| The Commonwealth of the Bahamas was an | | | | and Canadian ancestry. Until 1964, the |
| internally governed British colony until it | | | | whites controlled the political power of the |
| gained independence in 1973. The Bahamas is | | | | country. The islands have been subjected |
| comprised of 700 islands and 2000 rocks and | | | | mainly to British influences since the 1660s, |
| cays, with only about 30 of those islands | | | | when the first British settlers arrived.Long |
| being inhabited. Andros is the largest | | | | the hangout for pirates and slave traders, |
| island; New Providence is the most important | | | | later Nassau prospered as a base for |
| and most populous and is also where the | | | | blockade-runners during the American Civil |
| capital, Nassau, is located. Of lesser | | | | War and as a meeting place for bootleggers |
| importance are the islands of Abaco, Grand | | | | during the Prohibition years.English is the |
| Bahama, Cat Island, Long Island, Eleuthera | | | | main language of the islands. Education is |
| and Exuma.Watling Island, or San Salvador, is | | | | compulsory between the ages of 5 and 15. |
| regarded as the first land of the New World | | | | Religious groups include Anglicans, Baptists, |
| to be reached by Christopher Columbus in | | | | Methodists and Roman Catholics. Tourism is |
| 1492. The total landmass of the Bahamas is | | | | the mainstay of the economy and is backed by |
| 13,940 sq kilometres (5,382 sq miles).The | | | | US funding. The warm sunshine, attractive |
| Bahamas rest on a shelf of coralline | | | | beaches and laid-back lifestyle attract large |
| limestone and are themselves exposed portions | | | | numbers of tourists to Nassau and Freeport on |
| of the shelf. Mostly flat, they reach an | | | | Grand Bahama Island. Taxation concessions |
| elevation of 60 metres (200 ft) on Cat | | | | have made Freeport an attractive option for |
| Island. They have a beautiful coastline, | | | | investment and retirement.Real Estate and |
| which falls of steeply on the eastern side. | | | | Finance are important sectors of the economy. |
| The porous nature of the limestone detracts | | | | There is very little industry apart from an |
| from any stream activity and the water supply | | | | oil refinery at Freeport and a rum distillery |
| relies on bores, wells and tanks capturing | | | | on New Providence. Fishing is one of the |
| rainwater.The islands are bisected by the | | | | major mainstays of the Negro population. |
| Tropic of Cancer and have subtropical | | | | Vegetables and fruit are grown however the |
| conditions. Together with the influence of | | | | arable land is limited and a small amount of |
| the Gulf Stream, the temperature in winter | | | | livestock is also farmed. Trading |
| averages 21 degrees C (70 deg F) and summer | | | | commodities include cucumbers, tomatoes, |
| temperatures average 27 - 32 deg C (80 - 90 | | | | shellfish, pulpwood and cement and the main |
| deg F). Rainfall averages out at 1000 - 1300 | | | | trading partners are the USA, the UK and |
| mm (40 - 50 inches), although can be heavier | | | | Canada.At least 6 international airlines and |
| in some places. Rainfall months are May, | | | | major shipping lines serve the Bahamas. |
| June, September and October.The population is | | | | There is a good inter-island boat service and |
| approximately 330,000 and is about 85% Negro, | | | | major roads on the main islands are paved. |
| with a white minority of British, American | | | | |