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Virtually untouched by tourism, the 3200 residents of Long Island
live in a dozen or so small fishing settlements along a seventy-mile
strip, a narrow sliver of land rarely more than two miles wide,
separating Grand Bahama Bank from the Atlantic Ocean. Running along
the spine of the island, the central road connecting its villages -
The Queen's Highway - only became passable when it was resurfaced
in 1991, the same year electricity and telephones arrived.
A
varied landscape of steep rocky cliffs, sheltered coves filled with
turquoise water, idyllic green pastures with grazing goats, and historic
churches in quaint seaside villages, Long Beach offers eye-catching
sightseeing, whether by car or bicycle.
Along with its unspoiled rustic
beauty, the island's key attractions are its excellent diving and snorkeling , superb fishing throughout the year, and many pristine
beaches . These include the striking white sands that stretch for three
miles along Cape Santa Maria at the north end of the island; Guana Cay
with its terrific snorkeling, further south; and secluded Lowes Beach
on the Atlantic side near the southern end.
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Bahamas information
Although most locals continue to make their living from fishing, the
small burg of Mangrove Bush , at the southern end of the island, is home
to a number of artisans constructing wooden boats - a longstanding
tradition in the area. The Long Island Sailing Regatta , held in Salt
Pond in mid-May for the past 35 years, is one of the main social events
in the Out Islands.
Further along, two essential sights not to be missed include Hamilton's
Cave , near the village of Cartwrights , a collection of underground
chambers filled with colourful stalactites, stalagmites and pictographs,
and the Columbus Monument , atop a rocky bluff at the northern tip of
the island, offering a stunning panorama of the craggy terrain and
white-sand fringes that Columbus first surveyed on his two-week Bahamian
tour in 1492.
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Grand Bahama
Grand
Bahama
Arrival
Brief
history
Information
Getting around
Boat excursions
 Diving
& snorkeling
Other
outdoor
activities
Exploring Grand
Bahama
Freeport
/ Lucaya
Long Island
Long Island
Arrival and
transport
Getting around
Eating
New Providence
New
Providence &
Paradise
Island
Arrival,
transport.
Practicalities
Exploring New
Providence
Nassau
Nassau
Getting around
Eating
&
drinking
Nightlife
Diving,
aquatic
sports
Explore Nassau
Cable Beach
Hillside area
& west
Historic Nassau |
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Grand Bahama - Long Island 