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Introduction
There are three islands in this British Overseas Territory, which has long been associated with buccaneers and pirates.
GRAND CAYMAN: Most of the population lives on this island, surrounded by water rich in colourful marine life and spectacular coral reefs. There is a 6km (4 mile) stone wall at Bodden Town, known as Grand Cayman’s ‘Wall of China’, built to protect residents from pirate attacks. Seven Mile Beach is the main tourist centre. Although highly developed, it retains its charm and the new developments are not as overwhelming as in some places. The peculiar rock formation at Hell evolved from skeletons of shells and corals solidified by salt and lime deposits. A close examination reveals petrified forms of sea life supposedly up to 20 million years old. Close by Seven Mile Beach is the unique Cayman Turtle Farm. Owing to conservation pressures, turtle meat is now usually only consumed locally (for more information, see Shopping in the Social Profile section below). The capital of Grand Cayman is George Town. Along the harbour front are traditional Caymanian gingerbread-style buildings and, close by, modern banks and finance houses. The Cayman Islands National Museum, based in the centre of George Town, offers a complete history of the islands. Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700, Sat 1000-1400. The Pedro St James historic site on Grand Cayman features an historically accurate restoration of the early 19th century Pedro St James great house and grounds in Savannah. The site has a visitor centre and a multimedia theatre, and also organises historic tours. A 45-minute drive from George Town is the popular Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park with a two acre heritage garden, visitors information centre, two acre lake, and two and a half acre floral garden with a vivid array of cacti, shrubs and native flowers. The park has become an important habitat for the endangered Cayman blue iguana. Other wildlife that can be spotted are tricoloured herons, black-necked stilts, cattle egrets and rare West Indian whistling ducks. The park is open 0900-1730 and costs CI$6 for adults and CI$3 for children.
CAYMAN BRAC: This island, (pronounced ‘brack’, which means ‘bluff’ in Gaelic) is inhabited by fewer than 1500 people. It gets its name from the huge cliff which rises 42m (140ft) from the sea on the eastern side of the island. The Brac, which is 143km (89 miles) northeast of Grand Cayman, is about 19km (12 miles) long, and not much more than a mile wide. The rocky cliffs provide excellent opportunities for exploring an area riddled with caves, some of which have barely been explored. The dozens of wrecks scattered around the Brac attract many divers. The island also has a rare bird sanctuary and provided the basis for Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel Treasure Island.
LITTLE CAYMAN: Home to approximately 170 people, and many more wild birds and iguanas, Little Cayman is 11km (7 miles) southeast of Cayman Brac. This tiny island is just 16km (10 miles) long, and at no point more than 3km (2 miles) wide. Expert anglers consider it the world’s best place for bone fishing.
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