly on Grand Cayman. Subsequently, several attempts were made to repopulate the Cayman Islands, however, they were all unsuccessful: a permanent settlement on Grand Cayman appeared only in the 1730s, and Cayman Brac and Little Cayman were inhabited only from 1833.

The first census on the islands was carried out in 1802. According to it, 933 people lived on the island of Grand Cayman, of which 545 people were slaves. Before the abolition of slavery, there were about 950 slaves on the island, owned by 116 families.

On December 10, 1831, the first legislative assembly was elected, which issued the first law on December 31, 1831. Subsequently, the Governor of Jamaica approved the creation of a Cayman Islands legislature consisting of 8 Masters appointed by the Governor of Jamaica and 10 (later 27) Deputies elected by the people of the islands. Slavery was abolished in the Cayman Islands in 1835.

By an Act of the British Parliament in 1863, the Cayman Islands officially became a dependent territory of Jamaica, although it was more like a county of Jamaica with appointed justices of the peace and elected members of the legislature. From 1750 to 1898, the head of the Cayman Islands was appointed by the governor of Jamaica. Since 1898, the Governor of Jamaica began to appoint a Commissioner of the Islands.

In 1959, following the creation of the West Indies Federation, the Cayman Islands ceased to be a dependent territory of Jamaica, although the Governor of Jamaica remained the Governor of the Cayman Islands. After Jamaica gained independence in 1962, the Cayman Islanders expressed a desire to remain under the tutelage of the British Crown. As a result, an administrator was appointed in London with the functions previously performed by the Governor of Jamaica.

In 1953, the first airstrip and public hospital in Georgetown were opened in the Cayman Islands. Soon, an office of the largest English joint-stock commercial bank, Barclays Bank, was opened on the islands. In 1959, the Cayman Islands adopted its own constitution, which granted voting rights to women for the first time. In 1992, several amendments were made to the constitution, in particular, the post of chief secretary, abolished in 1986, was restored.

Despite the fact that the Cayman Islands have ceased to be a dependent territory of Jamaica, close ties remain between the countries: a single church, a diocese, and until 1972, a single currency. In 2004-2005, just over 50% of the population was of Jamaican origin.

Helpful information

Life in the Cayman Islands is quite conservative: public displays of passion (both homosexual and heterosexual) are generally not encouraged.

Camping is prohibited in the Cayman Islands! Any tourist caught setting up a camp without permission will be subject to administrative penalties, including detention. Local authorities explain this rule by the fact that the islands offer a wide variety of all kinds of accommodation facilities for any budget, while the local nature is very vulnerable.

The islands' strict maritime laws prohibit spearfishing and the bringing to the surface of any form of marine life, including empty shells and dead coral branches. If necessary, such souvenirs can be purchased at quite reasonable prices in specialized stores (when leaving for such products, you will need to present an invoice from a retail establishment).

All tap water in the country is obtained by distillation of sea water and is safe for consumption. It is recommended to use bottled water.

How to get to the Caymans

There are no direct flights between Russia and the Cayman Islands.

The most convenient flight option from Moscow: with one transfer via London with the airline British Airways: Moscow - London (Heathrow) - Grand Cayman. In this case, a transit visa is not needed, since the flight from Moscow arrives at Heathrow, and the flight to the Cayman Islands also departs from here. Flight duration is from 20 hours (depending on the connection). The average flight cost is about 1000-1200 euros (both ways).

You can also get to the Cayman Islands via the USA (Miami, New York).

Airlines flying from the USA to the Cayman Islands: DELTA(Atlanta) Cayman Airways(Miami, New York, Washington) American Airlines(Miami).

If you are flying through the United States, you must obtain an American visa. Even for transit passengers who do not leave the airport.

Cayman islands(English) >Cayman Islands) is a British overseas territory in the West Indies, in the Caribbean Sea.

The property includes the islands of Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac.

Area - 264 km². Population - 50 thousand people. (2010) - mulattoes, whites, blacks. Over 4/5 of the population lives on Grand Cayman. The administrative center is the city of Georgetown.

The main occupations of the population are serving tourists and raising turtles.

The official name is Cayman Islands (KY, CYM).

Geography

The three islands of the Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, are located 240 km south of the island of Cuba, 730 km south of Miami (Florida, USA) and 267 km northwest of Jamaica. The capital of the Cayman Islands, George Town, is located on the west coast of Grand Cayman.

The largest island in the Cayman Islands is Grand Cayman, with an area of ​​197 km², a length of 35 km and a width of 6.5 km. The highest point of the island is 16 m. A significant part of the island is occupied by the lagoon North Sound(56 km²).

Cayman Brac Island lies 142 km northeast of Grand Cayman. Length - 19 km with an average width of 2 km, area - about 24 km². The Bluff limestone plateau stretches along the entire island, reaching a height of 42 meters above sea level at the eastern tip of Cayman Brac (the highest point of the islands).

Little Cayman Island lies 8 km west of Cayman Brac Island. Little Cayman's area is 16 km². The surface of the island is low, only in the northern part the coast reaches a height of 12 m.

There are no rivers on the islands. The coast is surrounded by reefs and in some places mangroves, which sometimes extend into the marshy interior of the islands.

The climate of the islands is tropical, trade wind. Plant cover and fauna are poor, but the surrounding waters are rich in fish, turtles, crustaceans and molluscs. In general, natural conditions are favorable for human life.

The Cayman Islands are confined to the Cayman undersea mountain range, which extends further west from the island of Cuba. The Cayman Trench, separating the Cayman Islands and the island of Jamaica, is the deepest part of the Caribbean Sea (maximum depth 6.4 km). The Cayman Islands are located on the boundary between the North American and Caribbean tectonic plates, which are in transverse motion at this point. The movement of the Caribbean plate to the east and the North American plate to the west limits the number of earthquakes in the area, which rarely exceed a magnitude of 7.0. The Cayman Islands often experience minor land tremors, but in December 2004, Grand Cayman experienced an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8. As a result, small craters appeared, which, however, did not cause significant losses.

Population

Population - 50.2 thousand people (estimate as of July 2010).

Annual growth - 2.3%.

Birth rate - 12.3 per 1000 people. (fertility - 1.88 births per woman)

Mortality - 5 per 1000 people.

Immigration - 16.1 per 1000 people. (mostly Cuban refugees seeking to resettle in the United States).

Average life expectancy is 78 years for men, 83 years for women.

Literacy - 98%.

Ethno-racial composition: mulatto 40%, white 20%, black 20%, immigrants (mostly Cubans) and other 20%.

Languages: English 95%, Spanish 3.2%, other 1.8% (1999 census).

Religions: Church of God 26%, United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational) 12%, Catholic 11%, Baptist 9%, Seventh-day Adventist 8%, Anglican 6%, Pentecostal 5%, other Christian 3%, undecided 6%, other 4 %, atheists 10% (according to the 1999 census).