San Salvador Island

San Salvador Island Guanahaní Watling's Island
Island and District
A map of San Salvador Island
San Salvador Island
Coordinates: 24°06′N 74°29′W / 24.100°N 74.483°W / 24.100; -74.483
Country	Bahamas
Island	San Salvador
District	San Salvador
Area
• Total	163 km2 (63 sq mi)
Population  (2022)
• Total	824[1]
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern Time Zone)
Area code	242

San Salvador Island, previously Watling's Island, is an island and district of the Bahamas, famed for being the probable location of Christopher Columbus's first landing of the Americas on 12 October 1492 during his first voyage. This historical importance, the island's tropical beaches, and its proximity to the United States have made tourism central to the local economy. The island has a population of 824 (2022) and is under the administration of Gilbert C. Kemp. Its largest settlement and seat of local government is Cockburn Town.