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