New Providence houses the capital city of the Bahamas, Nassau. It currently holds approximately 70% of the entire Bahamian population. The island is a major tourist attraction with a rich history spanning over 300 years. The native forests that remain are just remnants of a biologically rich island. New Providence has blue holes, caves and lakes but the remaining forests are fragmented and mostly scheduled for development. At one time there was a five foot long iguana that roamed the island; now extinct, like the many other possible species from a once diverse island.

Geography
Only 21 miles long and 7 miles wide, New Providence sits in the central part of the archipelago and is part of the Great Bahama bank.

History
After the native Indians were removed, the island was largely abandoned until the hay days of the pirates. Being strategically close to the Florida straits made Nassau a favorite hide out for people wishing to take advantage of the merchant ships passing through. New Providence was eventually taken under control by the British. During this time, much of the original forests on the island were cut down.