Where is Grand Bahama Island?
As the northernmost island of The Bahamas, and the closest major island to the United States, Grand Bahama Island is a beautiful, and convenient, vacation destination, and home to some of the friendliest people on Earth.
What are the major islands in the Bahamas?
For the following archipelagos, the population of the districts as well as of all or the major settlements and populated islands. Abaco Andros Bimini and Berry Islands Cat Island Central Bahamas (Long Island, Rum Cay, San Salvador) Eastern Bahamas (Acklins, Crooked Island, Inagua, Mayaguana, Ragged Islands) Eleuthera Exuma and Cays
What is the original name of the Bahamas?
Lucayan National Park. The Spanish gave the island the name Gran Bajamar, meaning "Great Shallows", and what the eventual name of the Bahamas islands as a whole is derived from. However, the Lucayan (pre-Columbian) name for the island was Bahama.
What are the districts of the Grand Bahama?
Administratively, the island consists of the Freeport Bonded Area and the districts of East Grand Bahama and West Grand Bahama. Nearly half of the homes on the island were damaged or destroyed in early September 2019 by Hurricane Dorian.
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What is Grand Bahama Island known for?
Grand Bahama was probably well known to famous pirates like Blackbeard, Captain Kidd, and Henry Morgan, as its reefs would have been perfect for running aground vessels, a common pirate tactic.
What is the main settlement of Cat island?
The main settlements are Dumfries, New Bight, Arthur's Town (capital settlement and childhood home of Sidney Poitier), Orange Creek, and Port Howe.
What country owns the Grand Bahamas?
Who owns the Bahamas & is it a U.S. Territory? The Bahamas is an independent country. It was formerly a British Territory for 325 years. It became independent in 1973 and joined the United Nations during the same year.
What is Freeport Grand Bahama known for?
The capital of Grand Bahama Island, founded in 1955 as a center of tourism, has undergone recent redevelopment and again offers nearly every amenity an island visitor could hope for: pristine beaches, golf, water sports, diving, gambling, duty-free shopping, boating, nightclubs and fishing.
Can you take cats from Cat Island?
Most people there take care of cats very well, and the cats have become a sort of a mascot for the island. Because of this, no pet dogs are allowed on this island, so the island literally is a "cat island."
Who owns Cat Island in The Bahamas?
Gulf Islands will assume ownership of Cat Island in stages. Right now, it owns the western most three miles and the southern most one mile.
What does Bahama mean in English?
Definition of Bahama : of or from the Bahamas a Bahama cay : of the kind or style prevalent in the Bahamas.
Is the Grand Bahama Island safe?
Violent crime, such as burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assaults, occur in both tourist and non-tourist areas. Be vigilant when staying at short-term vacation rental properties where private security companies do not have a presence.
Is the Bahamas still under British rule?
On July 10, 1973, The Bahamas became a free and sovereign country, ending 325 years of peaceful British rule. However, The Bahamas is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and we celebrate July 10th as Bahamian Independence Day.
What is special about Freeport as a settlement?
The City of Freeport As the second largest city in the Islands of The Bahamas, the city was built for people to come and enjoy a good time. Here you'll find many tourist beaches and activities, and also the International Bazaar and Port Lucaya Marketplace.
Is Freeport a settlement?
NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - The state attorney general's office today announced a $100 million settlement with Freeport McMoRan after years of litigation over damage to the Louisiana coast.
Who owns Freeport Grand Bahama?
Hutchison Port HoldingsThe port is privately owned and operated by Hutchison Port Holdings, the world's leading port investor, developer and operator with interests in 25 countries.
What is the main settlement of Rum Cay?
Port NelsonThe main settlement is Port Nelson, a picturesque village lying among coconut groves. The wreck of the 101-gun Man-of-War HMS Conqueror, built in Devon in 1855 and which served in the Crimean War, lies in 30 feet of water off Rum Cay where it sank in 1861.
What is the main settlement of Berry Islands?
Bullocks HarbourOf all the islands and cays to visit in the Berry Islands Bahamas, Great Harbour Cay is the largest, and is home to the main settlement known as Bullocks Harbour.
What is the name of the Bahamas?
However, the Lucayan (pre-Columbian) name for the island was Bahama.
What is the tallest building in Grand Bahama?
Casa Bahama, an 18-storey condominium, the tallest building in Grand Bahama. One aspect that contributes to the economy of the Bahamas is what they directly export and import. The Bahamas ranks as the 137th largest exporter and 117th largest importer in the world.
What is the fauna of Grand Bahama Island?
Flora and fauna. Grand Bahama Island is populated with a variety of plants, birds, mammals and fish. The Bahamas is home to many different species of bats, including the buffy flower bat, whose hair is white and brown.
What are the main exports of the Bahamas?
They produce agriculture ranging from crops, poultry, livestock, to dairy. On commercial farms in Grand Bahama, vegetable and citrus production are produced and exported to other countries.
What are the major exports of Grand Bahama?
Top exports include; passenger cargo ships, special purpose ships, and refined petroleum. Freeport, a city in Grand Bahama has some industries that also contribute to the economy.
What is the second most populous island in the Bahamas?
The city grew rapidly, with St. George adding a harbour, an airport soon after the city was founded, and the tourist center of Port Lucaya in 1962. Grand Bahama became the second most populous island in the Bahamas (over 50,000 in 2004).
How many districts are there in Grand Bahama?
Grand Bahama is divided into three districts and seven town areas for administrative purposes. Each district is run by a chief councilor, and each town area or township is run by a chairperson. As of 1996 Grand Bahama has three districts.
East Grand Bahama
East Grand Bahama is on the eastern part of the island of Grand Bahama. The local government seat for the district is in the settlement of High Rock, which is a fairly small town. It is about 40 miles east of the City of Freeport, and 20 miles from McLeans Town.
West Grand Bahama
West Grand Bahama encompasses the entire western portion of Grand Bahama Island, excluding the city of Freeport, which forms its own district.
The City of Freeport
Just over 50 years ago, the city of Freeport was just a track of land. Today, it is the commercial, industrial and tourist center of activity on Grand Bahama Island. As the second largest city in the Islands of The Bahamas, the city was built for people to come and enjoy a good time.
Main Settlements
Freeport/Lucaya is where the commercial ship harbor and the main airport are located. It is also a hub of tourist attraction.
Commonwealth
The population of the islands and major cities, towns and settlements of the Bahamas.
Archipelagos: Districts, Settlements & Populated Islands
2010 census – comparable population figures are not available for Grand Bahama and New Providence.
Overview
Main settlements
• Freeport is the main city of Grand Bahama. It holds the commercial ship harbour and the main airport.
• Lucaya is a tourist destination on the island, with beaches and hotels.
• West End is the capital of Grand Bahama. It first achieved notoriety as a rum-running port during the Prohibition.
Climate
Grand Bahama Island has a tropical monsoon climate, with a hot and wet season from May through October, and warm and dry season from November through April.
In Freeport the summer high temperatures average 31 °C (88 °F), with average lows of 26 °C (79 °F). During the winter, the average high temperature is 28 °C (82 °F), and the average low is 19 °C (66 °F). The rainy season in the Bahamas is from May to October. The hurricane season runs f…
History
The indigenous Lucayan people's name for the island was Bahama ('large upper middle island'). Grand Bahama's existence for almost two centuries was largely governed by the nature of the treacherous coral reefs surrounding the island, which repelled its Spanish claimants (who largely left it alone apart from infrequent en route stops by ships for provisions) while attracting pirates, who …
Economy
One aspect that contributes to the economy of the Bahamas is what they directly export and import. The Bahamas ranks as the 137th largest exporter and 117th largest importer in the world. Some of the major trading partners include the United States, France, and Finland. Top exports include; passenger cargo ships, special purpose ships, and refined petroleum. Freeport, a city in Grand …
Administrative regions
Grand Bahama is divided into three districts and seven town areas for administrative purposes. Each district is run by a chief councilor, and each town area or township is run by a chairperson. As of 1996 Grand Bahama has three districts.
• East Grand Bahama
• West Grand Bahama
Flora and fauna
Grand Bahama Island is populated with a variety of plants, birds, mammals and fish.
The Bahamas is home to many different species of bats, including the buffy flower bat, whose hair is white and brown. As the name suggests, it has a flowery nose that helps pollinate flowers and is usually found in dark caves or abandoned homes.
The Bahama woodstar is a non-migratory hummingbird found in brushy habitats, including forest …
External links
• Official Tourism Site of The Islands of the Bahamas
• Official Site of the Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board
• https://bs.usembassy.gov/hurricane-season-alert/
• https://www.thebahamasguide.com/business-investment/agriculture/
East Grand Bahama
West Grand Bahama
- West Grand Bahamaencompasses the entire western portion of Grand Bahama Island, excluding the city of Freeport, which forms its own district. Additionally, communities within West Grand Bahama include the settlements of Mack Town, Hunters, Lewis Yard, Pinder’s Point, Eight Mile Rock, Hepburn Town, Bartlett Hill, Hanna Hill, Pine Dale, Martin Town, Russell Town, Jones To…
The City of Freeport
- Just over 50 years ago, the city of Freeport was just a track of land. Today, it is the commercial, industrial and tourist center of activity on Grand Bahama Island. As the second largest city in the Islands of The Bahamas, the city was built for people to come and enjoy a good time. Here you’ll find many tourist beaches and activities, and also the International Bazaar and Port Lucaya Mar…
Main Settlements
- Freeport/Lucaya is where the commercial ship harbor and the main airport are located. It is also a hub of tourist attraction. West Endis the current capital of Grand Bahama (contrary to popular belief that Freeport is the capital). It is located on the western tip of the island and is also the oldest town and westernmost settlement Grand Bahama. Th...