| The Bahamas is an archipelago of some 700 | | | | Crooked Island, Bahamas, and Mayaguana . |
| islands and 2000 cays covering over 100,000 | | | | Nassau is the capital and largest city, |
| mi2 (260,000 km2) of the Atlantic Ocean | | | | located on New Providence. The islands have a |
| between Florida and Hispaniola. The | | | | subtropical climate, moderated by the Gulf |
| archipelago has a total land area of 5,382 | | | | Stream. |
| square miles (13,939 km2)—about 20% | | | | |
| larger than Jamaica—and a population | | | | The islands are surface projections of three |
| of some 310,000 concentrated on the islands | | | | oceanic banks, the Little Bahama Bank, the |
| of New Providence and Grand Bahama. | | | | Great Bahama Bank and the westernmost Cay Sal |
| | | | Bank. The highest point is only sixty-three |
| Map of the Bahamas | | | | meters above sea level on Cat Island; the |
| | | | island of New Providence, where the capital |
| Map of the Bahamas | | | | city of Nassau is located, reaches a maximum |
| | | | elevation of only thirty-seven meters. The |
| The largest island is Andros Island. The | | | | land on the Bahamas has a foundation of |
| Biminis are just 50 miles (80 km) east of | | | | fossil coral, but much of the rock is oolitic |
| Florida. The island of Grand Bahama is home | | | | limestone; the stone is derived from the |
| to the second largest city in the country, | | | | disintegration of coral reefs and seashells. |
| Freeport. The island of Abaco is to its east. | | | | The land is primarily either rocky or |
| The most southeastern island is Inagua. Other | | | | mangrove swamp. Low scrub covers much of the |
| notable islands include Eleuthera, Cat | | | | surface area. Timber is found in abundance on |
| Island, San Salvador, Acklins, Crooked | | | | four of the northern islands: Grand Bahama, |
| Island, Exuma and Mayaguana. Nassau is the | | | | Great Abaco, New Providence, and Andros. On |
| capital and largest city, located on New | | | | some of the southern islands, low-growing |
| Providence. The islands have a subtropical | | | | tropical hardwood flourishes. Although some |
| climate, moderated by the Gulf Stream. | | | | soil is very fertile, it is also very thin. |
| | | | Only a few freshwater lakes and just one |
| In the southeast, the Caicos Islands and the | | | | river, located on Andros Island, are found in |
| Turks islands, and three more extensive | | | | the Bahamas. |
| submarine features called Mouchoir Bank, | | | | |
| Silver Bank, and Navidad Bank, are | | | | The climate of the archipelago is |
| geographically a continuation of the Bahamas, | | | | semitropical and has two seasons, summer and |
| but not part of the Commonwealth of the | | | | winter. During the summer, which extends from |
| Bahamas. | | | | May through November, the climate is |
| | | | dominated by warm, moist tropical air masses |
| The climate of the Bahamas is subtropical to | | | | moving north through the Caribbean. Midsummer |
| tropical, and is moderated significantly by | | | | temperatures range from 21 °C to 34 °C |
| the waters of the Gulf Stream, particularly | | | | with a relative humidity of 60 to 100%. In |
| in winter. Conversely, this often proves very | | | | winter months, extending from December |
| dangerous in the summer and autumn, when | | | | through April, the climate is affected by the |
| hurricanes pass near or through the islands. | | | | movement of cold polar masses from North |
| Hurricane Andrew hit the northern islands in | | | | America. Temperatures during the winter |
| 1992, and Hurricane Floyd hit most of the | | | | months range from 15 °C to 24 °C. |
| islands in 1999. Hurricane Frances of 2004 | | | | |
| was expected to be the worst ever for the | | | | Yearly rainfall averages 132 centimeters and |
| islands. Also in 2004, the northern Bahamas | | | | is usually concentrated in the May-June and |
| were hit by a less potent Hurricane Jeanne. | | | | September-October periods. Rainfall often |
| In 2005 the northern islands were once again | | | | occurs in short-lived, fairly intense showers |
| struck this time by Hurricane Wilma. Tidal | | | | accompanied by strong gusty winds, which are |
| surges and high winds destroyed homes, | | | | then followed by clear skies. |
| schools, floated graves and made roughly | | | | |
| 1,000 people homeless. The homeless people | | | | Winds are predominantly easterly throughout |
| were stuck with out food water and resources | | | | the year but tend to become northeasterly |
| and were left to depend on the government. | | | | from October to April and southeasterly from |
| | | | May to September. These winds seldom exceed |
| The Bahamas are a group of about 700 atolls | | | | twenty-four kilometers per hour except during |
| and cays in the western Atlantic Ocean, of | | | | hurricane season. Although the hurricane |
| which only between 30 and 40 are inhabited. | | | | season officially lasts from June to |
| The largest of the islands is Andros Island, | | | | November, most hurricanes in the Bahamas |
| located 120 miles south-east of Florida. The | | | | occur between July and October; as of late |
| Bimini islands are to its northwest. To the | | | | 1987, the last one to strike was Hurricane |
| North is the island of Grand Bahama, home to | | | | David in September 1979. Damage was estimated |
| the second largest city in the country, | | | | at US$1.8 million and mainly affected |
| Freeport, Bahamas. The island of Great Abaco | | | | agricultural products. The most intense |
| is to its east. In the very south is the | | | | twentieth-century hurricane to strike the |
| island of Great Inagua, the second largest | | | | Bahamas was in 1929; winds of up to 225 |
| island in the country. Other notable islands | | | | kilometers per hour were recorded. Many lives |
| include Eleuthera Island, Cat Island, | | | | were lost, and there was extensive damage to |
| Bahamas, San Salvador Island, Acklins Island, | | | | buildings, homes, and boats. |