 Big and Little Ambergris Cay pictured from the International Space Station | |
 Location of Big Ambergris Cay (top) and Little Ambergris Cay (bottom) within the Turks and Caicos Islands | |
  Big Ambergris Cay  Big Ambergris Cay | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Atlantic Ocean |
| Coordinates | 21°18′05.27″N 71°37′53.65″W / 21.3014639°N 71.6315694°W |
| Archipelago | Lucayan Archipelago |
| Administration | |
| British Overseas Territory | Turks and Caicos Islands |
| Additional information | |
| Time zone | |
| • Summer (DST) | |
| ISO code | TC |
Big Ambergris Cay is a private residential island and, since 2019, home to Ambergris Cay Private Island Resort. It is located within the Turks and Caicos Islands and has been owned privately since 1811.[1][2] Not to be confused with Ambergris Cay in the Bahamas,[3] or Ambergris Caye in Belize, the island is situated to the southeast of the main chain of the Caicos islands. Big Ambergris Cay is approximately four miles (6.4 kilometres) long, one mile (1.6 kilometres) wide, and 1,100 acres (4.5 km2) in total.[citation needed] Adjacent to Big Ambergris Cay is Little Ambergris Cay, which is an uninhabited natural reserve. Little Ambergris Cay is a unique and significant habitat for a wide range of birds and marine life.[1]
The island was named for ambergris, a waxy substance that migrating sperm whales regurgitate and is prized as a fixative for perfume and cosmetic products. Ambergris used to wash up along the 8 miles (13 km) of island's shoreline but is rarely found on the island today.
Big Ambergris Cay is known for its shallow, turquoise waters. It is surrounded by sandbanks and coral reefs. To the east of the island, the water deepens as part of the Turks Island Passage.[4]
- ^ a b "Ambergris Cay". Visit Turks and Caicos Islands. Retrieved 2019-04-05.
- ^ "Ambergris Cay". www.ambergriscay.com. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
- ^ "Ambergris Cay". Geoview. Archived from the original on 2024-04-29. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
- ^ "Turks Island Passage, Turks and Caicos Islands - Geographical Names, map, geographic coordinates". geographic.org. Retrieved 2019-04-05.