Cayman Islands: Did you know…?
• There are 3 islands in the Cayman (pronounced Kay-MAHN) Islands; Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.
• Grand Cayman is the largest island has an estimated population of 52,500 with most of the tourism/population located in and around the capital of George Town; leaving large areas to the East of Grand Cayman much less developed and a tranquil escape for visitors to “Go East” and for residents to have “Staycations”.
• The other 2 islands are a short flight away by prop-plane: Cayman Brac has an estimated population of 1,200 while Little Cayman has only 120 permanent residents.
• Residents of the Cayman Islands pay no income tax.
• The world-famous ‘Seven Mile Beach’ is actually only 5.2 miles long.
• The Cayman Islands flag is made up of a blue background, the Union Jack and the Cayman Islands coat-of-arms. The coat-of-arms was officially granted to the Cayman Islands in 1598.
• Christopher Columbus discovered Little Cayman in 1503 in 2003 Cayman Islands celebrated their Quincentennial.
• The name ‘Cayman’ derives from the Carib word for crocodile, “camanas”, and appeared in the log the first English visitor to the islands, in 1586. Originally the island were called ‘Las Tortugas’ (‘turtles’, in Spanish) by Columbus. ‘Brac’ (‘craggy bluff’, in Gaelic), was named for the limestone bluff running down the middle of the island.
• The Cayman Islands are a British overseas territory and still have a colonial Governor appointed by Britain.
• Geographically, the Cayman Islands are part of the Cayman Ridge which extends westward from Cuba.
• The Pirates Week Festival, the island’s largest festival, held each fall is a reminder of Islands’ legendary pirate occupation in the 18th Century which the tales of treasure caches left behind by Edward Blackbeard, Neal Walker, and Henry Morgan.
• The Cayman Islands has its own currency, the Cayman Island dollar (CI$). The fixed exchange rate is CI$1.00 for US$1.25.
• The Cayman Islands have their own beer brewery which brews Caybrew, Caybrew Light, White Tip and the strong Ironshore Bock.
• The Cayman Island Turtle Farm is home to 16,000 green sea turtles at any given time.
• The Cayman Islands is home to a town called Hell, complete with its own velour-clad devil.
• The Hollywood blockbuster, The Firm, was filmed on Grand Cayman.
• Grand Cayman visitors can choose from more than 159 dive sites.
• Cayman Islands Law prohibits topless sunbathing.