The geography of Bahamas

The Bahamas is an archipelago of some 700 islandshave a subtropical climate, moderated by the Gulf
and 2000 cays covering over 100,000 mi2 (260,000Stream.
km2) of the Atlantic Ocean between Florida andThe islands are surface projections of three oceanic
Hispaniola. The archipelago has a total land area ofbanks, the Little Bahama Bank, the Great Bahama
5,382 square miles (13,939 km2)—aboutBank and the westernmost Cay Sal Bank. The
20% larger than Jamaica—and a populationhighest point is only sixty-three meters above sea
of some 310,000 concentrated on the islands of Newlevel on Cat Island; the island of New Providence,
Providence and Grand Bahama.where the capital city of Nassau is located, reaches a
Map of the Bahamasmaximum elevation of only thirty-seven meters. The
Map of the Bahamasland on the Bahamas has a foundation of fossil coral,
The largest island is Andros Island. The Biminis arebut much of the rock is oolitic limestone; the stone is
just 50 miles (80 km) east of Florida. The island ofderived from the disintegration of coral reefs and
Grand Bahama is home to the second largest city inseashells. The land is primarily either rocky or
the country, Freeport. The island of Abaco is to itsmangrove swamp. Low scrub covers much of the
east. The most southeastern island is Inagua. Othersurface area. Timber is found in abundance on four
notable islands include Eleuthera, Cat Island, Sanof the northern islands: Grand Bahama, Great Abaco,
Salvador, Acklins, Crooked Island, Exuma andNew Providence, and Andros. On some of the
Mayaguana. Nassau is the capital and largest city,southern islands, low-growing tropical hardwood
located on New Providence. The islands have aflourishes. Although some soil is very fertile, it is also
subtropical climate, moderated by the Gulf Stream.very thin. Only a few freshwater lakes and just one
In the southeast, the Caicos Islands and the Turksriver, located on Andros Island, are found in the
islands, and three more extensive submarine featuresBahamas.
called Mouchoir Bank, Silver Bank, and Navidad Bank,The climate of the archipelago is semitropical and has
are geographically a continuation of the Bahamas, buttwo seasons, summer and winter. During the
not part of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.summer, which extends from May through
The climate of the Bahamas is subtropical to tropical,November, the climate is dominated by warm, moist
and is moderated significantly by the waters of thetropical air masses moving north through the
Gulf Stream, particularly in winter. Conversely, thisCaribbean. Midsummer temperatures range from 21
often proves very dangerous in the summer and°C to 34 °C with a relative humidity of 60
autumn, when hurricanes pass near or through theto 100%. In winter months, extending from
islands. Hurricane Andrew hit the northern islands inDecember through April, the climate is affected by
1992, and Hurricane Floyd hit most of the islands inthe movement of cold polar masses from North
1999. Hurricane Frances of 2004 was expected to beAmerica. Temperatures during the winter months
the worst ever for the islands. Also in 2004, therange from 15 °C to 24 °C.
northern Bahamas were hit by a less potentYearly rainfall averages 132 centimeters and is usually
Hurricane Jeanne. In 2005 the northern islands wereconcentrated in the May-June and
once again struck this time by Hurricane Wilma. TidalSeptember-October periods. Rainfall often occurs in
surges and high winds destroyed homes, schools,short-lived, fairly intense showers accompanied by
floated graves and made roughly 1,000 peoplestrong gusty winds, which are then followed by clear
homeless. The homeless people were stuck with outskies.
food water and resources and were left to dependWinds are predominantly easterly throughout the
on the government.year but tend to become northeasterly from
The Bahamas are a group of about 700 atolls andOctober to April and southeasterly from May to
cays in the western Atlantic Ocean, of which onlySeptember. These winds seldom exceed twenty-four
between 30 and 40 are inhabited. The largest of thekilometers per hour except during hurricane season.
islands is Andros Island, located 120 miles south-eastAlthough the hurricane season officially lasts from
of Florida. The Bimini islands are to its northwest. ToJune to November, most hurricanes in the Bahamas
the North is the island of Grand Bahama, home tooccur between July and October; as of late 1987, the
the second largest city in the country, Freeport,last one to strike was Hurricane David in September
Bahamas. The island of Great Abaco is to its east. In1979. Damage was estimated at US$1.8 million and
the very south is the island of Great Inagua, themainly affected agricultural products. The most
second largest island in the country. Other notableintense twentieth-century hurricane to strike the
islands include Eleuthera Island, Cat Island, Bahamas,Bahamas was in 1929; winds of up to 225 kilometers
San Salvador Island, Acklins Island, Crooked Island,per hour were recorded. Many lives were lost, and
Bahamas, and Mayaguana . Nassau is the capital andthere was extensive damage to buildings, homes, and
largest city, located on New Providence. The islandsboats.