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Long Island is an eighty-mile (nearly 130km) long island in the
Bahamas that is split by the Tropic of Cancer. The island
is only about four miles (6km) wide, but a road spans most
of the length. Long Island is about 165 miles or 265
kilometres southeast of Nassau. Some of the main settlements
are Clarence Town, which is the capital of the island
Deadman's Cay, Mangrove Bush (home of boat building),
Hamilton's (famous for its cave tours), Buckley's (home of
the N.G.M.Major High School) and the Long Island Library &
Museum, Scrub Hill,Simms, Salt Pond(Home of The Annual Long
Island Regatta), and Stella Maris. Long Island is one of the
Districts of the Bahamas and is known as the most scenic
island in the Bahamas.
The island originally was called by the Arawak name "Yuma".
It was rechristened "Fernandina" by Christopher Columbus
on his first voyage in 1492. Archaeological evidence shows
that the Lucayan TaĆno tribe settled on Long Island, as they
did throughout the Bahamian chain of islands. After the
demise of the Lucayans, who were carried as slaves to
Hispaniola and Cuba, there was no large settlement until
the arrival of the Loyalists.
The Loyalists were people mainly from New England and New
Jersey who fled the American Revolution. Numerous Loyalist
families settled on Long Island, some setting up cotton
plantations and other raising cattle and sheep. The
plantations flourished for only a few years and, by the
time of the abolition of slavery in 1834, most of them had
collapsed and been abandoned. There are many ruins from
this era today, the majority of which are overgrown by
bush. There are also remains of some of the houses built
after slavery, which are usually small and built of stone.
Originally they had thatched roofs; today, most are shingled.
The descendants of these families continue to be widespread
on the island. The population of Long Island is roughly
4,000 inhabitants.
Part of the economy is based on tourism and farming, but
fishing dominates the economy. The inhabitants grow peas,
corn, bananas, and pineapples, and they raise small livestock
such as pigs, chickens, goats, and sheep. Some cattle are
raised for export. Tourists enjoy sailing, fishing, scuba
diving, snorkeling and relaxing on fine beaches and
exploring its distinctive landscapes, which consist of rugged
hills and crashing waves along the Atlantic east coast,
with more tranquil waters on the west coast.
Cape Santa Maria Beach is listed in the top most beautiful
beaches in the world and Dean's Blue Hole is the world's
deepest Blue Hole dropping to a depth of about 660 feet.
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