| island of the contrasts |
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Located 150
miles (230 km) southeast of Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, and just
across the Exuma Cays, this 76 mile ( 120 km) long and half to 3 mile (1-5
km) wide island is an unspoiled and scenic hideaway divided by the Tropic of
Cancer and bordered by two strikingly different coast lines, one with powder
white beaches and the other, rocky headlands that descend suddenly into the Sea.
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The terrain varies from sloping hills in the northeast
to low hillsides in the south fading into stark white flatlands where salt was
produced in years ago. Long Island's interesting caves, one of the deepest (700
feet / 200 m) blue holes in the world, gorgeous bays, towering cliffs
and rolling hills are in direct contrast with the more tropical landscape
and coast lines found elsewhere in The Bahamas.
The area has stunning beaches
and, in fact, Cape
Santa Maria was
voted by a leading German newspaper as one of the ten best beaches in the
world!. Visitors headed to one of the resorts at either Cape
Santa Maria
or Stella Maris could fly directly from the U.S.A. into
the Stella
Maris International
Airport
which offers Customs and Immigration.
Due to its southeasterly location, Long
Island has a pleasant, mild climate. Rainfall amounts
to a healthy 50 inches (125 cm) per year. The island's narrow width and
relatively high elevation enables it to take maximum advantage of the so-called
tropial "trade-breezes". |
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Long Island
is considered as one of Christopher Columbus' earlier stops, probably his
third, after San Salvador
and Rum Cay. Lucaya-Indians supposedly called it "Yuma"
and Columbus
named it "Ferandina" , thus dedicating it to his mentor, the King of
Spain. After he set sight on Long Island,
he wrote in his log-book: "This is the most beautiful island in the
World..." . Loyalists from Carolina
settled here in 1790 with their slaves. They built vast plantations and thrived
briefly growing sea-island cotton, but the abolition of slavery made them
unprofitable.
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Today, close to 4000 islanders live in
tiny settlements lying along the newly constructed Queens
Highway that connects the
north to the south. Larger villages are Deadman's Cay and Clarence Town in
the South.The primary occupations of the population are agriculture and fishing. The
infrastructure of Long Island
has been vastly improved over the past few years, with the inhabitants
enjoying the services of electricity, water, telephone, internet and
satellite tv.
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 Long Islanders are said to be among the friendliest of
all Bahamians - and the island is virtually crime free. No need to lock your
home or car!
Long Island
has become known in the tourist branch through Stella Maris Resort that
features all kind of watersport, particularly scuba-diving. "Diving with
the sharks" is one of the main attractions without ever having suffered
any unpleasant incident. Countless reefs and coral gardens near the shore
invite snoklers. Sailing has become more popular every year and Stella Maris' Marina
offers sheltered docking space. Fishing around Long
Island is outstanding and most varied. Not only is
there deep sea fishing for marlin, tuna, dolphin (dorado) and other game fish,
but the quality of bone fishing in the shallow bays is also well known and
attracts enthusiasts from all over. |
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As fishing and boating are two of the fasted growing
recreational activities in the United
States, this
market will be of great importance for the future of Long Isand and Stella
Maris. Ownership and active management of Stella Maris Resort &
Estates has been for decades in the hands of several German families.
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