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