Eleuthera /i'lu:??r?/ refers both to a single island in the modern nation of the Bahamas, and to that island and its associated group of small islands. Sometimes referred to as Eleuthera and Harbour Island (adding a single large component island of the group), "Eleuthera" derives from the feminine Greek adjective ????????? (eleutheros), meaning "free". Known in the 17th century as Cigateo, it lies 80 km (50 miles) east of Nassau. It is long and thin--180 km (110 miles) long and in places little more than 1.6 km (1.0 mile) wide. Its eastern side faces the Atlantic Ocean, and its western side faces the Great Bahama Bank. The topography of the island varies from wide rolling pink sand beaches to large outcrops of ancient coral reefs, and per a 2000 census, its human population numbered approximately 8,300.
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Geography and wildlife
The name Eleuthera refers both to a single Bahamian island, and can also be used to refer to that island and its associated group of small islands; it is sometimes also referred to as Eleuthera and Harbour Island, adding a single large component island of the group (for instance, in the official web materials of the Bahamas.
The main island lies 80 km (50 miles) east of Nassau, and it is a long and thin island--180 km (110 miles) long and little more than 1.6 km (1.0 mile) wide at its narrowest. The island has an estimated area of 457.4 square-kilometers, and presents 336 km (210 miles) of coastline.
Its eastern side faces the Atlantic Ocean, and its western side faces the Great Bahama Bank. The topography of the island varies from wide rolling pink sand beaches to large outcrops of ancient coral reefs.
The island features, among other flora and fauna, 13 catalogued species of native amphibian and reptile species, three of which were listed as endangered in 2000.
French Leave Resort Eleuthera Video
History
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 island--then named Cigateo--is believed to have been virtually unoccupied until the first European settlers--puritan pilgrims--arrived in 1648 from Bermuda. These settlers, known as the "Eleutherian Adventurers", gave the island its current name--????????? eleutheria which derives from the feminine form of the Greek adjective ?????????, eleutheros, meaning "free". Difficulties ultimately left only a few of this original population on the island; had these Puritan pioneers succeeded in their aim, they would have created the first democracy in the Western Hemisphere, almost 130 years prior to the American Revolution.
Some references in the account of Christopher Columbus' original voyage suggest that he may touched at Eleuthera before visiting islands in the West Indies.
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. Frequent visitors included film stars like Robert De Niro as well as Prince Charles and a then pregnant Princess Diana.
When the Bahamas became independent from Britain in 1973, new laws forced all of the large resorts and agricultural businesses to sell to government-favoured Bahamian interests, repressive polices that resulted in the flight of the prominent and prosperous residents, and a resulting down-turn in the economy as businesses were closed and abandoned. Because of the strain of a newly forming country, and unfavourable changes in US tax law, some businesses failed during the period from 1980 to 1985.
Demography
Per a 2000 census, its human population numbered approximately 8,336. Settlements on the island include (north to south) the Bluff, Upper and Lower Bogue, Current, Gregory Town, Alice Town, James Cistern, Governor's Harbour, North and South Palmetto Point, Savannah Sound, Winding Bay, Tarpum Bay, Rock Sound, Greencastle, Deep Creek, Delancy Town, Waterford, Wemyss Bight, John Millars, Millar's and Bannerman Town.
As of 2000, per capita GDP for the island was: $5756 Bahamian, with a chief human economic activity being tourism, and 6% of population being involved in fishing, agriculture, or mining.
Points of interest
The principal settlements are Governor's Harbour (the administrative capital), Rock Sound, Tarpum Bay, Harbour Island with its unusual pink sandy beaches and Spanish Wells. The island is particularly noted for the excellence of its pineapples and holds an annual Pineapple Festival in Gregory Town.
Eleuthera is a destination for those interested in Bahamian history and nature, and neighboring Harbour Island and Spanish Wells offer further unique experiences. 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.
As for recreation, Eleuthera is surrounded by warm, crystal clear water filled with fish, making water sports a most popular pursuit. Other entertainment included golfing, spelunking, beach combing, and nightly films.
Transport
Three airports serve the island: North Eleuthera Airport, Governor's Harbour Airport and Rock Sound Airport.
U.S. military bases
NAVFAC Eleuthera
United States Naval Facility (NAVFAC) Eleuthera, Bahamas was commissioned on 1 September 1957, with a complement of 150 officers and enlisted men, and a Western Electric engineer and 45 Bahamian employees also supported the base. Adjacent to the NAVFAC was the original site of the first experimental array and electronics, operated by two Western Electric engineers and a few military personnel, which continued in service as an avenue for experiments to bring about improvements in the SOSUS equipment. NAVFAC Eleuthera was decommissioned 31 March 1980 after 23 years of dedicated service.
Eleuthera AAFB
The US Air Force Eastern Test Range (ETR) Range Tracking Station No. 4 was sited at Eleuthera AAFB (ELU AUXILIARY AIR FORCE BASE), supported by contractor employees of the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) and Pan American Airways (PAA) in the 1960s and 1970s. This was used by the MISTRAM system.
In popular culture
The island inspired a song of the same name, except spelt Eleutheria (1993), by Lenny Kravitz, which includes the lines,
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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