Lucayan Archipelago
Archipelago in the Northwestern West Indies
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Through Archipelago, Atlantic Ocean and Coral
History
The Lucayan Archipelago was first inhabited by the Lucayan people, a branch of the Taíno, who settled the islands from the 8th century CE to 16th century CE. They were the first Indigenous Americans encountered by Christopher Columbus in October 1492. Shortly after the contact, the Spanish started enslaving the Lucayans, leading to their complete eradication from some of the islands by 1520. The Lucayan culture had its own language, government, customs, and traditions, and they engaged in extensive trade routes using dug-out canoes.
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Geography
The Lucayan island group comprising the sovereign nation of Bahamas and the British Overseas Territory of the Turks and Caicos Islands is located in the North Atlantic Ocean. Part of the Caribbean region, it stretches over 1,000 km (620 mi) from south-east of Florida in the mainland United States to northern Hispaniola, and lies to the north of Cuba and the Antilles. 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 the New Providence Island, home to the largest city of Nassau, and Andros, 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 of Providenciales, North Caicos, and Grand Turk.
The Mouchoir Bank, the Silver Bank, and the Navidad Bank are a submerged continuation of the archipelago, to the southeast of the Turks and Caicos Islands. The islands are situated on two large landforms consisting of limestone and coral 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 a tropical climate, characterized by warm temperatures, high humidity, and distinct wet and dry seasons. The archipelago also encounters tropical cyclones and hurricanes, which often restructure the geography of the islands.
Islands
The Lucayan Archipelago was named for the original native Lucayan people. Julian Granberry and Gary Vescelius suggest the following Lucayan (Taíno) etymologies for various Lucayan islands.
Flora and fauna
The Lucayan Archipelago has a marine ecosystem that supports varies aquatic resident communities including large species such as spotted dolphins, common bottlenose dolphins, and humpback whales. Various frogs, lizards, nonpoisonous snakes, and several species of bats can be found in coastal caves. The islands are also home to diverse birdlife.