Lucayan Archipelago | |
|---|---|
 Location within the Caribbean | |
| Coordinates:23°44′N75°22′W / 23.74°N 75.37°W /23.74; -75.37 | |
| Continent | North America |
| Subregion | Caribbean |
| Countries and territories |
|
| Area | |
• Total | 14,308 km2 (5,524 sq mi) |
| Population (2016) | |
• Total | 443,000 |
| • Density | 24.6/km2 (64/sq mi) |
| Demonym(s) | Bahamian, Turks Islander, Caicos Islander |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (EDT) |
TheLucayan Archipelago, also known as theBahamian Archipelago, is anisland group comprising the sovereign nation ofBahamas and theBritish Overseas Territory of theTurks and Caicos Islands in theNorth Atlantic Ocean. The archipelago is in theCaribbean region, stretching from south-east ofFlorida in the mainland United States to northernHispaniola. There are about 740 islands and 2,400cays, of which only 38 are inhabited.
The Lucayan Archipelago was first inhabited by theLucayan people, a branch of theTaino community, who settled the islands from the 8th century CE to 16th century CE.[1] They were the firstIndigenous Americans encountered byChristopher Columbus in October 1492.[2] Shortly after the contact, the Spanish started enslaving the Lucayans, leading to their complete eradication from some of the islands by 1520.[3] The Lucayan culture had its own language, government, customs, and traditions, and they engaged in extensive trade routes using dug-out canoes.[4]
The Lucayanisland group comprising the sovereign nation ofBahamas and theBritish Overseas Territory of theTurks and Caicos Islands is located in theNorth Atlantic Ocean. Part of theCaribbean region, it stretches over 1,000 km (620 mi) from south-east ofFlorida in the mainland United States to northernHispaniola, and lies to the north of Cuba and theAntilles.[5] The archipelago consists of about 740 islands and 2,400 cays, with only 38 inhabited. About 700 of these islands and most of the cays are part of Bahamas, covering an area of 13,880 km2 (5,360 sq mi). These include 30 populated islands including theNew Providence Island, home to the largest city ofNassau, andAndros, the largest island in the chain. The Turks and Caicos Islands comprises 40 islands and cays, eight of which are inhabited. It spans about 948 km2 (366 sq mi), and include the major islands ofProvidenciales,North Caicos, andGrand Turk.[5]
TheMouchoir Bank, theSilver Bank, and theNavidad Bank are a submerged continuation of the archipelago, to the southeast of the Turks and Caicos Islands.[6] The islands are situated on two large landforms consisting oflimestone andcoral formations. Most of the islands are low lying with the highest point, Mount Alvernia on Cat Island, reaching 63 m (207 ft) above the sea level. It has atropical climate, characterized by warm temperatures, high humidity, and distinct wet and dry seasons. The archipelago also encounterstropical cyclones andhurricanes, which often restructure the geography of the islands.[5]
The Lucayan Archipelago was named for the original nativeLucayan people. Julian Granberry and Gary Vescelius suggest the followingLucayan (Taíno) etymologies for various Lucayan islands.[7]
| Indigenous name | Modern name | Lucayan form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inagua | Inagua | i+na+wa | Small Eastern Land |
| Baneque | Inagua | ba+ne+ke | Big Water Island |
| Guanahaní | Little Inagua | wa+na+ha+ni | Small Upper Waters Land |
| Utiaquia | Ragged Island | huti+ya+kaya | Western Hutia Island |
| Jume(n)to | Crooked/Jumento | ha+wo+ma+te | Upper Land of the Middle Distance |
| Curateo | Exuma | ko+ra+te+wo | Outer Far Distant Land |
| Guaratía | Exuma | wa+ra+te+ya | Far Distant Land |
| Babueca | Turks Bank | ba+we+ka | Large Northern Basin |
| Cacina | Big Sand Cay | ka+si+na | Little Northern Sand |
| Canamani | Salt Cay | ka+na+ma+ni | Small Northern Mid-Waters |
| Cacumani | Salt Cay | ka+ko+ma+ni | Mid-Waters Northern Outlier |
| Macareque | Cotton Cay | Ma+ka+ri+ke | Middle Northern Land |
| Amuana | Grand Turk | aba+wa+na | First Small Land |
| Caciba | South Caicos | ka+siba | Northern Rocky |
| Guana | East Caicos | wa+na | Small Country |
| Aniana | Middle Caicos | a+ni+ya+na | Small Far Waters |
| Caicos | North Caicos | ka+i+ko | Nearby Northern Outlier |
| Buiana | Pine Cay | bu+ya+na | Small Western Home |
| Boniana | Pine Cays | bo+ni+ya+na | Small Western Waters Home |
| Yucanacan | Providenciales | yuka+na+ka | The Peoples Small Northern [Land] |
| Ianicana | Providenciales | ya+ni+ka+na | Far Waters Smaller [Land] |
| Macubiza | West Caicos | ma+ko+bi+sa | Mid Unsettled Outlier |
| Mayaguana | Mayaguana | ma+ya+wa+na | Lesser Midwestern Land |
| Amaguayo | Plana Cays | a+ma+wa+yo | Toward the Middle Lands |
| Yabaque | Acklins Island | ya+ba+ke | Large Western Land |
| Samana | Samana | sa+ma+na | Small Middle Forest |
| Yuma | Long Island | yu+ma | Higher Middle |
| Manigua | Rum Cay | ma+ni+wa | Mid Waters Land |
| Guanahaní | San Salvador | wa+na+ha+hi | Small Upper Waters Land |
| Guateo | Little San Salvador | wa+te+yo | Toward the Distant Land |
| Guanima | Cat Island | wa+ni+ma | Middle Waters Land |
| Ayrabo | Great Guana Cay | ay+ra+bo | Far Distant Home |
| Nema | New Providence | ne+ma | Middle Waters |
| Ciguateo | Eleuthera | siba+te+wo | Distant Rocky Place |
| Lucayoneque | Great Abaco | luka+ya+ne+ke | The People's Distant Waters Land |
| Bahama | Grand Bahama | ba+ha+ma | Large Upper Middle [Land] |
| Habacoa | Andros | ha+ba+ko+wa | Large Upper Outlier Land |
| Canimisi | Williams Island | ka+ni+misi | Northern Waters Swamp |
| Bimini | Bimini | bimini | The Twins |
The Lucayan Archipelago has a marine ecosystem that supports varies aquatic resident communities including large species such asspotted dolphins,common bottlenose dolphins, andhumpback whales. Variousfrogs,lizards, nonpoisonoussnakes, and several species of bats can be found in coastal caves.[8] The islands are also home to diverse birdlife.[9]
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