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Protestant Cay facts for kids

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Protestant Cay
Protestantcaystcroix.jpg
Protestant Cay is located in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Protestant Cay
Protestant Cay
Location in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Protestant Cay is located in the U.S. Virgin Islands
Protestant Cay
Protestant Cay
Location in the U.S. Virgin Islands
Geography
Location Christiansted Harbor
Coordinates 17°44′59″N 64°42′10″W / 17.74972°N 64.70278°W / 17.74972; -64.70278
Archipelago Virgin Islands
Area 4 acres (1.6 ha)
Administration
Territory Virgin Islands
District District of Saint Croix
Sub-district Christiansted

Protestant Cay is a four-acre triangular islet in the Christiansted Harbor, 200 yards north of Christiansted. The island is home to a resort, the Hotel on the Cay, which is home to a protected sand beach, small shop and beach bar. It also has the closest beach to Downtown Christiansted. With one of the ferries, which run from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m., every ten minutes, it will only take about two minutes to get there. The ride is free of charge after 4 p.m., and for guests of the Hotel on the Cay. To get on the ferry, passengers have to stand near the boardwalk in front of the King Christian Hotel and wave to the boat captain on duty.

Ferry to Protestant Cay Christiansted
Ferry to Protestant Cay

History

Local legend says the island is named because the Roman Catholic French rulers of the late 1600s wanted all of non-Catholic faith to be segergated and interred on the offshore islet. As only Catholics were allowed burials on Saint Croix, people of other faiths were buried on Protestant Cay.

Threatened species

The endemic Saint Croix ground lizard was once roaming Saint Croix and all nearby islands and islets, but is now only found on Protestant and Green Cays off Saint Croix’s northern coast.

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