Eleuthera

Eleuthera is a narrow island in the Bahamas positioned between the open Atlantic and the sheltered waters of the Great Bahama Bank. Long sand beaches alternate with rocky stretches, and low hills rise above coastal settlements and fruit plantations.

British settlers arrived in 1648 hoping to establish an independent community away from royal control. Plantations for cotton and pineapples followed, continuing well into the 20th century.

The name comes from a Greek word meaning freedom, chosen by settlers who hoped to build a society based on self-rule. Today residents still harvest pineapples in central fields and fish the surrounding waters for grouper and snapper.

Three small airports connect different parts of the island to Nassau and international destinations. Ferries run between coastal towns and the small offshore islands nearby.

At one narrow point the deep blue ocean and pale green shallows meet just a few meters apart. A low bridge connects both shores across the open channel.

Location: The Bahamas

Elevation above the sea: 24 m

Part of: The Bahamas

GPS coordinates: 25.13472,-76.14418

Latest update: December 5, 2025 06:40