Cat Island

Cat Island has the highest elevation (Mount Alvernia - 206 feet) of all the islands in the Bahamas. It is located over 300 miles from Miami. The island is boot shaped, 48 miles long and it averages 1 to 4 miles wide. It is the sixth largest island in the island chain and has over 150 square miles. Cat Island is considered one of the most beautiful islands in the Bahamas as its' rolling hills and thick, green, vegetative forest provides a canopy of unbelievable imagery. Originally this island earned its wealth by many cotton plantations in the 1700's. All of the plantations have been over-run by vegetation and tropical flowers. Today's inhabitants are direct descendants from the early settlers of the land. They are a bright and very ingenious people and have managed to survive over two centuries without the help of the outside world. Current population is 1647 according to the 2000 census. These islands' beauty and peacefulness was the exact tranquil ground that Father Jerome Hawkes was looking for when he came to this island. He would go on to build "The Hermitage" on the peak of Mount Alvernia. His architectural skills and knowledge served him well as he laid the foundation of this new monastery. Activities on this island include sun bathing, fishing, Cat Island snorkeling, scuba diving, & sailing and boating or absolutely nothing at all. If you want to escape your modern day worries and troubles; try the gorgeous, picturesque, and secluded pink and white sand beaches, which can be found on this island. There are over 60 miles of these mostly uninhabited beaches.