South Andros
Encyclopedia
South Andros is a district of the nation of The Bahamas. Geographically, South Andros is the southernmost third of the land mass colloquially called Andros
, which includes the districts of North Andros
, Central Andros
and South Andros. The districts are divided by broad unspanned "creeks", some of which offer public ferry
crossing; otherwise the only way to travel from one district to another is by private plane or boat.
South Andros is accessed from Nassau
via commercial airline (currently two trips daily from Nassau to Congotown International Airport), from the U.S. via two flights commercially from Fort Lauderdale International and other islands by charter airplane (usually from Fort Lauderdale, Florida), and from anywhere by private boat. A public ferry runs daily between South Andros and its northern neighboring Mangrove Cay which is also considered a part of South Andros. The mail
boat comes to Andros once a week from Nassau, leaving Nassau Monday night and arriving at Drigg's Hill port on South Andros on Tuesday morning, which brings the majority of all imports and supplies to the island, from milk to petrol.
and tidal estuaries.
All housing on South Andros consists of small, single family homes, sometimes clustered in small groups on a single tract of land, and almost all buildings are made of cement block and/or local limestone, as wood is expensive to import and does not withstand hurricanes well. Government provided electric, telephone and rubbish disposal services are available to all homes on the island, with a major power generation plant located mid-island in the settlement called The Bluff
or Blufftown. Municipal water is supplied to much of the island inhabitants but for residents in the southern part of the island, water is obtained by catchment or private well
: many parts of Andros enjoy an abundance of underground fresh water lenses. Natural gas
is purchased by the tank, brought in weekly by mail boat from Nassau.
, land crab, and spiny lobster
, in relative abundance, which are sold commercially in Nassau or to the representatives of Nassau food distributors, providing an important source of cash to many inhabitants.
The only other current industry of note is tourism. Albeit limited, there is a small upscale ecotourism lodge, a 36 room traditional hotel and as well the management of "bonefish lodges," small hotels which offer all-inclusive packages for tourists wishing to fish
the world famous "bonefish flats" of the southeastern fringe of the island. As of summer 2005, there were 4-6 such lodges in operation, each maintaining 4-12 guest rooms. The very low level of tourist traffic supports few restaurants and almost no shops aside from the necessary basic hardware and grocery stores.
for South Andros), Dr Leon Higgs (former President of the College of the Bahamas
) and well known Businessman Tiger Finlaysson. The majority of South Andros residents are members of either Baptist or Seventh-day Adventist Church
congregations, with a few Catholic, Anglican and other denominations represented by a church or two. There are no movie theatres, video rental stores, chain restaurants, major hotels, or major car rental agencies on South Andros; however, Bank of the Bahamas has a branch in Kemp's Bay (ATM & public banking on Wednesdays). For tourist information including accommodations, activities and more visit South Andros Island Bahamas.
Andros, Bahamas
Andros Island is an archipelago within the archipelago-nation of the Bahamas, the largest of the 26 inhabited Bahamian Islands. Geo-politically considered a single island, Andros has an area greater than all the other 700 Bahamian islands combined...
, which includes the districts of North Andros
North Andros
North Andros is one of the 31 Districts of The Bahamas. It is also the largest district in the country. It has some of the largest settlements on Andros Island and many churches as well.- Churches :...
, Central Andros
Central Andros
Central Andros is one of the districts of the Bahamas, on Andros Island. Its current Chief Councillor is Mr. Deon Sweeting. The Member of Parliament for this District is Minister Picewell Forbes.Central Andros is known for its large concentration of blue holes and wide area of bone fishing flats....
and South Andros. The districts are divided by broad unspanned "creeks", some of which offer public ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
crossing; otherwise the only way to travel from one district to another is by private plane or boat.
South Andros is accessed from Nassau
Nassau, Bahamas
Nassau is the capital, largest city, and commercial centre of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The city has a population of 248,948 , 70 percent of the entire population of The Bahamas...
via commercial airline (currently two trips daily from Nassau to Congotown International Airport), from the U.S. via two flights commercially from Fort Lauderdale International and other islands by charter airplane (usually from Fort Lauderdale, Florida), and from anywhere by private boat. A public ferry runs daily between South Andros and its northern neighboring Mangrove Cay which is also considered a part of South Andros. The mail
Mail
Mail, or post, is a system for transporting letters and other tangible objects: written documents, typically enclosed in envelopes, and also small packages are delivered to destinations around the world. Anything sent through the postal system is called mail or post.In principle, a postal service...
boat comes to Andros once a week from Nassau, leaving Nassau Monday night and arriving at Drigg's Hill port on South Andros on Tuesday morning, which brings the majority of all imports and supplies to the island, from milk to petrol.
Roads
The Queen's Highway, a two lane paved and illuminated road without traffic lights or stop signs, runs approximately 40 miles (64.4 km) from the northernmost edge of South Andros which is the port of Drigg's Hill, to the dockside settlement of Mars Bay. At Mars Bay the road ends in a cul de sac but the island extends approximately 20 further miles south without roads or services, inaccessible except by boat. In its course from Drigg's Hill to Mars Bay, the highway crosses two bridges, one at Deep Creek and one further south at Little Creek, both built within the past 30 years.Settlements
Almost the entire population of South Andros lives in housing abutting the Queen's Highway and a few short, paved roads trailing off it. The only other significant road is that leading west, inland, along the edge of Deep Creek, to Black Point, where there are a handful of additional homes. South Andros' widest point is about 20 miles (32.2 km) east to west, but only the eastern fringe is inhabited, as most of the island consists of salty marshMarsh
In geography, a marsh, or morass, is a type of wetland that is subject to frequent or continuous flood. Typically the water is shallow and features grasses, rushes, reeds, typhas, sedges, other herbaceous plants, and moss....
and tidal estuaries.
All housing on South Andros consists of small, single family homes, sometimes clustered in small groups on a single tract of land, and almost all buildings are made of cement block and/or local limestone, as wood is expensive to import and does not withstand hurricanes well. Government provided electric, telephone and rubbish disposal services are available to all homes on the island, with a major power generation plant located mid-island in the settlement called The Bluff
The Bluff, Bahamas
The Bluff is a settlement on North Eleuthera, Bahamas.There are three settlements in the Bahamas called "The Bluff". The first is on South Andros Island. It is the most densely populated settlement on the island. It hosts a Homecoming every year, the first weekend in June on its Regatta site...
or Blufftown. Municipal water is supplied to much of the island inhabitants but for residents in the southern part of the island, water is obtained by catchment or private well
Water well
A water well is an excavation or structure created in the ground by digging, driving, boring or drilling to access groundwater in underground aquifers. The well water is drawn by an electric submersible pump, a trash pump, a vertical turbine pump, a handpump or a mechanical pump...
: many parts of Andros enjoy an abundance of underground fresh water lenses. Natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
is purchased by the tank, brought in weekly by mail boat from Nassau.
Economy
South Andros is known for the production of certain seasonal delicacies, fresh conchConch
A conch is a common name which is applied to a number of different species of medium-sized to large sea snails or their shells, generally those which are large and have a high spire and a siphonal canal....
, land crab, and spiny lobster
Spiny lobster
Spiny lobsters, also known as langouste or rock lobsters, are a family of about 45 species of achelate crustaceans, in the Decapoda Reptantia...
, in relative abundance, which are sold commercially in Nassau or to the representatives of Nassau food distributors, providing an important source of cash to many inhabitants.
The only other current industry of note is tourism. Albeit limited, there is a small upscale ecotourism lodge, a 36 room traditional hotel and as well the management of "bonefish lodges," small hotels which offer all-inclusive packages for tourists wishing to fish
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
the world famous "bonefish flats" of the southeastern fringe of the island. As of summer 2005, there were 4-6 such lodges in operation, each maintaining 4-12 guest rooms. The very low level of tourist traffic supports few restaurants and almost no shops aside from the necessary basic hardware and grocery stores.
People and facilities
South Andros is also the origins of many notable Bahamians like Lady Pindling (the wife of Sir Lynden Pindling), Picewell Forbes (longtime radio personality and current Member of ParliamentMember of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for South Andros), Dr Leon Higgs (former President of the College of the Bahamas
College of the Bahamas
The College of The Bahamas is the national public institution of higher education in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas with campuses throughout the archipelago. The main campus is located in the capital city of Nassau, on the island of New Providence....
) and well known Businessman Tiger Finlaysson. The majority of South Andros residents are members of either Baptist or Seventh-day Adventist Church
Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
congregations, with a few Catholic, Anglican and other denominations represented by a church or two. There are no movie theatres, video rental stores, chain restaurants, major hotels, or major car rental agencies on South Andros; however, Bank of the Bahamas has a branch in Kemp's Bay (ATM & public banking on Wednesdays). For tourist information including accommodations, activities and more visit South Andros Island Bahamas.