Formerly known as Hog Island, Paradise Island is located just off the shore of the city of Nassau, which is itself located on the northern edge of the island of New Providence. With about 2 miles wide and 5 miles long, It is best known for the sprawling resort Atlantis with its extensive water park rides, pools, beach, restaurants, walk-in aquarium and casinos. Its first development took place when millionaire Axel Wenner-Gren, one of the richest man at that time, bought the island in 1935. He dredged the old pond, dug channels to link the lake with the harbor and the open sea and refurbished the already commodious estate, inspired by the imaginary land in James Hilton's novel Lost Horizon. He named his refuge Shangri-La. The island is connected to the New Providence by two bridges that cross Nassau Harbour, first built in 1966, and the second in the late 1990s.
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