Grand Turk is the island containing Cockburn Town, the capital of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Grand Turk lies in the Turks and Caicos archipelago, southeast of the Bahamas. Cockburn Town is the territory’s administrative capital and is located on the island’s western side. Grand Turk is also the historic centre of government for the British Overseas Territory.
The island became important through salt production, especially around nearby salt ponds. Salt was collected and exported during the colonial period, and remnants of that industry remain part of Grand Turk’s cultural landscape.
Grand Turk is not the territory’s largest island by area or population; Providenciales is generally the main tourism and population centre. This distinction makes the capital’s location easy to confuse. Grand Turk is also known for coral reefs and diving sites along its surrounding waters.