Name: _______________ Date: _______

Island Hopping Worksheet (page 1)

Read the paragraph below and then scan the map and table. On a separate sheet, answer
the questions that follow.

The Turks and Caicos Islands consist

of about 30 islands, eight of which
are inhabited. They lie in the North
Atlantic Ocean, southeast of the
Bahamas, and are split into two main
groups, the Caicos Islands and the
Turks Islands, separated by the
Columbus Channel. South Caicos
Island is the location of the Center for
Marine Resource Studies, where the
Oceans Live! program is based. The
islands feature spectacular coral
reefs, beaches, and historical sites,
but are relatively undeveloped. The
main businesses are tourism, offshore
financial services, fishing, and
construction. Lobster and conch are
the main exports. The economy grew
at a rate of 13.9 percent in 1998 and
8.7 percent in 1999. Much of the land is arid; only about 2 percent of the land is useful
for agriculture. Most items need to be imported, resulting in a fairly high cost-of-living.
Tourism is centered in Providenciales; many islanders are moving there from other
islands. The territory’s only hospital is located on Grand Turk.

The table below provides information on the size and population of each of the major
islands. Use this information to answer the questions below.

Approximate Area Population Density

Population (square miles) (people/square mile)
Grand Turk 6,000 7
East Caicos 0 18
Middle Caicos 275 48
North Caicos 1,500 41
Providenciales 8,000 30
Salt Cay 200 1
South Caicos 1,200 8
West Caicos 0 9
Island Hopping Worksheet (page 2)

1. (a) Which island has the largest population? The smallest?

(b) What percentage of the eight major islands are inhabited? Of all 30 islands?

2. The islands’ capital, Cockburn Town, is located on Grand Turk. It has a

population of about 3,800. What fraction of the population of the people living on
Grand Turk live in Cockburn Town?

3. (a) What is the total population of the eight major islands?

(b) Draw a circle graph showing the percentage of total population by island for
the 8 major islands.

4. (a) Which island is the largest? How much larger is it than the second largest
island?
(b) What is the total area of the eight major Islands?

5. (a) Calculate the population density (number of people per square mile) of each
island and fill in that column of the table. Which island has the highest population
density? The lowest?
(b) Construct a bar graph comparing the population densities of the eight major
islands.

6. The total population of all of the Turks and Caicos Islands, including two small
inhabited islands not listed in the above table, was estimated at 17,502 in 2000.
The total area of all the islands is approximately 166 square miles. Estimate the
total population, total area, and average population density of the 22 islands not
listed in the table. Explain your calculations.

7. To ensure against over-development, about one-third of the total land on the

islands has been set aside for preservation. This is the highest percentage of any
country in the world. About how many square miles in total have been set aside
for this purpose?

8. If the total population were to grow at a rate of 3.55 percent per year (the current
rate of growth) from the figure given in question 6, what would the Islands’ total
population be in the year 2010? What is the ratio of your population estimate for
2010 to the current population?
Island Hopping Worksheet (page 3)

9. (a) Estimate the distance between the east end of East Caicos and the west end of
Grand Turk. If you were on a motorboat traveling between these two islands at a
speed of 20 miles per hour (mph), about how long would it take you? (Hint: use
the equation: average speed=distance/time.)
(b) Starting at South Caicos, you want to visit each of the other seven major
islands and return as quickly as possible. Trace the best route for your motorboat
to follow on the map, and estimate the total distance you’ll travel and the total
time it will take (not including stopovers on the islands) to sail your course,
assuming you can average 15 mph for the whole trip.

10. You are a regional planner that has been hired as a consultant for the islands’
government. Your job is to examine current population trends to help the
government decide what its development and spending priorities should be for the
next 10 years. Some of the options include public housing, new roads, a new
wharf to permit larger ships to dock, a water desalination plant (to supply fresh
water), a new hospital, new school, new entertainment complex to draw more
tourists, and a new diesel engine generator to supply more electricity. Which do
you think is most important and why? Should development be focused on just a
couple of islands, or should it be spread equally among the islands? Write a short
essay stating your recommendations and explaining your reasoning. Include facts
and figures from your previous calculations plus additional information you may
find. Include at least one graph or table to support your conclusions.