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See also: Eleutherae

Eleuthera is an island in the Bahamas, lying 50 miles (80 km) east of Nassau. It is very long and thin—110 miles (180 km) long and in places little more than a mile wide. The population is 8,000 (2000 census). The name "Eleuthera" is derived from the Greek word for "free."

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 is believed to have been 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" means 'freedom' in Greek, while Eleuthera means 'free.' Some people think that Chistopher Columbus may have come to Eleuthera before any other 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 movie stars like Robert De Niro as well as The Prince of Wales and a pregnant Princess of Wales.

Due to changes in foreign ownership policy with The Bahamas becoming independent in 1973, all of the large resorts and agricultural businesses were abandoned or compelled to be sold to government-favored Bahamian interests. Because of the strain of a newly forming country, some businesses failed during the period 1980 to 1985. Today, several abandoned resorts dot the island, including the Rock Sound Club, Club Med at Governor's Harbor, and the Cape Eleuthera Resort.

Of the resorts in present-day Eleuthera, most are located on offshore Harbour Island, although a few resorts remain on the mainland. Since around 2004, there has been renewed interest in Eleuthera. As of 2006, several developments are slated for construction on the mainland, including a $300 million Bahamian owned resort at Cotton Bay and a new, smaller development at Powell Point.

While offshore Harbour Island and Spanish Wells offer unique experiences, the main island is a destination for those interested in history and nature. 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. For history buffs, 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.

The principal settlements are Governor's Harbour (the administrative capital), Rock Sound, Tarpum Bay (the last remaining fishing village) 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.

South of Deep Creek, the Cape Eleuthera Foundation, founded by Chris Maxey of New Jersey's Lawrenceville School, is making a name for the Cape as a research destination. Under the auspices of the CEF, a semester-abroad program for high school sophomores and juniors is offered at The Island School campus, and college research opportunities are available through the Cape Eleuthera Institute, which recently unveiled the first solar panel-mainstream grid intertie in the Bahamas.

External links

• Eleuthera Bahamas Map
• Eleuthera Beaches, Maps, Restaurants & Latest Developments, Eleuthera Blog, RSS
• Cape Eleuthera Island School
• Officail Website of Eleuthera
• Un-official Website of Eleuthera

25°06′N 76°08′W / 25.100°N 76.133°W / 25.100; -76.133

• Islands of the Bahamas