This is the island most visitors erroneously call Nassau. That's because it is the site of the nation's capital, named in 1695 for the Dutch Prince of Orange-Nassau after he took over the British throne.
Since about two-thirds of the Bahama population live on the relatively small island of New Providence, it is the mouse that roars.
Recent years have seen millions of dollars poured into redesigning Nassau, filling in more of the harbour to create extremely high-priced commercial property, and the total refurbishing of formerly government-owned resort/hotels. People who have not visited Nassau for a few years may not recognize it, especially the widened and spruced-up Old World-style plaza facing the 19th century Parliament buildings. These architectural gems predate the London Parliament buildings with their celebrated Big Ben clock tower.
With more than 400 banks and trusts headquartered in this "Zurich of the Tropics", there is an in joke that it might sink from the weight of all its zillions of dollars, marks, pounds, rubles and francs. Actually, this offshore financial centre is more obviously a fabulous shopping bazaar with its world-famous Bay Street and side-streets marinating in a Caribbean carnival atmosphere.
Historic sites abound. A million well-spent dollars went into restoration of Fort Charlotte, cited as one of the best preserved of area historic sites. There are botanical gardens, a zoo, several small museums and a full range of restaurants, clubs and cabarets.
Across the busy harbour of Nassau lies Paradise Island, once the sleepy Hog Island where earlier settlers kept their farm animals to supplement an otherwise fishy diet. Today the appropriately named Paradise Island is the venue for one of the most famous beaches in the world. It is also popular with the glitterati-actor Richard Harris and an Arab sheik, who are among those with waterfront "digs" on Paradise Island, known locally as "P.I."
A bridge connects Nassau with its sister island, home to a huge casino, championship golf course and the relatively new Atlantis resort. The latter rises, like the magic return of ancient Atlantis, around the world's largest outdoor aquarium. Plans are afoot for a partially submerged casino.
A third concentration of world-class tourism can be found at Cable Beach, west of Nassau. The natural setting of historic Cable Beach has been improved with a colourful collection of tropical greenery and "bloomery" lining a dual-carriageway past luxurious resort-hotels. One of them, Sandals, has just been named the Caribbean area's best all-inclusive resort.
Although most of New Providence Island's accommodations are upscale these days, it is possible to stay at low-cost guest houses-or even a wooden hut or tent in the austere Yoga Ashram alongside the hedonistic Club Med on Paradise Island.
The bottom line is: New Providence and Paradise Islands can cater to every taste and lifestyle under the sun!
FACT FILE
SIZE: 21 X 7 miles at widest points.
LOCATION: 185 miles southeast of Miami.
POPULATION: 172,000 estimated.
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