The Bahamas Islands

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