principal island of The Bahamas, between Andros Island (west) and Eleuthera Island (east). With a length of 21 miles (34 km) and a width of 7 miles, the island is mostly flat, with swamps and several shallow lakes. Nassau, the chief city, is also the capital of The Bahamas. New Providence's name supposedly derives from a 16th-century governor's thanks to Divine Providence for surviving a shipwreck: the "New" was added later to avoid confusion with a pirate stronghold off British Honduras. The island was settled in the late 17th century with the establishment of several British forts. Agriculture and fishing are important factors in the local economy; the island's rum reaches an international market. A world-famous tourist area has developed around the city of Nassau. Pop. (1990 prelim.) 171,542.