Turks and Caicos Islands: Introduction

The Turks and Caicos Islands are British overseas territories comprising two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean. The islands were historically a part of the United Kingdom's Jamaican colony, but they became a crown colony upon Jamaican independence in 1962. The Islands have a low-lying geography with widespread marshes and mangrove swamps. The chief of state is the queen of the United Kingdom, and the head of government is the premier. The territory's economy is based on tourism, offshore financial services, and fishing.