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CAYMAN ISLANDSThe Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the British during the 18th and 19th centuries, and were administered by Jamaica after 1863. In 1959, the islands became a territory within the Federation of the West Indies, but when the Federation dissolved in 1962, the Cayman Islands chose to remain a British dependency. HISTORY The Cayman Islands were first sighted by European eyes when Christopher Columbus, on 10 May 1503, encountered them during his disastrous fourth and final voyage to the New World. He named them Las Tortugas after the numerous sea turtles there. The first recorded English visitor to the islands was Sir Francis Drake, who landed there in 1586 and named them the Cayman Islands after the Neo-Taino nations term (caiman) for crocodile (Zayas, 1914). The first recorded permanent inhabitant of the Cayman Islands, Isaac Bodden, was born on Grand Cayman around 1700. He was the grandson of the original settler named Bodden who was probably one of Oliver Cromwell's soldiers at the taking of Jamaica in 1655. The islands, along with nearby Jamaica, were captured, then ceded to England in 1670 under the Treaty of Madrid. They were governed as a single colony with Jamaica until 1962 when they became a separate British Overseas Territory and Jamaica became an independent Commonwealth realm. The largely unprotected at sea level island of Grand Cayman was hit by Hurricane Ivan on 11- 12 September 2004, which destroyed many buildings and damaged 70% of them. Power, water and communications were all disrupted in some areas for months as Ivan was the worst hurricane to hit the islands in 86 years. However, Grand Cayman forced a major rebuilding process and within two years its infrastructure was nearly returned to pre-Ivan levels. The Cayman Islands have the dubious honour of having experienced the most hurricane strikes in history. Due to the proximity of the islands, more hurricane and tropical systems have affected the Cayman Islands than any other region in the Atlantic basin (brushed or hit every 2.23 years).[1] The Cayman Islands enjoy a high global standard of living fully dependent upon tourism and tax-haven dependent banking. WHEN TO GO The best time to visit the Cayman Islands is from mid-December to mid-April. Budget travelers are advised to go elsewhere but if you must go to the Caymans, rates are far more reasonable (but still pricey) during the off season. FACTS ABOUT THE CAYMAN ISLANDS - Location: Caribbean, three-island group (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman) in Caribbean Sea, 240 km south of Cuba and 268 km northwest of Jamaica
- Geographic coordinates: 19 30 N, 80 30 W
- Area: 262 sq km
- Coastline: 160 km
- Max elevation: The Bluff (Cayman Brac) 43 m
- Population: 47,862
- Capital: George Town
- Government: British Crown Colony
- Currency: Caymanian dollar (KYD)
- Internet Country Code: .ky
- Calling Code: 345
- Ethnic groups: mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%
- Languages: English
- Religions: United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Church of God, other Protestant, Roman Catholic
- Major Industries: Tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture
- Natural resources: fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism
- Environmental issues: no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchments
- Climate: tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)
- Average sea surface temp: 26 °C
- Average annual rainfall: 1,160 mm
- Average tourist arrivals: 2.19 million
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