Protestant Cay
Protestant Cay is located in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Protestant Cay
Protestant Cay
Protestant Cay is located in the U.S. Virgin Islands
Protestant Cay
Protestant Cay
Geography
LocationChristiansted Harbor
Coordinates17°44′59″N 64°42′10″W / 17.74972°N 64.70278°W / 17.74972; -64.70278
ArchipelagoVirgin Islands
Area4 acres (1.6 ha)
Administration
TerritoryVirgin Islands
DistrictDistrict of Saint Croix
Sub-districtChristiansted

Protestant Cay is a four-acre triangular islet in the Christiansted Harbor, 200 yards north of Christiansted.[1][2] The island is home to a resort,[3] the Hotel on the Cay, which is home to a protected sand beach, small shop and beach bar.[4][5] It also has the closest beach to Downtown Christiansted.[6] With one of the ferries, which run from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m., every ten minutes, it will only take about two minutes to get there. The ride is free of charge after 4 p.m., and for guests of the Hotel on the Cay. To get on the ferry, passengers have to stand near the boardwalk in front of the King Christian Hotel and wave to the boat captain on duty.

Ferry to Protestant Cay

History

Local legend says the island is named because the Catholic French rulers of the late 1600s wanted all of non-Catholic faith to be segregated and interred on the offshore islet.[7] As only Catholics were allowed burials on Saint Croix, people of other faiths were buried on Protestant Cay.[8]

Threatened species

The endemic Saint Croix ground lizard once roamed Saint Croix and all nearby islands and islets, but is now only found on Protestant and Green Cays off Saint Croix’s northern coast.[9][10]

References

  1. ^ Gorry, Conner and Debra Miller (2005). Caribbean Islands. Lonely Planet. Page 364. ISBN 9781741040555.
  2. ^ Sullivan, Lynne (2001). Adventure Guide to the Virgin Islands. Hunter Publishing, Inc. Page 188. ISBN 9781556509070.
  3. ^ Greenberg, Harriet and Douglas. The US Virgin Islands Alive!. Hunter Publishing, Inc. Page 240. ISBN 9781588435842.
  4. ^ Ghose, Aruna (2014). DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Caribbean. Penguin. Page 248. ISBN 9781465432674.
  5. ^ Prince, Danforth and Darwin Porter (2006). Caribbean For Dummies. John Wiley & Sons. Page 505. ISBN 9780471962519.
  6. ^ Henderson, James (2005). Caribbean & the Bahamas. New Holland Publishers. Page 533. ISBN 9781860112126.
  7. ^ Glanville, Gail (1983). Beaches: U.S. Virgin Islands : Everyone's Guide (and More) to the Best of the Beaches in America's Paradise, the U.S. Virgin Islands. Macmillan Caribbean. Page 21. ISBN 9780333335758.
  8. ^ Government Printing Office (2001). U.S. Virgin Islands: A Guide to National Parklands in the United States Virgin Islands. National Park of the Virgin Islands. Page 93. ISBN 9780912627687.
  9. ^ Stallings, Douglas (2009). Fodor’s Caribbean. Fodor's Travel Publications. Page 26. ISBN 9781400019427.
  10. ^ Sheviak, Charles J. (1990). Ecosystem Management: Rare Species and Significant Habitats : Proceedings of the 15th Annual Natural Areas Conference. University of the State of New York. Page 154.
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