Cayman Islands

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Cayman Islands

Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom

Area: 100 sq mi (259 sq km); Grand Cayman 76 sq mi (97 sq km) / Little Cayman, 10 sq mi (26 sq km); Cayman Brac, 14 sq mi (36 sq km) / World Rank: 196
Location: Caribbean Sea in the Northern and Western Hemispheres; Grand Cayman lies about 180 mi (290 km) northwest of Jamaica and 150 mi (240 km) south of Cuba; Little Cayman and Cayman Brac lie about 90 mi (145 km) further northeast
Coordinates: 19°30?N, 80°30?W
Borders: No international borders
Coastline: 100 mi (160 km)
Territorial Seas: 12 NM (22 km)
Highest Point: The Bluff, Cayman Brac, 141 ft (43 m)
Lowest Point: Sea level
Longest River: None of significance
Natural Hazards: Hurricanes
Population: 35,527 (July 2001 est.) / World Rank: 196
Capital City: George Town, located on the western shore of Grand Cayman Island
Largest City: George Town, 13,000 (2001 est.)

OVERVIEW

The three islands that make up the Cayman Islands are Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman. The low-lying islands are outcroppings of the underwater mountain range known as the Cayman Ridge that extends from the southeast area of Cuba west-southwest toward Belize in Central America. Coral reefs surround the Cayman Islands.

Two types of limestone make up the islands. The older type, known as bluff limestone, formed the central core of each island about 30 million years ago. The limestone surrounding this core, known as "ironshore" or coastal limestone, was formed from limestone compacted with coral and mollusk shells around 120,000 years ago. The Cayman Islands are situated on the Caribbean Plate.

MOUNTAINS AND HILLS

On Grand Cayman Island, the highest elevation is about 60 ft (18 m). On Cayman Brac, The Bluff, the highest point in the Cayman Islands, rises along the 12 mi (19 km) length of the island, reaching a height of 141 ft (43 m) at the far eastern end of the island, where it forms a dramatic cliff at the edge of the sea. Little Cayman has little variance in elevation.

INLAND WATERWAYS

The central part of Grand Cayman Island features some minor wetlands where the mangrove, a dense tropical plant, thrives. There are no inland waterways on the Cayman Islands.

THE COAST, ISLANDS, AND THE OCEAN

Oceans and Seas

The deepest part of the Caribbean Sea lies between the Cayman Islands and Jamaica. Known as the Cayman Trough, the sea is over 4 mi (6 km) deep in this area. Another deep area, known as the Barlett Deep, lies between the Cayman Islands and Honduras to the southwest. A channel 7 mi (11 km) wide separates Little Cayman from Cayman Brac.

Major Islands

Grand Cayman spans about 25 miles (40 km) from east to west, and lies 150 miles (240 km) south of Cuba and about 180 miles (290 km) west of Jamaica. Little Cayman and Cayman Brac lie 80 miles (130 km) and 90 miles (144 km) to the east of Grand Cayman, respectively; both extend about 10 mi (16 km) from east to west, and about a mile (less than 2 km) from north to south.

The Coast and Beaches

At the western end of Grand Cayman Island, the north coast features the North Sound, a large lagoon measuring about 35 sq mi (120 sq km). Grand Cayman is also the site of the Seven-Mile Beach, a long, uninterrupted stretch of sandy beach, actually measuring 5 mi (8 km), along the island's westernmost coast along West Bay.

Islands – Cayman Islands
Name	Area (sq mi)	Area (sq km)
Grand Cayman	76	197
Cayman Brac	14	36
Little Cayman	10	26
SOURCE : Geo-Data: The World Geographical Encyclopedia, 2nd ed. Detroit: Gale Research, 1989.

The Cayman Bank is a shallow area 10 mi (16 km) west of Grand Cayman. It measures about 5 mi (8 km) long by one-half mile (800 m) wide.

CLIMATE AND VEGETATION

Temperature

The average high temperature in summer (May to October is 85°F (29°C); the average high temperature in winter (November to April) is 75°F (24°C). The record low temperature of 58°F (24°C) was set January 19, 2000.

Rainfall

The rainy season extends from May to October with May-June and September-October usually being the wettest months. The western side of the islands receives the most rainfall since the prevailing winds blow toward the west; the record rainfall was November 30, 1993, with 7.8 in (198 mm). Tropical storms and even hurricanes occasionally hit the Cayman Islands and their neighbors in the Caribbean and Central America.

HUMAN POPULATION

The majority of Caymanians reside on Grand Cayman. Cayman Brac, the most easterly island, has the fewest permanent residents. Over 600,000 tourists visit the Cayman Islands annually.

NATURAL RESOURCES

Tourism is the primary economic activity, attracting sport fishers and divers. The government has established several marine parks, bird sanctuaries, and other nature reserves.