DREAM HOLIDAY AT BAHAMAS
Bahamian history begins with the words, "Baja Mar," the name the Spanish gave the islands. This is misleading, it literary means "shallow sea," but the islands are really mountain plateaus that emerged from the Atlantic hundreds of thousands of years ago. Now host countless generations of coral, which today comprise the islands' limestone base.The island is full of small islands like
The Abacos
Acklins/Crooked Island
Andros
The Berry Islands
Bimini
Cat Island
Eleuthera/Harbour Island
The Exumas
Grand Bahama Island
Inagua
Long Island
Mayaguana
Nassau/Paradise Island
San Salvador
The Abacos island:are a string of Bahamian islands located approximately 175 miles east of Palm Beach, Florida. The "mainland" is Great Abaco, third largest island in the Bahamas, with a curve of cays just a few miles offshore creating the protected Sea of Abaco, perfect for sailing or day trip power boating.
The islands existed in virtual obscurity until 1783, when American Loyalists began to settle here. These former plantation owners brought slaves and money to start a short-lived cotton industry which, by the beginning of the 19th Century, had more than 40 plantations employing 1200 slaves. The population turned from the land to the bounties of The Bight, after cotton growing became uneconomical due to Emancipation and soil depletion. Diving for sponges became the economic cornerstone of these islands until the sponges were decimated by a fungus. The inhabitants now earn their living by fishing and simple farming.
Acklins
One of the least known islands of The Bahamas, Acklins comprises the southern and southeastern part of the chain. The terrain is hilly and desolate, with unusual rock formations, and varied plant and animal life, including an occasional swamp turtle. Along its coastline are numerous hidden coves with extensive, beautiful beaches and a number of tiny, colorful, villages.
The island is so quiet that you can hear the tropical breezes blow and the natives say that you have to "make your own sunshine:" in other words, you are on your own. Bonefishing, deep-sea fishing, sailing, scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming and sunbathing are ideal activities.
Crooked Island
Crooked Island (together with Long Cay) forms the northwest part of the atoll system. The deliciously sweet scent of native herbs and flowers inspired Columbus to call it "one of the fragrant islands." He christened the island "Isabella" after his queen and it was called "Samoete" by the Arawaks, but somehow, the more functionally descriptive Crooked Island is the name it is known by today.
Quiet and remote, the island's natural attributes are many. An abundance of bird life thrives on the cliffs and reefs around the islands and magnificent limestone caves hide secrets from the past. Coral gardens, shelves and reefs are a treat for divers and the deep creeks, tidal flats, and pools filled with game fish make it a sportman's delight. Spectacular, untouched, white sand beaches stretch for miles.
Colonel Hill, on the northeastern end, is the main town of Crooked Island; other towns include Cripple Hill, True Blue, French Wells and Gun Point. Albert Town, now classified as a ghost town, is the only village on Long Cay. Formerly known as Fortune Island, in more prosperous times it served as a transfer point for cargoes on ships sailing between Europe and the Americas.
Andros:Largest of the many Islands of The Bahamas (104 x 40 miles), mysterious, mangrove-choked Andros is also the least explored, which means that you'll be sharing space with more terns and whistling tree ducks than humans--and maybe even a chickcharnie or two, those mischievous mythical inhabitants that are exclusive to this island. Reputed to be elfin creatures with three fingers, three toes, and red eyes, chickcharnies bring lifelong good luck to anyone lucky enough to see one. Andros even has its own "Loch Ness Monster," a dragon-like sea monster called the Lusca. No wonder the island was called "La Isla del Espiritu Santo" (the island of the Holy Spirit) by the Spaniards. Andros has come to be regarded "the bonefish capital of the world," where anglers from around the globe match wits with these challenging gamefish. It is also rapidly gaining interest as a spectacular dive site, with good reason--off the east coast of this island lies the third largest barrier reef in the world. The 12 foot water around the reef suddenly plunges 6000 feet into the Tongue of the Ocean, and contains colourful marine life of nearly all species, some of the world's deepest blue holes, and spectacular coral gardens and underwater caverns. AndrosMost of the major towns in Andros are scattered along its northeastern coast. Heading south, the settlements become more remote and are well worth a visit for palm-fringed beaches and warm and friendly people. Driggs Hill, Congo Town, and Kemp's Bay are ideal for long walks among wild orchids and relaxing in hammocks under the palms.
The Berry Islands:
Dear to the hearts of sailors, yachtsmen and fishermen, southeast of the Biminis, is a cluster of 30 islands and close to 100 cays known as The Berry Islands. Decked with green and fringed with drifts of sand, here you can find a multitude of magical harbours and swim-ashore beaches. With a land mass totalling only about a dozen square miles, these cays rest on the eastern edge of the Great Bahama Bank, starting with Great Stirrup Cay and extending to Chub Cay in the south; the largest of them is Great Harbour Cay at 3,800 acres.
These largely uninhabited islands offer spectacular diving and snorkeling and are known for championship sportsfishing, second only to the Biminis. It is a big cruising and angling area and record catches have been made of mackerel, blue and white marlin and sailfish. Bonefish, crawfish and conch are plentiful, but people are scarce.
The islands' main attraction are their seclusion and privacy and they have a reputation as a holiday retreat. A good number of the cays like Fraser's Hog Cay and Bonds Cay, suitable for stock raising and agriculture, are privately owned. There are more millionaires here per square mile than most places on earth. Whale Cay was once the site of an extensive coconut and sisal plantation.
The Abacos
Acklins/Crooked Island
Andros
The Berry Islands
Bimini
Cat Island
Eleuthera/Harbour Island
The Exumas
Grand Bahama Island
Inagua
Long Island
Mayaguana
Nassau/Paradise Island
San Salvador
The Abacos island:are a string of Bahamian islands located approximately 175 miles east of Palm Beach, Florida. The "mainland" is Great Abaco, third largest island in the Bahamas, with a curve of cays just a few miles offshore creating the protected Sea of Abaco, perfect for sailing or day trip power boating.
Historically different from other areas in the Bahamas, the population of the Abacos descended from Loyalists during the War of Independence from the United States. These blonde-haired, blue-eyed Abaconians have given up wrecking and rum running, but still work at traditional occupations -- farming, fishing, and boat building. Small guest houses and family-run hotels, as well as private home rentals, allow for a more personal experience. Tourists can embrace the relaxed culture and feel like locals.
Acklins/Crooked Island: Acklins and Crooked Island are two of the four islands forming an atoll which hugs the beautiful shallow waters of the Bight of Acklins. Bordered by the nearly uninhabited Castle Island and Long Cay, they are as natural as they were when The Bahamas was first "discovered." Columbus reputedly sailed down the leeward side of the islands through the narrow Crooked Island Passage, which has ever since served as an important route for steam ships travelling from Europe to Central and South America. This seaway, referred to locally as 'the going through,' also earned these islands the notorious reputation as convenient bases for buccaneers and pirates, who attacked ships in these shallow waters.The islands existed in virtual obscurity until 1783, when American Loyalists began to settle here. These former plantation owners brought slaves and money to start a short-lived cotton industry which, by the beginning of the 19th Century, had more than 40 plantations employing 1200 slaves. The population turned from the land to the bounties of The Bight, after cotton growing became uneconomical due to Emancipation and soil depletion. Diving for sponges became the economic cornerstone of these islands until the sponges were decimated by a fungus. The inhabitants now earn their living by fishing and simple farming.
Acklins
One of the least known islands of The Bahamas, Acklins comprises the southern and southeastern part of the chain. The terrain is hilly and desolate, with unusual rock formations, and varied plant and animal life, including an occasional swamp turtle. Along its coastline are numerous hidden coves with extensive, beautiful beaches and a number of tiny, colorful, villages.
The island is so quiet that you can hear the tropical breezes blow and the natives say that you have to "make your own sunshine:" in other words, you are on your own. Bonefishing, deep-sea fishing, sailing, scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming and sunbathing are ideal activities.
Crooked Island
Crooked Island (together with Long Cay) forms the northwest part of the atoll system. The deliciously sweet scent of native herbs and flowers inspired Columbus to call it "one of the fragrant islands." He christened the island "Isabella" after his queen and it was called "Samoete" by the Arawaks, but somehow, the more functionally descriptive Crooked Island is the name it is known by today.
Quiet and remote, the island's natural attributes are many. An abundance of bird life thrives on the cliffs and reefs around the islands and magnificent limestone caves hide secrets from the past. Coral gardens, shelves and reefs are a treat for divers and the deep creeks, tidal flats, and pools filled with game fish make it a sportman's delight. Spectacular, untouched, white sand beaches stretch for miles.
Colonel Hill, on the northeastern end, is the main town of Crooked Island; other towns include Cripple Hill, True Blue, French Wells and Gun Point. Albert Town, now classified as a ghost town, is the only village on Long Cay. Formerly known as Fortune Island, in more prosperous times it served as a transfer point for cargoes on ships sailing between Europe and the Americas.
Andros:Largest of the many Islands of The Bahamas (104 x 40 miles), mysterious, mangrove-choked Andros is also the least explored, which means that you'll be sharing space with more terns and whistling tree ducks than humans--and maybe even a chickcharnie or two, those mischievous mythical inhabitants that are exclusive to this island. Reputed to be elfin creatures with three fingers, three toes, and red eyes, chickcharnies bring lifelong good luck to anyone lucky enough to see one. Andros even has its own "Loch Ness Monster," a dragon-like sea monster called the Lusca. No wonder the island was called "La Isla del Espiritu Santo" (the island of the Holy Spirit) by the Spaniards. Andros has come to be regarded "the bonefish capital of the world," where anglers from around the globe match wits with these challenging gamefish. It is also rapidly gaining interest as a spectacular dive site, with good reason--off the east coast of this island lies the third largest barrier reef in the world. The 12 foot water around the reef suddenly plunges 6000 feet into the Tongue of the Ocean, and contains colourful marine life of nearly all species, some of the world's deepest blue holes, and spectacular coral gardens and underwater caverns. AndrosMost of the major towns in Andros are scattered along its northeastern coast. Heading south, the settlements become more remote and are well worth a visit for palm-fringed beaches and warm and friendly people. Driggs Hill, Congo Town, and Kemp's Bay are ideal for long walks among wild orchids and relaxing in hammocks under the palms.
The Berry Islands:
Dear to the hearts of sailors, yachtsmen and fishermen, southeast of the Biminis, is a cluster of 30 islands and close to 100 cays known as The Berry Islands. Decked with green and fringed with drifts of sand, here you can find a multitude of magical harbours and swim-ashore beaches. With a land mass totalling only about a dozen square miles, these cays rest on the eastern edge of the Great Bahama Bank, starting with Great Stirrup Cay and extending to Chub Cay in the south; the largest of them is Great Harbour Cay at 3,800 acres.
These largely uninhabited islands offer spectacular diving and snorkeling and are known for championship sportsfishing, second only to the Biminis. It is a big cruising and angling area and record catches have been made of mackerel, blue and white marlin and sailfish. Bonefish, crawfish and conch are plentiful, but people are scarce.
The islands' main attraction are their seclusion and privacy and they have a reputation as a holiday retreat. A good number of the cays like Fraser's Hog Cay and Bonds Cay, suitable for stock raising and agriculture, are privately owned. There are more millionaires here per square mile than most places on earth. Whale Cay was once the site of an extensive coconut and sisal plantation.
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