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Grand Cayman - The Cayman IslandsGrand Cayman is the largest of the three Cayman Islands at about 196 km˛ and contains the capital George Town. Towns on the island are referred to as "districts". Grand Cayman is located at 19°20′N 81°13′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. |
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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. Find the best deal on Grand Cayman, compare prices and read what other travelers have to say at TripAdvisor 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. Hotel Links to other Caribbean islands Anguilla Aruba Barbados Bermuda Bonaire Cuba Curacao Dominica Dominican Republic Grenada Guadeloupe Haiti Jamaica Martinique Montserrat Puerto Rico Saba St. Barthelemy St. Eustatius St. Lucia St. Maarten/St. Martin |
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