Southern Bahamas - The Bahamas - page 332

LONG ISLAND
POP 2978
At over 80 miles from top to bottom and just a few miles across at its widest point, Long
Island certainly lives up to its name. It's one of the most attractive islands in the Bahamas,
boasting plantation ruins, stunning white and sky-blue Gothic churches, lush greenery, at-
tractive villages and miles of virgin scrub forest.
You'll also come to a myriad of magnificent bays, blue holes, and miles and miles of
beach. The island's inhabitants live in about 35 settlements, growing bananas and rows of
corn, along with vegetables and pineapples. On the east shore, Atlantic rollers crash against
dramatic cliffs and offshore reefs, while the west coast consists of a string of shallow bays.
In late spring hundreds of yellow butterflies appear.
This pristine diving paradise has untapped treasures, such as the newly discovered Neur-
itis Wall that drops off the Bahamas Banks, and the fast-paced action of Shark Reef is justi-
fiably acclaimed. For those who prefer to eat fish rather than commune with them, the island
also has top fishing year-round.
History
Long Island is notable for its rich history compared to many of the other islands in the coun-
try. The Lucayan Indian caves have yielded duhos (wooden seats) that archaeologists be-
lieve suggest chieftainship and ceremony, and zemi figurines bearing religious connotations.
To the south, the island - Columbus' 'Fernandina' - ends at Cape Verde, where Columbus
supposedly anchored on October 24, 1492.
A large percentage of Bahamians on the island are descendants of the 18th-century Loy-
alists. The colonists established a plantation system as viable as any in the archipelago.
Getting There & Away
Air Long Island has two airports; Stella Maris Airport serves north Long Island and Dead-
man's Cay Airport is best for the middle and southern Long Island. Most flights to and from
Long Island stop at both airports.
Pineapple Air and Bahamasair have one or two daily codeshare flights from Nassau to Stella
Maris and Deadman's Cay (both one way $105). Southern Air also has one or two daily
flights on the same route (one way $110).
Boat The MV Mia Dean (one way $40, 12 hours) sails from Nassau to Clarence Town on
Tuesday at noon and leaves Clarence Town for Nassau each Thursday at 8pm.
The MV Sherice M (one way $45, 15 hours) leaves Nassau each Monday at 5pm to call at
Salt Pond, Deadman's Cay and Seymours. It leaves Long Island each Tuesday at 11am.
Marinas The Stella Maris Resort Club & Marina ( Click here ) is an official port of entry,
and has a full-service marina with boat yard and slips for boats up to 70ft.