Samana Cay
Encyclopedia
Samana Cay is the largest now uninhabited island in the Bahamas, believed by some researchers to have been the location of Columbus
's first landfall in the Americas, on October 12, 1492.
It is an islet, located in the eastern Bahamas, 22 miles (35 km) northeast of Acklins Island. About 10 miles (16 km) long and up to 2 miles (3 km) wide with an area of about 17.37 mi² (45 km²) it is bound by reefs. The verdant cay has long been uninhabited, but figurines, pottery shards, and other artifacts discovered there in the mid-1980s have been ascribed to Lucayan Indians
living on the cay about the time of Christopher Columbus’ voyages. In October 1986 the National Geographic Society (U.S.), announcing completion of a five-year study, claimed that Samana Cay was the site of Columbus’ first landfall in the New World.
The natives (Lucayan 'Indians') of the island on which Columbus first landed called it Guanahani
. Samana Cay was first proposed to be Guanahani by Gustavus Fox
in 1882, but the predominant theory for most of the 20th century gave the honor to San Salvador Island
. However, in 1986 Joseph Judge
of the National Geographic magazine
made new calculations based on Columbus's logs, and declared that Samana Cay was indeed the right location.
Samana was a name of apparent Lucayan origin (meaning "Small Middle Forest") used by the Spanish to designate one of the islands in the Bahamas. Granberry and Vesceliuus identify that island as the present-day Samana Cay.
Samana Cay had a permanent population during the first half of the 20th century and the ruins of this settlement are visible on the south side of the island, near the western end. The island is now uninhabited, but residents of nearby Acklins
Island visit occasionally to collect cascarilla bark, which grows in abundance on the island.
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
's first landfall in the Americas, on October 12, 1492.
It is an islet, located in the eastern Bahamas, 22 miles (35 km) northeast of Acklins Island. About 10 miles (16 km) long and up to 2 miles (3 km) wide with an area of about 17.37 mi² (45 km²) it is bound by reefs. The verdant cay has long been uninhabited, but figurines, pottery shards, and other artifacts discovered there in the mid-1980s have been ascribed to Lucayan Indians
Lucayan
The Lucayan were the original inhabitants of the Bahamas before the arrival of Europeans. They were a branch of the Taínos who inhabited most of the Caribbean islands at the time. The Lucayans were the first inhabitants of the Americas encountered by Christopher Columbus...
living on the cay about the time of Christopher Columbus’ voyages. In October 1986 the National Geographic Society (U.S.), announcing completion of a five-year study, claimed that Samana Cay was the site of Columbus’ first landfall in the New World.
The natives (Lucayan 'Indians') of the island on which Columbus first landed called it Guanahani
Guanahani
Guanahani was the name the natives gave to the island that Christopher Columbus called San Salvador when he arrived at the Americas. Columbus reached the island on 12 October 1492, the first island he sighted and visited in the Americas...
. Samana Cay was first proposed to be Guanahani by Gustavus Fox
Gustavus Fox
Gustavus Vasa Fox was an officer of the United States Navy, who served during the Mexican-American War, and as Assistant Secretary of the Navy during the Civil War.-Biography:...
in 1882, but the predominant theory for most of the 20th century gave the honor to San Salvador Island
San Salvador Island
San Salvador Island, also known as Watlings Island, is an island and district of the Bahamas. Until 1986, when the National Geographic Society suggested Samana Cay, it was widely believed that during his first expedition to the New World, San Salvador Island was the first land sighted and visited...
. However, in 1986 Joseph Judge
Joseph Judge
was a writer and editor for National Geographic Magazine, retiring as Senior Associate Editor in 1990 after 25 years of service.-Early life:...
of the National Geographic magazine
National Geographic Society
The National Geographic Society , headquartered in Washington, D.C. in the United States, is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational institutions in the world. Its interests include geography, archaeology and natural science, the promotion of environmental and historical...
made new calculations based on Columbus's logs, and declared that Samana Cay was indeed the right location.
Samana was a name of apparent Lucayan origin (meaning "Small Middle Forest") used by the Spanish to designate one of the islands in the Bahamas. Granberry and Vesceliuus identify that island as the present-day Samana Cay.
Samana Cay had a permanent population during the first half of the 20th century and the ruins of this settlement are visible on the south side of the island, near the western end. The island is now uninhabited, but residents of nearby Acklins
Acklins
Acklins is an island and district of the Bahamas.It is one of a group of islands arranged along a large, shallow lagoon called the Bight of Acklins, of which the largest are Crooked Island in the north and Acklins in the southeast, and the smaller are Long Cay [ 8sq mi] in the northwest, and...
Island visit occasionally to collect cascarilla bark, which grows in abundance on the island.