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