Grand Bahama

Fourth-largest island of the Bahamas, in the West Indies, lying 233 km/145 mi northwest of Nassau, New Providence Island, and 89 km/55 mi from the coast of Florida; length 161 km/100 mi; greatest width 24 km/15 mi; area 1,372 sq km/530 sq mi; population (2000) 47,000. The towns of Freeport and neighbouring Lucaya form the centre of commerce and tourism, the mainstay of the island's economy. Otherwise, the island remains largely undeveloped. It has large pine and other forests, and good water supplies and grazing land.

Apart from indigenous peoples, no settlers landed on Grand Bahama until 1929. The planned tourist and industrial development of the island began only after World War II. For the Bahams, it is now second only in economic importance to New Providence.