IT’S BETTER IN THE BAHAMAS

ANDROS, "THE NATURAL WONDER OF THE BAHAMAS OUT ISLANDS"

BY CLAY LARROY

The preparation for a vacation is almost as exhilarating as the vacation itself. I love printing out the tickets and confirmations while thinking about how much fun I will have on vacation. I think that some of the best destinations in the world are located in the Caribbean. So I am continuing my tour across around the Caribbean Islands. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!

Explore Andros, the natural wonder of The Bahamas Out Islands

Andros Island is the Bahamas’ natural wonder. The earth’s third-largest barrier reef (after Australia’s Great Barrier and Central America’s Belize Barrier Reef) lies adjacent to its shores. A mile-deep abyss -- walled with coral and filled with whales, dolphin, marlin and all the wondrous reef animals – that’s called the Tongue of the Ocean, licks along Andros’ east coast. Underwater caves riddle the island, surfacing as mesmerizing blue holes that local legends say serve as lairs for the Lucsa, a sea monster that sucks the unwary down into the bottomless blue. Mangrove-lined wetlands cover huge swaths of Andros Bahamas, intercut with endless mazes of channels that open onto bonefish flats and hidden beaches.Divers and snorkelers find endless fascination along the reef -- going deep into the Tongue or exploring among the coral heads along the inside of the barrier reef – and at the openings to the blue holes that are found all over the island, in the middle of forests, out on flats, inside deep channels, near the reefs and amid the stony ancient reef that makes up much of the landscape (the entire 2,300-square-mile island is made of porous limestone laid down by the sea and reef creatures).

Andros is rich with historical landmarks and undersea adventures.

Andros Lighthouse was built in 1892 to mark the southern entrance to the Fresh Creek channel. In 1952, three old canons were added in front of the Lighthouse and a tower built to the top. The canons came from the “Cottsac” Schooner, which wrecked on Stanyard Rock in the 1800s.

Andros Island is best known to scuba divers and snorkelers. Barrier Reef and Tongue of the Sea is the third largest barrier reef in the world measuring more than 140 miles long. It’s just a mile off the shores of Andros Island and is swimming with almost every variety of exotic fish species. The Tongue of the Ocean is a deep ocean trench that begins about 70 feet deep and plunges to more than 6,000 feet.

Mariners Well is a freshwater natural spring well, which got its name from locals. It’s said to have been used by pirates and before the 17th century and after that by sailing crewmen on the sponging vessels. Mariners Well sits between two saltwater lakes and Andros Island and is located on the property of a house built in the shape of the letter, “A.”

Native Colony Ruins is about a half mile south of Pleasant Harbour and includes eight historical stone buildings dating back to the 1930s. The buildings represent vintage Bahamian style architecture and are open for exploration. It’s unknown why the colony was abandoned and never inhabited.

The famous batik fabric and garment manufacturing factory, Androsia, is located on Andros next to Lighthouse Club in Fresh Creek. Their brightly colored authentic Bahamian hand-dyed printed fabrics and clothing, inspired by the island environment and Bahamian culture, can be purchased all over The Bahamas. The proud staff at Androsia Batiks enjoys giving tours of the factory to visitors of Fresh Creek. www.androsia.com

Pirate buffs and explorers can venture to Henry Morgan’s Cave at the northeastern point of Andros near the town of Morgan’s Bluff. While historians have never confirmed this cave was the hide out of the Caribbean’s most feared pirate, folklore speaks of buried treasure within. Signs along Queen’s Highway direct the public to the dark cavern full of bats and stalagmites...

REFERENCE SITES

http://www.myoutislands.com/natural-vacations/andros-attractions.cfm

Whenever I talk about the Bahamas and its beauty, I could never stop talking about my God, who has given us all of this beauty. 
Myles Munroe

                                                  Live Well, Laugh Often, and Travel Much!