Южный Кайос: Остров рыбаков и морских исследований

Island in the Turks and Caicos Islands

South Caicos is the seventh largest island in the Turks and Caicos archipelago, with a land area of South Caicos is known for excellent fishing, both deep sea and bone fishing, and scuba diving. South Caicos was formerly a salt exporter, the island still hosts a network of salt pans as a reminder of the industry. Today, the island's main income is derived from small scale commercial fishing. The School for Field Studies, a global nonprofit, accredited by the University of Minnesota, has established a well regarded Center for Marine Resource Studies in Cockburn Harbour. The centre's research focuses on marine ecology and natural resource management. The island hosts an Annual South Caicos Regatta, a large celebration that features parties, boat races, and other games. The island has some real estate development, and tourism is a small, but growing, industry.

The island is west of Grand Turk. Bell Sound is at the western side of the island, providing an important fishing site. Together with uninhabited East Caicos and a number of smaller islands, it forms the South Caicos and East Caicos District, with a total area of All islands in the east and south of Caicos Bank belong to this district, except French Cay, which belongs to Providenciales and West Caicos. The larger ones of these islands are Hog Cay , McCartney Cay , Little Ambergris Cay , Big Ambergris Cay , and Long Cay (immediately south of South Caicos, ). Between South Cacios and the Amgergris Cays are the Six Hill Cays and the Fish Cays South of the Ambergris Cays are Bush Cay , Pear Cay , Shot Cay , White Cay , South Rock, Whale Breaker, and Swimmer Rock (submerged), and southwest, West Sand Spit (submerged). The cays from Bush Cay to White Cay are the Seal Cays. South Rock is submerged, with a depth of less than above it.

South Caicos may have been the second island sighted by Christopher Columbus. The original inhabitants of the island were Taíno and Lucayan Indians. In addition to a variety of archaeological treasures, they left behind the names of the islands in the form of the indigenous "Turk's head" cactus and the Lucayan term “caya hico” meaning string of islands named Caicos. The Lucayans disappeared roughly 30 years after his arrival, leaving the island sparsely populated and the salt industry booming. The French and Spanish briefly captured the island in 1706 during which time it became a pirate haven. Until a fungus outbreak killed them off, sea sponge farming briefly flourished on the island during the 1930s. The United States built an anti submarine base on South Caicos in 1944, along with the first airstrip in the archipelago. During the 1950s a Canadian businessman attempted to start a conch shell export business on the island. In 1959 the U. S. returned to South Caicos when the Coast Guard constructed a LORAN (low frequency radio signal navigation) station on the island. Today the island attracts tourists drawn to its unspoiled coral reefs.

The population of South Caicos Island was estimated at 1,139 in 2012. The abandoned salt pans just outside town have become the home of a number of bird species including large flocks of flamingos.

Marjorie Basden High School is in South Caicos.