Harbour Island Bahamas
By Anna Lynn Sibal
The Bahamas as a whole is already a popular destination among tourists looking for an unforgettable beach holiday in the Caribbean. But among the 700 islands and 2,000 cays forming the archipelago of the Bahamas, one of the islands that have the strongest draw among tourists is Harbour Island.
Harbour Island is on the northeastern part of the Bahamas, just above the larger island of Eleuthera. It is only 3.5 miles long and 1.5 miles wide. Unlike many of the islands of the Bahamas, Harbour Island has yet to be saturated by commercial tourism. It remains pristine to this day because it does not have casinos or big hotel resorts, and it is not a port of call for any of the big Caribbean cruise lines. The untouched purity of Harbour Island is a big part of its charm.
The Pink Beaches of Harbour Island
The magnet that attracts many tourists to Harbour Island is none other than its beaches. The beaches of Harbour Island were once named by Fodor, the Travel Channel and many of the premier travel guides as some of the best beaches in the world. What makes Harbour Island so great? It is mainly because of the unique pinkish hue of its sand, embraced by the crystal turquoise of the waves.
Why is the sand colored pink in Harbour Island?
The pinkness of the sand in Harbour Island comes from the shells of tiny insects called Foraminifera. These insects have reddish shells and they feed off the microscopic organisms thriving on corals and the sea floor. When they die, these insects leave their shells behind. The shells are crushed by the waves and then are mixed with the sand on the beach.
Though the pink beaches of Harbour Island are popular among tourists, they are never crowded. Harbour Island’s beaches are three miles wide, so there is always room for comfort on the sand.
Diving in Waters of Harbour Island
The pink beaches of Harbour Island are not the only ones that can be enjoyed there. Diving in Harbour Island is also excellent. Just north of the island is an extensive coral reef formation known as the Devil’s Backbone. These reefs are fascinating because of the variety of their formations, the vividness of their colors and the richness of the life being nurtured there. In those corals live groupers, morays, stingrays, sea turtles and many other fish, with the occasional visiting shark.
Another thing that makes diving exciting in Harbour Island is what known as the Current Cut, an undercurrent just off the shore. Riding the Current Cut is often compared to driving on a racecar track – it can get the diver across two-thirds of a mile in barely ten minutes.
Other Activities to Love in Harbour Island
There are many other activities to enjoy in Harbour Island than just spending time at the beach and diving. These activities include fishing and water sports. Fishing is great in Harbour Island, and there are a lot of fish that can be caught in its waters, such as white marlin, blue marlin, tarpon, wahoo and bonefish.
Whatever one does to enjoy his or her stay in Harbour Island, one thing is certain: any visitor to the island will be able to kick back, relax and have fun.
Also see Best beaches in Bahamas
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