18. San Salvador: the First Encounter



San Salvador

Sure that the lands beyond the Dark Sea were possible to reach and to live in, and were nearer to Europe than was believed, Columbus arrived at the extraordinary project of "buscar el Levante por el Poniente." This photo shows the first American land seen by Columbus: Hitchingbrooke Rocks on the southeastern edge of Lucaye Island (now Bahamas), which was called Guanahaní by the Indians, and which Columbus named San Salvador. In the next centuries, the island took the name of Watling, but since 1926 the Bahamas government has wisely adopted the famous name of the Great Discovery.

Thus Columbus challenged the Dark Sea, took advantage of the trade winds, thanks to his extraordinary talent, defeated the fear of the unknown, and discovered America.