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Territory
Wonders of the Bahamas
Highlights
The low-lying, comparatively small Bahamas are quite a popular destination for mass tourism. Most people enjoy here complete relaxation without bothering too much about traveling around and researching the intricacies of local history and nature.
Interested visitors though will be rewarded with many wonders of nature and also several exciting cultural attractions. Islands are rich with legends including stories about unusual creatures looming in the wild forest and swamps.
Islands consist of limestone of the former coral reefs elevated above sea level. Here have formed thousands of sinkholes and similar formations. Most of them are small and often the indigenous Lucayan people used them as "flowerpots" for cultivated plants in the past. Some sinkholes though are large and unusual. Many large sinkholes and cave systems are connected to the sea and during the tides can be observed either incredible funnels sucking out the water (even a boat can disappear in these funnels) or giant bulges from the incoming water. Even more exotic are black holes – these formations are unique in the world as they contain bacterial layer which generated heat – heating the water up to 40°C hot!
Map with the described wonders of Bahamas
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Top 20 wonders of the Bahamas
Geological wonders
Black Hole of Andros
North Andros
300 m wide and up to 47 m deep round water-filled sinkhole with a layer of violet jelly layer of bacteria at 18 meters depth. Microorganisms have heated up the water to 40°C.
Bimini Road
Bimini
Unusual natural monument – some 0.8 km long geological formation that resembles an ancient man-made linear structure, located at 5.5 m depth. For a while, it was considered to be a unique megalithic structure. There are several more similar sites in the Bahamas – f.e. Andros "Temple".
Thunderball Grotto
Exuma
Beautiful underwater cave – sinkhole under the limestone cliffs of a small island near Staniel Cay.
Dunmore’s Cave
Long Island
Cave with 2 tunnels, one unexplored tunnel leads to the sea. Contains Lucayan petroglyphs.
Hamilton’s Cave
Long Island
One of the most impressive cave systems in the Bahamas, 460 m long, contains beautiful dripstone formations and ancient Lucayan artifacts.
Church’s Blue Hole
North Andros
140 m wide, beautiful, almost perfectly round water-filled sinkhole, one of the many in this area. Covered with 18 m thick layer of freshwater. Sea water starts below it.
Ocean Hole
South Eleuthera
Rounded sinkhole filled with seawater, for the most part up to 30 m deep. It experiences sea tides as it is connected to the 300 m distant sea with underground passages. At the southwest corner is located a very deep, unexplored hole – a possible entrance in this passage.
The Healing Hole
Bimini
An unusual, mineralized spring coming up from the cave in the salt marshes of North Bimini. Considered to have unique healing powers, although this seems to be largely exaggerated.
Blow Hole Beach
Exuma
Amazing blowhole that can be seen from the calm lagoon. Limestone hills hide the Atlantic Ocean and the lagoon seems to be calm – but nevertheless from the cliffs rises a fountain of seawater. This blowhole is created by the wave energy on the other side of the island.
Biological wonders
Mystery Cave
Exuma
Underwater cave system with three known entrances – Mystery Cave, Angelfish Cave (both in the ocean), and Bottomley’s Blue Hole on the island. The total explored length exceeds 3 km, some tunnels are very large. Contains a large number of endemic species of sea organisms.
East Plana Cays
Acklins
The only island where survived Bahamian Hutia (Geocapromys ingrahami). The population of these large rodents on this narrow, 10 km long island could reach 12,000. Later hutia has been introduced to several more islands of the Bahamas.
Archaeological wonders
Preacher’s Cave
North Eleuthera
Large niche – burial site of early Lucayans from the 8th century AD with several petroglyphs. The first home of European settlers in the Bahamas in 1640.
Hartford Cave
Rum Cay
Seaside cave with carvings, possibly even writings of Lucayans.
Architecture wonders of Bahamas
St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Long Island
Long Island
Beautiful Art Deco style church built after 1946 by Father Jerome Hawes.
Atlantis Paradise Island
New Providence
Enormous resort complex with the first highrise building in this island country. In many respects, this building symbolizes the contemporary Bahamas. Constructed in 1997 – 2007, impressive Postmodern architecture.
Sites of legends
Big Blue Hole of Cat Island
Cat Island
Legendary lake – here supposedly lives a monster that devours horses. Deep karst sinkhole, well connected with the sea through underwater cavities. Strong sea-induced currents may bring objects from the lake into the sea.
Chickcharney
North Andros
Mysterious bird in Andros Island – the forest of Andros Island. According to tales of locals in the forest of this island lives an approximately 1 m tall creature that resembles an owl. There is a possibility that here survives the flightless owl Tyto pollens. This amazing bird was 1 m tall and was last reported in the 16th century.
Grey Lady of Great Isaac Cay
Bimini
Small island – site of legends, reputedly haunted by a spirit of mother deceased in a shipwreck nearby and looking for her child. Rich with other stories as well.
Lusca – giant octopus of Andros blue holes
North Andros
There are numerous stories about giant squids that reportedly live in sinkholes near the coast of Andros. According to these stories, this monster is up to 23 m or even 60 m long.
Recommended books
Fodor’s Bahamas
The Bahamas exists in extremes: travelers come to find both secluded beaches and vibrant parties on the sand; to dive dramatic wrecks and barrier reefs and glide in sailboats across crystal waters; to try a traditional fish fry or savor delicacies from all across the world; to stay in a cozy inn or a flashy new resort. Our travel experts help visitors navigate must-see destinations and tucked-away gems so they can escape the every day and absorb the region’s diverse culture.
The Cruising Guide to Abaco, Bahamas: 2018
The accurate easy-to-read color charts are based on original hydrographic research and 45 years of local knowledge, and they are the only charts that show locations of submerged power lines and “do not anchor zones” in the central part of Abaco.
There is so beautiful there in Bahamas, woooow