Acklins Islands

At the southern end of the Bahamas lies Acklins Island, with a cumulative area of 137sq.mi/355sq.km. Actually a small string of islands that adjoins Crooked Island to the north, Acklins includes Castle Island, Mira Pos Vos, Fish Cay, Plana Cays and the Samana Cays, which enclose the shallow Bight of Acklins.

The terrain of Acklins is rocky and hilly, including long beaches, odd rock formations and varied animal and plant life. Off the southern tip of Acklins lies Castle Island, home to the Castle Island Lighthouse built in 1867. The surrounding Bight of Acklins, a good location for swimming, snorkeling and fishing. American Loyalists settled the island in the late 18th C in hopes of cultivating cotton, which proved unsuccessful. Instead, the settlers turned to diving for sponges and extracting salt from the sea. Today, the island's main industries are tourism, fishing and farming.

One airport on Acklins, AXP, serves the small villages of Snug Corner, Lovely Bay, Delectable Bay and Pompey Bay.