Blue Holes and Caves
Blue Holes are caves or sinkholes that contain both freshwater and saltwater and enclosed by land or sea. Blue holes were formed during ice ages many years ago when the sea level was as much as 100-120 meters. Blue Holes apparently get their name from the contrast between the dark blue, deep waters of their depths and the lighter blue of the shallows around them.
In the world, The Bahamas is one of the few places that houses beautiful crystal clear waters. Very little is known about blue holes in The Bahamas. These unique enclosures of water connect us to both marine life and our cultural past. Many stories were told about blue holes. It was said that blue holes had many sea creatures living in them like the ‘Lusca’ whish was a mixture of an octopus and a shark and mermaids. Natives of The Bahamas, the Lucayans, regarded blue holes spiritual or sacred and used them as burial grounds. (Micheal Pateman 2010). Whereas, local communities regard blue holes as fear and mystery.
There are a number of blue holes in the Bahamas. Blue holes are found on nearly all the islands. The largest recorded blue hole in The Bahamas and in the world is Dean’s Blue Hole, located in Clarence Town, Long Island.
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Longislandishere.com
Many Blue holes throughout the Bahamas like the one in Eleuthera, serves as a direct connection to the fresh water lens on the islands and in local communities (Michael Pateman).
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thebahamasweekly.com
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Blue Holes & Caves
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