The descendants of early salt rakers, Bermudian and slave settlers on Grand Turk are today called "Belongers." The island has a rich and long history.

Recent discoveries of artifacts on Grand Turk have shown that the islands had an indigenous culture similar to the Bahamas. There are even some who make compelling arguements that Columbus made his first New World landfall here.

Things have't changed much since then. The island changed hands several times over the centuries, after it was discovered to be a good source of salt.

Here a local boy pauses before cooling off in the cyrstal waters off the leeward side of the island.