Bimini
|
|
Bf-map_names_NW.png
The_King's_Highway,_Alice_town.JPG
Bimini is a district of the Bahamas consisting of a pair of small islands: North Bimini and South Bimini. North Bimini is about seven miles (11 km) long and 700 feet (210 m) wide; its main settlement is Alice Town, a collection of shops, restaurants, and bars surrounding a single road known as "The King's Highway." South Bimini houses an airstrip and two hotels, and offers a quiet alternative to the slow bustle of North Bimini.
The island is best known for fishing, and the surrounding ocean is considered by many to be one of the world's top fishing spots. Because Bimini is only about 50 miles (80 km) from Miami, Florida, many American anglers go to the island by boat to fish, or to enjoy the local nightlife. Scuba diving and snorkeling are also popular activities, as there are many shipwrecks in the area.
Bimini became better known to more Americans when Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. spent much of the time during which he was expelled from the U.S. House of Representatives (January 1967 to April 1969) in self-imposed exile on Bimini.
Ponce de Leon was searching for the Fountain of Youth when he accidentally found Florida; Bimini was rumored to be home to the legendary waters.
Bimini has been linked with the legendary Atlantis. The waters off one island contain what appear to be slabs of stone, which some say form some kind of road, known as the Bimini Road. Some claim they are man-made and an indication of a previous advanced civilization. Gavin Menzies, author of 1421: The Year the Chinese Discovered the World, believes they might be the creations of shipwrecked Chinese voyagers. However, most of the evidence has concluded they are natural, and likely beach rock formations.
During Prohibition Bimini was a favorite haven and supply point for the rum-running trade.
The name of the islands is pronounced BIM-uh-nee (bĭm·ə·nē).