San Salvador Island

▪ island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

also called  James Island 

 one of the Galapagos Islands, in the eastern Pacific Ocean about 600 miles (965 km) west of mainland Ecuador. Its relief is dominated by two volcanoes, the larger rising to 1,700 feet (520 m), that form the mass of the island's area of 203 square miles (526 square km). Originally named for England's King James II, who was previously the duke of York, the island was also formerly called York and Santiago. It served as a food cache for pirates and during the 19th century was visited by both Charles Darwin and the American novelist Herman Melville. It is noted for its flamingo colony. The island is populated by humans only on a temporary basis.

▪ island, The Bahamas

also called  Watlings Island 

      one of the islands of The Bahamas (Bahamas, The), in the West Indies. San Salvador is believed by many scholars to be the island of Guanahani, where Christopher Columbus made his first landing in the New World on Oct. 12, 1492. Some scholars assert, however, that the island of Guanahani is actually Samana Cay, 65 miles (105 km) southeast of San Salvador. San Salvador is about 13 miles (21 km) long and 5 miles (8 km) wide. Its alternate name, Watlings Island, comes from the name of a famous buccaneer. Area 63 square miles (163 square km). Pop. (2000) 970.

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