New Providence Island and Eleuthera Island from space, April 1997

See also: Eleutherae

Eleuthera is an island in the Bahamas, lying 50 miles (80 km) east of Nassau. Eleutherae (Ελευθέραι is a city in the northern part of Attica, bordering the territory of Boeotia. The Bahamas, officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an independent sovereign English -speaking country consisting of two thousand Cays and Nassau is the Capital, largest city and commercial centre of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. It is very long and thin—110 miles (180 km) long and in places little more than a mile wide. According to the 2000 Census, the population of Eleuthera is approximately 8,000. The name "Eleuthera" is derived from the feminine form of the Greek word ελεύθερος (eleutheros), "free"^[1]. Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly

The topography of the island varies from wide rolling pink sand beaches to large outcrops of ancient coral reefs. The eastern side of the island faces the Atlantic Ocean while the western side faces the Great Bahama Bank, one of the two Bahama Banks. The Bahama Banks are the submerged Carbonate platforms that make up much of the Bahama Archipelago

The original population of Taino, or Arawaks, was mostly deported by the Spanish to work in the mines of Hispaniola, where they died out by 1550. The Taínos were pre-Columbian inhabitants of the Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and the northern Lesser Antilles. The term Arawak (from aru, the Lokono word for Cassava flour was used to designate the Amerindians encountered by the Spanish in Hispaniola (from Spanish, La Española) is the second-largest and most populous Island of the Antilles, lying between the islands of The island is believed to have been unoccupied until the first European settlers—puritan pilgrims—arrived in 1648 from Bermuda. A Puritan of 16th and 17th century England was an associate of any number of religious groups advocating for more "purity" of Worship and Doctrine, Pilgrims, or Pilgrim Fathers (or Pilgrim Mothers) is a name commonly applied to the early settlers of the Plymouth Colony in present-day Plymouth These settlers, known as the "Eleutherian Adventurers", gave the island its current name—eleutheria means "freedom" in Greek, while eleuthera means "free". Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly Some people think that Christopher Columbus may have come to Eleuthera before any other islands in the West Indies. Christopher Columbus (1451 &ndash May 20 1506 was an Italian Navigator, colonizer The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting

The island was quite prosperous in the period from 1950 to 1980, attracting several prominent American industrialists such as Arthur Vining Davis, Henry J. Kaiser, and Juan Trippe. Arthur Vining Davis ( May 30, 1867 – November 17, 1962) American industrialist and philanthropist was born in Sharon Massachusetts Henry John Kaiser ( May 9, 1882 — August 24, 1967) was an American Industrialist who became known as the father of modern American Juan Terry Trippe ( June 27 1899 – April 3 1981) was a US Airline Entrepreneur and pioneer and the Frequent visitors included movie stars like Robert De Niro as well as the Prince of Wales and a pregnant Princess of Wales. Robert Mario De Niro Jr (born August 17 1943 is a two-time Academy Award -winning American Film Actor, director and producer

Due to changes in foreign-ownership policy, with the Bahamas becoming independent in 1973, all of the large resorts and agricultural businesses were abandoned or compelled to be sold to government-favored Bahamian interests. Because of the strain of a newly forming country, and unfavorable changes in US tax law, some businesses failed during the period from 1980 to 1985.

While offshore Harbour Island and Spanish Wells offer unique experiences, the main island is a destination for those interested in history and nature. Spanish Wells is one of the districts of the Bahamas. It is a settlement on the small island of St Natural attractions include the Glass Window Bridge, Hatchet Bay caves and Surfer's Beach in the north, and Ocean Hole and Lighthouse Beach at the south end. Preacher's Cave on the north end was home to the Eleutherian Adventurers in the mid-17th century, and recent excavations have uncovered Arawak remains at the site. The term Arawak (from aru, the Lokono word for Cassava flour was used to designate the Amerindians encountered by the Spanish in

The principal settlements are Governor's Harbour (the administrative capital), Rock Sound, Tarpum Bay (the last remaining fishing village), Harbour Island with its unusual pink sandy beaches, and Spanish Wells. Tarpum Bay is a small village on the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas. Spanish Wells is one of the districts of the Bahamas. It is a settlement on the small island of St The island is particularly noted for the excellence of its pineapples and holds an annual Pineapple Festival in Gregory Town. Pineapple ( Ananas comosus) is the common name for an edible Tropical Plant and also its Fruit It is native to the southern part of Brazil See also Eleutherae Eleuthera is an island in the Bahamas, lying 50 miles (80 km east of Nassau.

Transportation

Three airports serve the island: North Eleuthera Airport, Governor's Harbour Airport and Rock Sound Airport. North Eleuthera Airport is an airport in North Eleuthera on Eleuthera in the Bahamas. Governor's Harbour Airport is an airport in Governor's Harbour on Eleuthera in the Bahamas.

References

External links

Bahamas Government information on Eleuthera

• Guide to Eleuthera's Beaches