Grand Cayman, Caribbean island in George Town, Cayman Islands.
Grand Cayman is an island in the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean, stretching across 22 miles and surrounded by coral reefs, white sand beaches, and mangrove forests. The coastline shifts between calm bays and open stretches, where the water stays shallow and glows turquoise blue.
Christopher Columbus reached the island in 1503 during his fourth voyage and named it after the animals he saw there. In the 18th century the first permanent residents settled, fishermen and turtle hunters who slowly built small communities.
The name comes from the Spanish word for crocodile or iguana, recalling the time when early sailors first mapped these waters. Today those animals are no longer present, but the island keeps its name and carries that piece of its past forward.
Owen Roberts International Airport connects the island with North America, Europe, and other Caribbean islands through regular direct flights. Visitors who explore the island find quieter bays and smaller towns away from the main road, in addition to the well-known beaches.
In North Sound visitors can stand in shallow water next to southern stingrays and touch them without any boat or diving gear. This encounter happens in a natural setting where the animals have grown accustomed to human presence over several decades.
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