Abaco Islands
The five administrative districts of the Abacos.
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Atlantic Ocean |
| Coordinates | 26°28′N 77°05′W / 26.467°N 77.083°WCoordinates: 26°28′N 77°05′W / 26.467°N 77.083°W |
| Archipelago | Bahamas |
| Major islands | Great Abaco Island, Little Abaco Island |
| Area | 2,009 km2 (776 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
| Island | Abaco |
| Largest settlement | Marsh Harbour (pop. 5,728) |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 17,224 (2010) |
| Pop. density | 8.6 /km2 (22.3 /sq mi) |
| Ethnic groups | Blacks, Whites, Mixed |
The Abaco Islands lie in the northern Bahamas 180 miles (290 km) east of south Florida with similar weather with the exception of local patterns. They comprise the main islands of Great Abaco and Little Abaco, along with smaller barrier cays. The northernmost are Walker's Cay, and its sister island Grand Cay. To the south, the next inhabited islands are Spanish Cay and Green Turtle Cay, with its settlement of New Plymouth, Great Guana Cay, private Scotland Cay, Man-O-War Cay, and Elbow Cay, with its settlement of Hope Town. Southernmost are Tilloo Cay and Lubbers Quarters. Another of note off Abaco's western shore is onetime Gorda Cay, now a Disney Island and cruise ship stop and renamed Castaway Cay. Also in the vicinity is Moore's Island. On the Big Island of Abaco is Marsh Harbour, the Abacos' commercial hub and the Bahamas' third largest city, plus the resort area of Treasure Cay. Both have airports. A few mainland settlements of significance are Coopers Town and Fox Town in the north and Cherokee and Sandy Point in the south. Administratively, the Abaco Islands constitute seven of the 31 Local Government Districts of the Bahamas: Grand Cay, North Abaco, Green Turtle Cay, Central Abaco, South Abaco, Moore's Island, and Hope Town.
Unlike the sandy barrier islands of the eastern US, here the islands consist of limestone with some elevation and are protected on the ocean side by the third largest barrier reef in the world. For the most part the cays are green with mangroves and white-sand beaches. Most are uninhabited. The Abacos and their cays have been called Out Islands, Family Islands and Friendly Islands.
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