Grand Turk Lighthouse is a lighthouse on Grand Turk Island, Turks and Caicos Islands. The 60 feet (18 m) tall structure, overlooking North Creek, was completed by British architect Alexander Gordon in 1852 to alert sailors of the shallow reef. Today, the lighthouse and lighthouse keeper’s house are a historic site under the protection of the National Trust. The structure is located on Lighthouse Road on the coast of Grand Turk. It is situated on a small limestone hill overlooking the shallow reef that extends from the northern end of the island. The building and an attached kerosene storage house overlook North Creek. The Parrot Cay by Como is, one of the most exclusive luxury resorts in the Caribbean. This elegant hotel is located within close proximity to the Grand Turk Lighthouse. This sophisticated hotel is tucked away amidst the crystal-clear waters of the Turks and Caicos. Parrot Cay is one of the most secluded and exclusive resort islands in the northern Caribbean. Parrot Cay’s award-winning Shambala Retreat soothes, restores and nurtures with Asian-inspired holistic therapies. They offer world-class cuisine, as well as impeccable services. Guests can enjoy the white-sandy beaches, lush tropical gardens, and breathtakingly beautiful sunsets and fabulous views of the turquoise ocean.
During the lighthouse’s first 40 years of use, wrecks continued along the northern coast. Ships’ captains complained that the light was too dim or not lit at all. Some believe that the dimming of the light was done intentionally to cause shipwrecks in order to loot cargo aboard. Finally, in 1972 the lamp was electrified and automated and the burner and clock mechanism were removed. The Grand Turks are about to become the “newly” discovered Caribbean island. Carnival Cruise Line just completed a $40 million cruise terminal and the two thousand passenger cruise ships are bringing lots of tourist dollars.
Uditha Dharmawardhane is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Roland Lefevre. He specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+
