Cayman Islands: Caribbean Territory, Not Continental

The Cayman Islands are not part of any continent. They are a British Overseas Territory in the western Caribbean Sea.

Geographic Classification

• Location: 19°42'N, 80°35'W — south of Cuba, northwest of Jamaica
• Geology: Cayman Ridge (submarine mountain range); emergent peaks of oceanic crust
• Tectonics: Caribbean Plate boundary; not on continental shelf
• Islands: Grand Cayman (76 sq mi), Cayman Brac (14 sq mi), Little Cayman (10 sq mi)

Political Status

• British Overseas Territory (since 1670 Treaty of Madrid)
• Self-governing with UK-appointed Governor
• Own constitution, currency (KYD pegged to USD), legal system
• Not part of UK, EU, or any continent

Regional Context

Part of the Greater Antilles island chain (geographically) and Caribbean region (politically/economically). Often grouped with "Caribbean islands" but not on North American continental shelf (unlike Bahamas, Turks & Caicos).

Continental classification applies to landmasses on continental crust. The Caymans are oceanic islands—geologically distinct from continents.