Eleuthera Island, Bahamas

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Eleuthera Island, (24.5N, 76.0W) Bahamas Island Group, is one of several within the archipelago surrounded by shallow seas, visible here as light blue. Mosaic patterns of sand waves built by sea bottom currents in the shallows stand out in stark contrast to the deep blue of the ocean depths of a thousand feet in the Exuma Sound. (NASA STS-1 photo)

Eleuthera is approximately 110 miles long and spans no more than a mile to a mile and a half wide at several points. The mainland is divided into north and south, where in the northern portion has ferry docks to both Harbour Island and Spanish wells. Traveling south from northern Eleuthera one passes through the Glass Window Bridge which offers dramatic views of both the Exuma Sound and Atlantic Ocean. This bridge is sited at the narrowest point of the island. The population of Eleuthera is about 11,000.

Eleuthera is the site of the first successful European settlement in The Bahamas and has more than 100 miles of pink sand beaches and quaint fishing villages; and it is also a tropical Bohemia for artists. Eleuthera holds an annual Pineapple Festival in Gregory Town each June.

The settlements include (north to south) The Bluff, Upper and Lower Bogue, The Current, Gregory Town, Alice Town, James Cistern, Governor's Harbour, North and South Palmetto Point, Savannah Sound, Winding Bay, Tarpum Bay, Rock Sound, Greencastle, Deep Creek, Delancy Town, Waterford, Wemyss Bight, John Millars, Millar's and Bannerman Town. Airports with regularly scheduled flights are available at North Eleuthera, Governor's Harbour and Rock Sound.

[edit] NAVFAC Eleuthera

Naval Facility (NAVFAC) Eleuthera, Bahamas was commissioned on 1 September 1957, with a complement of 150 officers and enlisted men. Approximately twenty Pan-American Airway, RCA and Western Electric personnel and 45 Bohemian employees also supported the base. Eleuthera made history June 30, 1970; it was the first facility to employ women in oceanographic research. As for recreation, Eleuthera is surrounded by warm, crystal clear water filled with fresh fish, making water sports a most popular pursuit. Other entertainment included golfing, spelunking, beach combing, nightly movies, and the “OAR HOUSE CLUB.” NAVFAC Eleuthera was decommissioned 31 March 1980 after 23 years of dedicated service.

[edit] Eleuthera AAFB

The US Air Force Eastern Test Range (ETR) Range Tracking Station #4 was sited at Eleuthera AAFB (ELU AUXILIARY AIR FORCE BASE), supported by contractor employees of the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) or Pan American Airways (PAA) in the 1960s and 1970s. This was used by the MISTRAM system.