Inagua Islands

The Inaguas are the southern-most islands in The Bahamas. The Inaguas are comprised of Great Inagua and Little Inagua, with a cumulative area of 645sq.mi/1670sq.km. Great Inagua is the third-largest island in The Bahamas. The only settlement in the Inaguas, Matthew Town, is located on Great Inagua, while Little Inagua, located 6mi/9km north of Great Inagua is inhabited only by wild goats, donkeys and a number of species of heron.

The prime attraction of the Inaguas is bird-watching, as the islands are home to large flocks of pink flamingos, as well as the rare Bahamian parrot. In total, over 100 species of birds call the Inaguas home. Fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling, as well as the Morton Salt Company are other attractions. The islands have a dry climate that has created rich salt ponds, bringing prosperity to the island. Originally settled by the French in the 18th C, Greater Inagua became the site of salt extraction installations by the 1800s. The industry prospered until the First World War, at which time many of the inhabitants emigrated. After 1936 Americans revived the salt-working industry, and presently 750,000 tons of salt are exported annually to the United States.

Great Inagua has one airport, IGA, serving Matthew Town.