Providenciales facts for kids
Turtle Cove, Providenciales
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Location of Providenciales within the Turks and Caicos Islands
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 Providenciales
Location in Turks and Caicos Islands
Providenciales
Location in Caribbean
Location of Providenciales within the Turks and Caicos Islands
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Atlantic Ocean |
| Coordinates | 21°46′39″N 72°15′44″W / 21.77750°N 72.26222°W |
| Archipelago | Lucayan Archipelago |
| Administration | |
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United Kingdom
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| British Overseas Territory | Turks and Caicos Islands |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 23,769 (2012) |
| Additional information | |
| Time zone | |
| • Summer (DST) | |
| ISO code | TC |
Providenciales, often called Provo, is a beautiful island. It's located in the northwest part of the Caicos Islands. Provo is part of the Turks and Caicos Islands, which is a British Overseas Territory. The island covers about 98 km2 (38 sq mi) of land. In 2012, about 23,769 people lived there. Provo is the third largest island in the Turks and Caicos. Most people in the Turks and Caicos Islands live on Providenciales.
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Getting Around Providenciales
Provo has its own airport, the Providenciales International Airport. This is where many visitors arrive. There are no public buses or trains on the island.
A long time ago, in 1964, Providenciales didn't even have cars. There were no proper roads, water, phones, or electricity either. An early company, Provident, Ltd, flew people in from Florida. They used a old World War II plane. The first hotel, the Third Turtle Inn, opened in 1967.
Provo's Economy and Tourism
Providenciales is the most popular island for tourists in the Turks and Caicos. It has many hotels and a large 18-hole golf course. Many people who are retired from work now choose to live here. This has led to lots of new homes being built. Fancy apartments have also been built along Grace Bay.
Fun Things to Do in Providenciales
The island is near a path where humpback whales often swim. You can easily visit small, empty islands nearby. Just take a boat trip or an excursion.
Most of the resorts on Providenciales are along Grace Bay. This beach is about 5 mi (8 km) long. Besides the beaches, Provo has rugged hills and ridges. These areas are covered with prickly pear cactus and other plants.
Long Bay Beach is on the southern side of the island. It's still mostly undeveloped. There is one large luxury resort at the northern end. This beach is great for kiteboarding. It has steady wind and is a bit more private.
You can find old pirate spots at Osprey Rock and Sapodilla Hill. There are also the ruins of Cheshire Hall plantation. This was a farm that grew sisal and cotton. A British Loyalist named Thomas Stubbs owned it from the 1790s to 1810.
Nature and Wildlife
The western part of Providenciales is mostly wild. It's home to a beautiful place called Chalk Sound National Park. This park is a bay about 3 mi (5 km) long. It's southwest of the downtown area. The water in Chalk Sound is a bright turquoise color. It has many tiny, mushroom-shaped islands.
Also in the west is Northwest Point Marine National Park. This park includes nearby coral reefs. It also has salty lakes that attract many birds. Both local birds and birds that migrate visit these lakes.
Towns and Communities
The main road on the island is the Leeward Highway. It runs from Downtown to Leeward, going east to west. Most of the island's services are near this highway. This includes many shopping areas.
The communities of Downtown and Kew Town are close to the airport. The town of Wheeland is in the northwest part of the island.
Before Provo became a big tourist spot, there were three small towns. These were Blue Hills, The Bight (on Grace Bay), and Five Cays. Now, many new houses have been built. Most of these are in the east and south. Larger communities like Leeward, Long Bay, and Chalk Sound have grown. The original three towns have also expanded.
Schools on Providenciales
Provo has two public high schools. They are Clement Howell High School and Long Bay High School.
The International School of the Turks and Caicos Islands is also in Providenciales. It's located in Leeward. This school teaches children from preschool up to sixth grade. In 2014, 106 students attended this school. It used to be called The Ashcroft School until 2014.
Images for kids
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The Leeward Highway
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Providenciales Mangrove Reflections
See also
In Spanish: Providenciales para niños
