San Salvador Island

San Salvador Island, previously Watling's Island, is an

Watling's Island was named for George or John Watling, an Englishman who settled it in the 17th century. The name was used officially from the 1680s^[2] until 1926. It is still used unofficially in discussions of the actual location of Columbus's first landfall.

San Salvador derives from the

San Salvador Island sits on its own isolated carbonate platform surrounded by a narrow shelf that reaches a depth of up to 40 meters (130 ft).^[5][6] Past the shelf, the slope becomes almost vertical and depth quickly increases to 4,000 meters (13,000 ft).^[5][7] San Salvador Island experiences a semidiurnal tide, with two high tides and two low tides per day.^[8] Water temperature in San Salvador can range from 23 to 29 °C (73 to 84 °F) depending on the location and time of year. Salinity and dissolved oxygen are consistent throughout the island and throughout the year (35 ppt and 6.0% respectively).^[7]

Most of San Salvador Island is surrounded by fringing reefs.^[7] In many areas, such as Fernandez Bay, the shore is rocky and populated by reef urchins (Echinometra viridis). Moving away from shore, the bottom slopes gradually and may have several patch reefs surrounded by a sandy bottom. These patch reefs are home to hundreds of fish, invertebrates, and algae.^[7] The depth continues to increase to about 25 meters (82 ft) at the farthest edge of the shelf, which can be 400 to 1,500 meters (1,300 to 4,900 ft) from shore.^[7]

Wind and wave action in San Salvador is influenced by the Antilles Current. The Antilles Current originates south of the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and Cuba and moves northward where it merges with the Gulf Stream.^[9][10] This current cools the waters around San Salvador in the summer and warms the water around the island in the winter. This keeps the water temperature relatively mild and consistent throughout the year.^[7]

The coasts of San Salvador are very different from each other. The west coast of San Salvador faces the rest of the Bahamas and the Great Bahama Bank. Most of these islands are sheltered from significant winds and wave action, making the water generally calmer with greater visibility. In contrast, the eastern coast of San Salvador is windward and completely exposed to the rest of the Atlantic Ocean and is not protected by any other geological formations.^[6]

As a result, wave action is much stronger and visibility is lower. Evidence of currents from the Atlantic Ocean can be found on the east coast in the form of trash and debris on the beaches. During Hurricane Joaquin in October 2015, cargo steamer El Faro went down approximately 50 miles east of San Salvador. Several weeks later, pieces of the containers that had been swept away by the current were reported on the beaches of San Salvador.^[11]

History

Columbus's arrival

Columbus himself seized several Guanahamians by force to use as translators and ambassadors,[20] despite forcing his crew to stop cheating them in exchanges of random trash for items of great worth,^[21] including one who received 12 g of gold for a used leather strap.^[22] Despite their general intelligence,^[21] the Guanahamian slaves considered him sent from the heavens and secured him welcome at every island he visited.^[20]

The location of this first island visited by Columbus is disputed. In the 19th century, it was usually thought to be

The island now called San Salvador was settled in the 17th century by the English buccaneer George or John Watling. Britain formally colonized the Bahamas in the early 18th century.

During the

San Salvador has required extensive rebuilding following Hurricane Lili in 1996,^[33] Hurricane Floyd in 1999,^[34] and Hurricane Joaquin in 2015.^[35] Floyd in particular caused considerable beach erosion.^[34]

Tourism

Tourism is the island's main industry, thanks to its historical importance, many sandy beaches, and proximity to the United States. It is served by San Salvador International Airport. Columbus Isle, a Club Med resort, is located just north of the main settlement at Cockburn Town.

The island is home to many shallow-water

The Dixon Hill lighthouse is located on the island south of Dixon Hill Settlement on the east side of the island. It is approximately 160 feet (49 m) tall and was constructed in 1887 by the Imperial Lighthouse Service.^[37]

There are also several monuments, ruins, and shipwrecks in the area.^[38][39]

Government

The seat of local government is Cockburn Town, with a population of 271 (2010).^[40] The current administrator is Gilbert C. Kemp.^{[citation needed]}

Gallery

• 
  A view of North Point, Rice Bay, and Dixon Hill Settlement, facing north from the lighthouse in 1998.
• 
  A view of Grahams Harbor facing west from North Point in 1998. The water tower at left is located at the Gerace Research Centre, but no longer stands.
• 
  echinoids (Tripneustes

  ventricosus), Grahams Harbor, 1999
• 
  Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) on the crest of Gaulin Reef in 1999

References

Citations

Bibliography

• High resolution map of the island
• Multi-media exploration of San Salvador's people, plants, sea life, culture and research project topics, Bahamas-Research
• Marine life around San Salvador island, photo gallery
• Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)/San Salvador" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.