Legend holds that the name "Inagua" came from the Spanish words for "Lleno" (full) and "Agua" (water); this later became "Henagua." The first settlers to the island were the Taino Indians, who migrated from South America; however, by the 16th Century these early inhabitants had all been kidnapped to work as slaves in the gold mines in Hispaniola.

In 1713, the first act of piracy in The Bahamas occurred off the shores of Inagua. Before construction of the lighthouse in 1870, many ships were wrecked along the coral reefs that line the shores of the island, making for great diving and snorkeling now, but quite unfortunate for the sailors in the past. It was, however, fortunate for the Inaguans at that time that would salvage and remove all goods from the wrecks. Wrecks were so frequent that people could obtain credit at the local stores based on their share of the spoils from the next wreck.

The island was permanently settled in 1803 by Bermudians from the Turks and Caicos who started producing salt and selling it to passing ships. In 1848, the Henagua Salt Pond Company was formed, the first corporation of The Bahamas.Over the years, people tried to produce cotton and sisal (used to make rope) on the island, and while you can still find these plants growing wild along the roads and see the ruins of the sisal factory on the quiet shoreline, the industry has long gone. Salt, on the other hand, still thrives on the island, after over two hundred years of production.

As you pass the south west side of the island you will see the white mountains of Inagua rising along the shoreline. These mountains are not rock but salt, which is produced in much the same way as it was in the past: sea water is pumped into shallow lakes where it evaporates and is gathered into mountains of salt to be shipped around the world.

Interestingly, solar salt production on the island has also helped to save the once-endangered West Indian Flamingo. The magnificent pink birds live in synergy with the salt production, feeding off the brine shrimp that live in the salt ponds. Salt production on the island has supported the growth of the flamingo populations, and now over 60,000 live on the island. Early in the morning the orange sunrise is matched in beauty by the sea of pink flamingos that line the salt ponds.

Inagua is a naturalist's paradise, with abundant birdlife, spectacular marine life, and diverse environments make it a distinctive travel experience that can't be missed. More than half of the island is under the protection of the Bahamas National Trust, providing a 287 square mile reserve for over 100 bird species as well as some unusual wildlife, like wild donkeys, long-horn cattle, and wild bore.