Salt Cay, Turks Islands

Salt Cay is the second largest island in the Turks Islands and part of the British overseas territory of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The island is flat, has a basic triangular shape and is 7.1 km ². The eponymous district comprises further uninhabited islands such as Cotton Cay, and has a total area of 9.1 km ². Approximately 305 people (2012 ) live on the island ( census 2001: 120), is the capital of Balfour Town.

The Turks were inhabited until the deportation by the Spaniards of Arawak Indians. In the 17th century, settlers arrived from Bermuda to Salt Cay. They started with the salt production in solar salt works, which brought the island its current name. Until the 20th century the salt production was a major industry in 1845 were counted 676 people on Salt Cay. Today, tourism is the main industry, especially scuba diving and whale watching.