Andros, Bahamas
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| Population: | 8,200 |
| Area (sq. km.): | 5,957 |
| Capital: | Andros Town |
Andros Island is the largest island of the Bahamas at roughly 2300 square miles (6,000 km²) in area and 104 miles (167 km) long and 40 miles (64 km) wide at its widest point. This island is a huge travel spot for people from all over the world. Andros has a rich history behind it filled with blood and glory.
After the Spanish landed on Andros Island in 1550 in search of slaves they managed to destroy all of the local indigenous Lucayan people on the island with the warring and disease that they brought with them. During the 1800s pirates occupied the island. Freed slaves also used the island as a safe haven in the nineteen-hundreds creating the largest part of the local population.
Andros has a population of over six thousand yet it also has the fewest people per unit area of all of the Bahamas. Most of these people live on the east coast of the island in the three major towns on the island; Nicholl's Town, Congo Town and Andros Town.
The island is filled with natural beauty. Having the second largest barrier reef in the Northern Hemisphere at one hundred and forty miles (225 km) long and has a drop off of over six thousand feet (1.8 km. The water above the reef is only about twelve feet (4 m) deep on average too. There are more than forty square miles (104 km²) of rainforest area and the swamp land that is inhabited by more than 50 species of orchids. Andros is actually made up of two different islands adjoined by these deep swamp lands. Two hundred different types of birds are native to the island. Andros is also the least explored island of the Bahamas.
Unlike most of the Bahamian islands, Andros's interior has been largely free of commercial development for the tourism industry, preserving much of its natural beauty.
Much fresh water comes from this island, with about seven thousand US gallons (26 m³) of fresh water being shipped to Nassau a day. Andros has thousands of kilometres of fresh water rivers that come from rain water collected in the many caves in the island's interior.
Andros Island draws thousands of visitors every year. Anglers come from all over the world to fish there. It is said to be "the bonefish capital of the world". Divers come to explore the great reef and all of its coral formations and marine life. There are many hotels and resorts on the island.
Androsia is manufactured in Andros. Androsia is the local type of clothing for the Bahamian people, usually in bright vibrant colors. It is also home of the Bahama Lumber Company which provides all of the Bahamas with lumber for its development.
Andros is hit by a hurricane average every two and a half years on average.