Turks and Caicos Islands:
Geography


Background	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.

Location	Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti
Geographic coordinates	21 45 N, 71 35 W
Map references	Central America and the Caribbean
Area	total: 430 sq km land: 430 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative	2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries	0 km
Coastline	389 km
Maritime claims	territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate	tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
Terrain	low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps
Elevation extremes	lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Blue Hills 49 m
Natural resources	spiny lobster, conch
Land use	arable land: 2.33% permanent crops: 0% other: 97.67% (2005)
Irrigated land	NA
Natural hazards	frequent hurricanes
Environment - current issues	limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater
Geography - note	about 40 islands (eight inhabited)