Inagua

Inagua is the southernmost district of the Bahamas comprising the islands of Great Inagua and Little Inagua.

Great Inagua is the third largest island in the Bahamas at 596 sq mi (1544 km²) and lies about 55 miles (90 km) from the eastern tip of Cuba. The island is about 55 x 19 miles (90 x 30 km) in extent, the highest point being 108 ft (33 m) on East Hill. It encloses several lakes, most notably the 12-mile long Lake Windsor which occupies nearly 1/4 of the interior. The population of Great Inagua is 969 (2000 census).

The island's capital and only harbour is Matthew Town, named after George Matthew a 19th century Governor of the Bahamas. This town houses the Morton Salt Company’s main facility, producing 500 tonnes of sea salt a year - the second largest solar saline operation in North America and Inagua's main industry. Great Inagua Airport (IATA: IGA, ICAO: MYIG) is located nearby.

There is a large bird sanctuary in the centre of the island with a population of more than 80,000 of West Indian flamingoes and many other exotic birds such as roseate spoonbills, pelicans, herons, egrets, and Bahama pintail ducks.

The neighbouring Little Inagua to the northeast is uninhabited and occupied by a Land and Sea Park.

The original settler name Heneagua was derived from a Spanish expression meaning 'water is to be found there'. Another interesting name origin is that it's an anagram of 'iguana', which is found in large quantities on the island (this from the Bahamas official website).

Districts of the Bahamas
Acklins \| Berry Islands \| Bimini \| Black Point \| Cat Island \| Central Abaco \| Central Andros \| Central Eleuthera \| Freeport \| Crooked Island \| East Grand Bahama \| Exuma \| Grand Cay \| Harbour Island \| Hope Town \| Inagua \| Long Island \| Mangrove Cay \| Mayaguana \| Moore's Island \| New Providence \| North Abaco \| North Andros \| North Eleuthera \| Ragged Island \| Rum Cay \| San Salvador \| South Abaco \| South Andros \| South Eleuthera \| Spanish Wells \| West Grand Bahama

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