San Salvador¹

 

island of the Bahamas, West Indies. Many historians believe that it was the first land sighted by Columbus in the New World in 1492. The indigenous population called it Guanahani, and it has also been named Watling or Watlings Island. It was formerly confused with what is now known as Cat Island.

San Salvador Island, also known as Watling Island, is an island and district of the Bahamas. Until 1986, when the National Geographic Society suggested Samana Cay, it was widely believed that during his first expedition to the New World, San Salvador Island was the first land sighted and visited by Christopher Columbus on October 12, 1492. Columbus's records indicate that the native inhabitants of the territory where he landed called the island Guanahani.

The British gained control of what are now The Bahamas in the early 1700s. For some time, San Salvador was the home of John Watling (alternately referred to as George Watling), who gave the island its alternative name by which it was officially known until 1925. At that time, the name "San Salvador" was transferred from another place, now called Cat Island, and given to "Watling Island" under the belief that it seemed a much more likely match for Columbus's description of Guanahani.

Today, thanks to its many sandy beaches, the island's prosperous main industry is tourism. About 1,000 people reside on San Salvador Island and its principal community is Cockburn Town, the seat of local government and home of a public teacher's college.

The Gerace Research Center (formerly the Bahamian Field Station) is located on the north end of the island on the shores of Graham's Harbour. Hundreds of students and researchers use the station every year as a base of operations from which to study tropical marine geology, biology, and archaeology.

The island is home to many shallow-water reefs which allow snorkelers to observe hundreds of fish species without the use of SCUBA equipment. It is also known for its quick drop in the continental shelf, allowing for numerous dive sites.

Also see

• Columbian Exchange
• The Grand Exchange

External links

• San Salvador Living Jewels Foundation
• Info on Watling Island
• Gerace Research Center

Districts of the Bahamas

Acklins · Berry Islands · Bimini · Black Point · Cat Island · Central Abaco · Central Andros · Central Eleuthera · Freeport · Crooked Island · East Grand Bahama · Exuma · Grand Cay · Harbour Island · Hope Town · Inagua · Long Island · Mangrove Cay · Mayaguana · Moore's Island · New Providence · North Abaco · North Andros · North Eleuthera · Ragged Island · Rum Cay · San Salvador · South Abaco · South Andros · South Eleuthera · Spanish Wells · West Grand Bahama

Coordinates: 24°06′N, 74°29′W

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