| Grand
Cayman - The Cayman Islands
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| Grand
Cayman, The largest of the three Cayman Islands |
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Stingray
City in Grand Cayman |
Grand
Cayman is the largest of the three Cayman Islands and contains
the capital George Town. Towns on the island are referred to
as "districts". Grand Cayman is located at 1920' N - 8113' W.
The island of Grand Cayman
is a low-lying limestone reef, with a highest elevation of
roughly 60 feet above sea level. There is no natural fresh
water (lakes, rivers, etc) on the island, so any fresh water
needs must be met by catchments or desalination of seawater.
Grand Cayman was devastated by Hurricane Ivan in September
2004. From September 11 to September 12, Ivan, with Category
5 strength, passed within 30 miles of Grand Cayman, hitting
it with 180 mph (290 km/h) winds. The island reported no more
than a few deaths, but over 80% of the buildings were either
damaged or completely destroyed. Ivan was the worst hurricane
to hit the island in 86 years.
The eastern side of the island is somewhat undeveloped, while
the western side of the island, which holds George Town and
the airport, Owen Roberts International Airport, is more developed.
Fast food restaurants, night clubs and resorts can be found
on the western side of the island. The eastern districts offer
more restaurants specializing in native Caymanian cuisine.
For a complete list of best Grand Cayman fine dining a portal
has been developed called Cayman Island Restaurant Guide offering
unique Cayman restaurant guide!
The island economy is heavily dependent on tourism, with as
much of 75% of the island's GDP being tourist generated. Aside
from numerous beaches, including the famous Seven Mile Beach,
there are many attractions on the island.
Grand Cayman and the Caymans in general are very well known
for their diving and snorkelling. The island features many
reefs and walls, some of which can be accessed by swimming
from shore.
The district of West Bay features a turtle farm. The farm
re-opened in November 2004 as a larger attraction after being
damaged from Hurricane Ivan. The majority of Green Sea Turtles
are raised for their meat, the theory being that this eliminates
consumption of wild animals. Some of the farmed turtles are
released, and have good survival rates in the wild. The turtle
farm also has several rare iguanas and a caiman on display.
West Bay district is also home to a formation of limestone
affectionately known to islanders as Hell. Merchandise "from
Hell" can be purchased nearby.
Stingray City in Grand Cayman allows swimmers, snorkelers,
and divers to swim and feed stingrays. Stingray City, located
a short boat ride from the northern end of Grand Cayman, is
a series of shallow sand bars where sting rays are found in
abundance and visitors can feed, pet, and interact with the
animals. The southern stingrays can grow to large sizes (100cm
or more in span) and are quite accustomed to being handled
and fed. A trip from a local tour operator will usually include
snorkelling in coral gardens before arriving at Stingray City.
In the southern district of Bodden Town is the historic house
of Pedro St. James, considered the birthplace of democracy
in the Cayman Islands. It is also the oldest known existing
stone structure on Grand Cayman.
In the centre of the island is the Mastic Trail, a hiking
trail through old growth dry forests that used to cover the
entire island. Plants and animals native to Grand Cayman,
such as the Mastic Tree, green parrot, and agouti, can be
seen.
The island was featured in the book, "The Firm" by John Grisham.
If you are planning to come over with your friends and family
to the exotic tropical paradise of the Cayman Islands, the
Grand Cayman, with its luxurious oceanfront villas and grand
resorts, its spectacular underwater world, adventure water
sports and authentic Caribbean culture is something you will
die for. By far the largest and most active of the three islands,
the Grand Cayman attracts 99 percent of the tourists who come
over to the Cayman Islands, flocking to hotel-stocked Seven
Mile Beach. With spectacular condominium properties along
Seven Mile Beach, 42 diving operations, throbbing nightlife
at nightclubs and discos, 7 full service underwater photography
and video centers, Grand Cayman happens to be the nucleus
of attraction for the Cayman Island tourists. At the same
time, with a host of professional services offered, global
investors have been vastly interested in doing business with
the professional firms of the Grand Cayman Island.
Whether you are planning for a spectacular wedding amidst
the coral island settings with perfect Caribbean hospitality
and the delicious cuisine that the Grand Cayman has to offer,
or simply for a great vacation adventure, you would be looking
around for quality accommodations in the Grand Cayman island,
with world-class hotels, condos, private homes and guesthouses
available for rent in the Grand Cayman island.
At the same time, you may be a real estate investor or a business
owner interested in investing money on Grand Cayman businesses.
With its steady flow of global tourists, the Grand Cayman
today has graduated from a mere adventure or vacation hotspot
to a renowned offshore financial and tourism destination.
Today, the World Wide Web turns out to be a great platform
for global tourists to generate more information on the Grand
Cayman Island. Over our independent search engine, professional
services of the Grand Cayman are encouraged to place their
websites, so that they get global coverage and eventually
see a massive increase in their business.
With a steady flow of global tourists flocking into the Grand
Cayman Islands, the five-star hotel industry with top-notch
beach suites are flourishing each day. At the same time, with
million dollar beachfront properties and lavish oceanfront
estate homes, the real estate industry is also booming in
the Grand Cayman. If you are interested in any of these or
if you are simply a tourist or a plot buyer, you are sure
to enjoy the enriching experience of exploring the Cayman
Islands. |