| The Commonwealth of the Bahamas was an | | | | a white minority of British, American and Canadian |
| internally governed British colony until it gained | | | | ancestry. Until 1964, the whites controlled the political |
| independence in 1973. The Bahamas is comprised of | | | | power of the country. The islands have been |
| 700 islands and 2000 rocks and cays, with only about | | | | subjected mainly to British influences since the 1660s, |
| 30 of those islands being inhabited. Andros is the | | | | when the first British settlers arrived.Long the |
| largest island; New Providence is the most important | | | | hangout 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 the | | | | American Civil War and as a meeting place for |
| islands of Abaco, Grand Bahama, Cat Island, Long | | | | bootleggers during the Prohibition years.English is the |
| Island, Eleuthera and Exuma.Watling Island, or San | | | | main language of the islands. Education is compulsory |
| Salvador, is regarded as the first land of the New | | | | between the ages of 5 and 15. Religious groups |
| World to be reached by Christopher Columbus in | | | | include Anglicans, Baptists, Methodists and Roman |
| 1492. The total landmass of the Bahamas is 13,940 | | | | Catholics. Tourism is the mainstay of the economy |
| sq kilometres (5,382 sq miles).The Bahamas rest on a | | | | and is backed by US funding. The warm sunshine, |
| shelf of coralline limestone and are themselves | | | | attractive beaches and laid-back lifestyle attract large |
| exposed portions of the shelf. Mostly flat, they reach | | | | numbers 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 steeply | | | | made Freeport an attractive option for investment |
| on the eastern side. The porous nature of the | | | | and retirement.Real Estate and Finance are important |
| limestone detracts from any stream activity and the | | | | sectors of the economy. There is very little industry |
| water supply relies on bores, wells and tanks | | | | apart from an oil refinery at Freeport and a rum |
| capturing rainwater.The islands are bisected by the | | | | distillery 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, the | | | | and fruit are grown however the arable land is limited |
| temperature in winter averages 21 degrees C (70 | | | | and a small amount of livestock is also farmed. |
| deg F) and summer temperatures average 27 - 32 | | | | Trading 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 in | | | | partners 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 is | | | | Bahamas. There is a good inter-island boat service |
| approximately 330,000 and is about 85% Negro, with | | | | and major roads on the main islands are paved. |