| The Commonwealth of The Bahamas is located in | | | | It remained sparsely settled until the United States |
| the Atlantic Ocean, east of Florida, north of Cuba and | | | | expelled thousands of American Tories and their |
| the Caribbean and consists of 700 islands. | | | | slaves. About 8000 British Loyalists moved to the |
| The archipelago of the Bahamas has a total land area | | | | Bahamas in the late 1700s from New York, Florida |
| of 5,382 square miles and a population of approx. | | | | and the Carolinas. |
| 310,000 concentrated on the islands of New | | | | Internal self-government was granted by the British |
| Providence and Grand Bahama. | | | | in 1964. In 1973, Bahamians achieved full |
| The islands have a subtropical climate, moderated by | | | | independence while remaining a member of the |
| the Gulf Stream. Nassau is the capital and largest city, | | | | Commonwealth of Nations.The Bahamian economy |
| located on New Providence. The largest island is | | | | has prospered on tourism and financial services. But |
| Andros Island. Freeport is the second largest city | | | | the country still faces challenges in areas such |
| located on the island of Grand Bahama. The Caicos | | | | education, healthcare, correctional facilites and violent |
| Islands and the Turks islands in the southeast, are | | | | crime and illegal immigration. Today, the country |
| not part of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. | | | | enjoys the third highest per capita income in the |
| The subtropical to tropical climate is moderated | | | | western hemisphere due to an urban renewal project |
| significantly by the waters of the Gulf Stream, | | | | to help impoverished urban areas in social decline in |
| particularly in winter. Summer and autumn is hurricane | | | | the main islands. |
| season. | | | | Some say the name 'Bahamas' derives from the |
| It's believed that Christopher Columbus first landed | | | | Spanish for "shallow sea". Others trace it to the |
| on the island of San Salvador in the southeastern | | | | Lucayan word for Grand Bahama Island. |
| Bahamas and exchanged gifts with the Amerindians, | | | | About 85% of the Bahamian population is black. The |
| (Taino, also known as Lucayan). | | | | next largest population group are whites at 12%. |
| Taino Indians moved into the southern Bahamas | | | | Nearly all inhabitants speak English, being the official |
| about the 7th century AD and became the Lucayans. | | | | language. A considerable number also speak Haitian |
| They were deported to Hispaniola as slaves and | | | | Creole, Spanish and Portuguese. |
| Taino societies ceased to exist as a separate | | | | Christianity is the main religion on the islands, with |
| population due to forced labour, warfare, disease, | | | | Baptist forming the largest denomination (about one |
| emigration and outmarriage within 2 decades. | | | | third), followed by the Anglican and Roman Catholic |
| The Bahamian islands were deserted, after the | | | | churches. |
| Lucayans were destroyed, until English settlers | | | | A large number of immigrants from Haiti, Cuba, |
| arrived from Bermuda in 1650. These people | | | | Dominican Republic and Jamaica practice Obeah, a |
| established settlements on the island now called | | | | spiritistic religion similar to Voodoo. While well-known |
| Eleuthera. | | | | throughout the Bahamas, obeah is shunned by many |
| In 1718 the Bahamas became a British crown colony. | | | | people. |