VQ5P Team will be active from Turks and Caicos Islands, 26 March - 2 April 2024.
Team - AF3K, KH6M, W2TT.
They will operate on 160 - 6m, CW, SSB, FT8, FT4, including activity in CQ WW WPX SSB Contest.
QSL via N2OO, LOTW, ClubLog.
Turks and Caicos - a group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean
The British Overseas Territory of Turks and Caicos is located in the Atlantic Ocean and continues the Bahamas. In fact, Turks and Caicos are two groups of forty islands with an area of 430 square kilometers. Of all the islands, only six have a permanent population: Providenciales, Solet Cay, Grand Turk, South Caicos, Middle Caicos, and North Caicos. The two island groups are separated from each other by a narrow strait. The capital of the island group is Coburn Town, which is located in Grand Turk. Many of the islands of the group are resort areas, where there is no population, but the service personnel live.
The population of Turks and Caicos is approximately 31,000. In the ethnic composition of 90% of the inhabitants is represented by blacks - descendants of slaves from the plantations, the remaining 10% come to the share of whites and mulattoes. The locals profess Christianity of different interpretations. The official language is English, in everyday life the local dialect of Creole is widespread. The local population is engaged in agricultural activity - cultivation and processing of vegetables, beans, citrus fruits, and also fishing - catching and export of clams and lobsters. The main income to the economy brings tourism business, as well as investments of foreign companies, which are attracted here by favorable taxation conditions of the offshore zone.
Historic commonwealth with Britain
The island group was discovered in 1512 by a Spanish expedition under Juan Ponce de Leon. The discovered lands had no population. The Spanish made no active attempts to develop the discovered lands and this played a decisive role in the fate of the island group. In the XVII century, despite the opposition of the Spanish discoverers, the islands began to be developed by British colonists, who established plantations here using slave labor of black people. As a result, in 1766, Turks and Caicos acquired the official status of a British colony. At the end of the XVIII century the islands became part of another British colony - Jamaica. When Jamaica gained independence, the Turks and Caicos rejected Canada's offer to become a part of it and decided not to seek independence. As a result, the islands retained the status of an overseas territory of Great Britain with the right to choose the local government and parliament.
Endless summer
The relief of the islands of the Turks and Caicos group can be called lowland, salt marshes are present on the territory. The highest point of the islands at Providenciales rises 49 meters above sea level. The islands are characterized by a tropical maritime climate. The average annual temperature is between +27 +32ºC. About 350 days a year the islands experience cloudless skies and sunny weather. The water temperature does not fall below + 27ºC. The dry heat is slightly mitigated by the ocean trade winds. The amount of precipitation does not exceed 700-800 mm per year. The islands are often hit by hurricanes from July to October, so the best time to visit Turks and Caicos is from December to June. The coasts of the islands are covered with mangroves, and pine groves can be found in the interior. The islands are home to waterfowl. The coastal waters of Turks and Caicos are inhabited by clams, lobsters and schools of fish. In the summertime, many stingrays can be seen. The humpback whale migration route passes by the islands.
Serene harmony with nature
Tourists are attracted to the island by its snow-white beaches and clear ocean water. Along the coast stretches one of the largest coral reefs in the world. For lovers of a serene vacation on the ocean shore there are comfortable beaches. Fans of active recreation have the opportunity to engage in diving and snorkeling. Those who are looking for an opportunity to spend a secluded time in harmony with nature can go to uninhabited islets. During the humpback whale migration period, you can watch these animals from the local shores. A safe zone for swimming is created by the coral reef, which stretches along the coast of Turk and Caicos and protects the islands from strong ocean currents, as well as softens the waves of the surf. The center of tourist life is Providenciales Island, which is suitable for family vacations or romantic getaways, as well as for ecotourism.
The islands are characterized by a low crime rate, so they are considered safe for vacationing tourists. Visitors to the island can try the local cuisine of grits, which is a bean porridge with clams and smoked fish. A local highlight is rum punch, which mixes regular and coconut rum, grenadine syrup, and pineapple and orange juice.