San Salvador, BahamasSource: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Grahams_Harbour_1.JPG
Author: Jstuby
San Salvador is an island in the Bahamas. It was believed to be the first land sighted by Christopher Columbus on its voyage into the New World, on 12 October, 1492. A National Geographic Society revelation in 1986 concluded that the first sighting was at Samana Cay, not at San Salvador.
San Salvador Island is also known as Watlings Island. The name San Salvador was given by the Spanish in honor of Jesus the Savior. According to Columbus when he arrived there, the island was inhabited by the Lucayan natives who were said to be "sweet and gentle". They called the island Guanahani.
After the island of San Salvador came under British control in the 18th century, it became the home of one John Watling, whose name was given to it until 1925. During that time, the name San Salvador came to refer to another island, which we now know as Cat Island.
Today San Salvador is one of the major tourist destinations of the Bahamas. It has beautiful sandy beaches and is home to a Club Med resort. An interesting attraction of the island is the Fossil Reef of Cockburn Town. In addition, there are living coral reefs in the shallows around the island. These reefs attract snorkelers and divers as they host a great variety of tropical fish species.
On the east side of San Salvador Island is the Dixon Hill Lighthouse. It was built in 1887 and is 160 ft tall.
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