Mélange Travel & Lifestyle Magazine July 2018 | Page 702

PlaceS of Interest Gibbs Cay Salt Cay From the late 1600’s to as recently as the 1960’s, salt has been the mainstay of the Turks and Caicos economy and they were, for a time, the world’s largest producer of salt. As if in a time capsule, Salt Cay, which has been nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, takes visitors back to the days when salt reigned as king of the islands with slaves being an integral part of the salt trade. An attraction for visitors today is the stately salt merchant’s manor built in 1835 from Bermuda limestone. It still maintains some of its antique furnishings and the building’s presence is very much a visible reminder of that profitable yet somber part of the island’s history. Gibbs Cay is an uninhabited island just about a mile away from Grand Turk island. Coral reef and shallow waters surround the island, making it an ideal spot for stingrays to feed so this island is also known as Stingray City. Cruise ship passengers and other visitors often picnic on the island to enjoy snorkeling among the fish or just relaxing on the beach watching the many varied seabirds which also feel quite at home on the island. www.visitusvi.com Photo Credit: Turks and Caicos Preservation Foundation Photo Credit: Tim Rawle