Although Long Island is 80 miles long, it is very narrowno more than four miles at its widest point. The island is divided by the Tropic of Cancer and bordered by two very different coasts, one with rocky cliffs and caves that dip suddenly into the sea and the other with broad beaches.
The layout of the land has its contrasts as well. Sloping hills are dominant in the northeast, while low hillsides make up the southern portion of the island. This range of physical appearance is why Long Island is considered by many to be one of the more picturesque islands in The Islands Of The Bahamas.
Originally called by the Arawak name 'Yuma,' Long Island was rechristened 'Fernandina' by Christopher Columbus on his first voyage to the New World in 1492. Archaeological evidence shows that the Lucayan Taino settled on Long Island as they did throughout the Bahamian chain of islands. After the demise of the Lucayans, who were carried as slaves to Hispaniola and Cuba, there was no large permanent settlement until the arrival of the Loyalists.
Numerous Loyalist families settled on Long Island, some setting up cotton plantations and others raising cattle and sheep. The plantations flourished for only a few years and, by the time of the abolition of slavery in 1834, most of them had collapsed and been abandoned. There are many ruins from this era today, the majority of which are overgrown by bush. There are also remains of some of the houses built after slavery, which are usually small and built of stone. Originally they had thatched roofs; today, most are shingled.
Long Island's population is about 3,000. It is the leading stock-rearing island in The Bahamas and its farmers also raise corn, peas, bananas, pineapples and other crops.
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