Acklins with an area of 120 square miles and home to some 428 is a long, narrow and rocky island. Crooked Island, so named because of its shape and home to 423, consists mainly of tidal flats and deep creeks. These islands are part of a group of four stretching over 100 miles.

According to Bahamian legend, Columbus dubbed them "the fragrant islands" because of the concentrated fragrance of the native herbs that wafted out to welcome him during his adventures to these shores. Most notable of these herbs is the cascarilla bark, which is exported for the making of medicines.