Bimini Bahamas- Geography

There are three main islands associated with Bimini, plus several additional cays and islets. Bimini's largest islands are North Bimini, South Bimini, and East Bimini.^[2][3] Smaller islands in the Bimini chain include Gun Cay, North Cat Cay, South Cat Cay, and Ocean Cay. The District of Bimini also includes the Cay Sal Bank, located more than 100 km (60 mi) to the south. Although administratively part of Bimini, it is geographically separate from the Bimini Islands.^[4]

North Bimini is about 11 km (7 mi) long and 200 m (700 ft) wide. Its main settlement is Alice Town, a collection of shops, restaurants, and bars on a road known as "The King's Highway". A second road, Queen’s Highway, runs nearly the length of the island, parallel to King’s Highway.

As a low-lying island, rising sea levels may cause the entire island to become submerged.^[5]

South Bimini (pop. 182) houses an airstrip, South Bimini Airport, and offers a quiet alternative to the slow bustle of North Bimini. There is a small community of homes on South Bimini known as Port Royale. For many years, South Bimini tourists were limited to boaters because there were few accommodations other than private homes.

Because Bimini is close to Miami, Florida, many American anglers go to the islands by boat to fish or to enjoy the local nightlife. Scuba diving and snorkeling are also popular activities, as there are many shipwrecks in the area, such as the wreck of the SS Sapona, which ran aground in 1926 during a hurricane. The top of the ship is exposed to the air while the bottom half is submerged.^[6] Parts of the wreck were stripped over the years and some of the wood was used in the construction of the Compleat Angler Hotel and bar on North Bimini.