Location: Map
Area: 40 acres
Lucayan National Park is a nature reserve situated in the Eastern part of Grand Bahamas Island. Lucayan National Park covers a total area of 40 acres that includes white sand beaches, mangroves and jungles along with underground cave system. Lucayan National Park was established on Grand Bahamas in 1977. It was named after indigenous Lucayan people that once inhabited Bahamas islands. Original population was exterminated shortly after arrival of the Europeans, but the name stuck. Lucayan National Park protects an intricate biosphere that includes shoreline, mangrove forests and one of the largest underwater cave systems in the World. Parts of this underground system have collapsed forming an entrance to the surface of the Lucayan National Park. Two caves are open to the public, but swimming is prohibited in both due to hazardous nature of the underwater tunnels. Diving is allowed with proper documentation and a permit.
Flora and fauna
Prior to the creation of the park, the area was
the site of the discovery of the Remipedia class of crustacean in
the late 1970s. The park is also an important area for birds,
providing habitat for Vireo crassirostris, Tachycineta cyaneoviridis
and Dendroica pityophila, among others.
In July 1981, a commercial diving organization became interested in
renting the area around the entrance to Ben's cave system so that
they could have exclusive use of it for private purposes. Bahamas
National Trust (BNT) Executive Director Rod Attrill is writing to
the Grand Bahama District Council requesting that this unique area
in the Bahamas be placed under the auspices of BNT. Rod Attrill
argues that the cave formations represent an important part of both
the natural and historical heritage of the Bahamas: "Not only is
this area a fine example of natural erosion and cave formation, but
several Lucayan tombs have also were found in the vicinity.
Following a meeting of the District Executive Committee, Basil
Kelly, Chairman of the Executive Committee, writes to the Chairman
of the Port Authority of Grand Bahama, expressing concern over the
rental of the caves for recreational and tourism purposes for the
good to be from this region. It is therefore proposed to the
scientific community to study the cave to affirm its environmental
value. New forms of life are discovered there. However, recreational
divers are still diving illegally at the scene. Towards the end of
1981, many biologists expressed their concerns about these sports
and recreational activities. They believe that inexperienced divers
in the caves lead to the death of much of the algae and corals, thus
upsetting the fragile ecosystem of the cave.
In March 1982,
the BNT was entrusted with the responsibility and maintenance of the
premises by the Grand Bahama Development Company by signing a
99-year lease. The company also entrusts him with the portion of
land located west of Mole Hope and east of Mangrove Point on the
south coast of Grand Bahama, as well as the caves located under
these properties. Shortly after the signing of this lease, it was
decided that the Lucayan National Park would be closed to all,
except for scientists and qualified divers who had received
authorization from the BNT. This measure will allow the region to
recover from human impact. The Lucayan National Park was reopened to
the public in 1985.