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The Bahamas (/ b ə ˈ h ɑː m ə z / ⓘ bə-HAH-məz), officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, [13] is an island country within the Lucayan Archipelago of the Atlantic Ocean. It contains 97% of the Lucayan Archipelago's land area and 88% of its population.
- Parliament
The Parliament of The Bahamas is the bicameral national...
- Grand Bahama
Grand Bahama is the northernmost of the islands of The...
- Royal Bahamas Defence Force
The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) is the military of...
- Cornelius A. Smith
Cornelius Alvin Smith was born to Sylvanues and Susan Smith...
- History
History of the Bahamas. The earliest arrival of people in...
- Nassau, The Bahamas
Nassau (/ ˈ n æ s ɔː / NASS-aw) is the capital and largest...
- Geography of The Bahamas
The Bahamas are a group of about 700 islands and cays in the...
- List of islands
A map of The Bahamas. The following is an alphabetical list...
- Parliament
Learn about the pre-Columbian, European, and modern history of the Bahamas, from the Lucayan people to independence. Explore the colonial, slave, pirate, and pirate republic periods, and the role of the British and the United States.
- Overview
- Land
- Relief and soils
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The Bahamas, archipelago and country on the northwestern edge of the West Indies. Formerly a British colony, The Bahamas became an independent country within the Commonwealth in 1973.
The name Bahamas is of Lucayan Taino (Arawakan) derivation, although some historians believe it is from the Spanish bajamar, meaning “shallow water.” The islands occupy a position commanding the gateway to the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and the entire Central American region. Their strategic location has given the history of The Bahamas a unique and often striking character. It was there that Christopher Columbus made his original landfall in the Americas. The subsequent fate of the peaceful original inhabitants remains one of the more tragic episodes in the development of the entire region, while the early attempts at European-dominated settlement were marked by intense national rivalries, interspersed with long periods of lawlessness and piracy. As a result, the society and culture that has evolved in The Bahamas is a distinctive blend of European and African heritages, the latter a legacy of the slave trade and the introduction of the plantation system using African slaves. The islands, lacking natural resources other than their agreeable climate and picturesque beaches, have become heavily dependent on the income generated by the extensive tourist facilities and the financial sector that have been developed, often as a result of the injection of foreign capital. The continued popularity of the islands with tourists, largely from North America, has helped to maintain a relatively high standard of living among the population, most of whom are of African descent. The capital, Nassau, is located on small but important New Providence Island.
Lying to the north of Cuba and Hispaniola, the archipelago comprises nearly 700 islands and cays, only about 30 of which are inhabited, and more than 2,000 low, barren rock formations. It stretches more than 500 miles (800 km) southeast-northwest between Grand Bahama Island, which has an area of 530 square miles (1,373 square km) and lies about 60 ...
The Bahamas occupies an irregular submarine tableland that rises out of the depths of the Atlantic Ocean and is separated from nearby lands to the south and west by deepwater channels. Extensive areas of flatland, generally a few feet in elevation, are the dominant topographic features of the major islands; the Bimini group (9 square miles [23 square km]), for example, has a maximum elevation of only 20 feet (6 metres). A number of islands fronting the Atlantic have a range or series of ranges of hills on the northeastern side that parallel the longer axes of the islands. These ranges are formed of sand washed ashore and blown inland by the trade winds. The newer hills adjacent to the seashore are normally sand dunes. Solidity increases toward the interior, where the particles become cemented to form Bahama limestone. Eleuthera and Long Island (230 square miles [596 square km]) have the greatest number of hills exceeding 100 feet (30 metres). The highest point in The Bahamas, Mount Alvernia, at 206 feet (63 metres), is on Cat Island (150 square miles [388 square km]). Beneath the soil, the islands are composed of limestone rock and skeletal remains of coral fossils and other marine organisms. There are no rivers, but several islands—particularly New Providence, San Salvador (63 square miles [163 square km]), and Great Inagua—have large lakes. There is abundant fresh water on Andros Island.
Britannica Quiz
Learn about The Bahamas, an archipelago and country in the West Indies with a rich and diverse history and culture. Explore its geography, economy, society, and attractions with Britannica.
Nassau (/ ˈ n æ s ɔː / NASS-aw) is the capital and largest city of The Bahamas. It is located on the island of New Providence, which had a population of 246,329 in 2010, or just over 70% of the entire population of The Bahamas. [2]
Learn about the location, area, climate, landforms, and natural resources of the Bahamas, a group of about 700 islands and cays in the Atlantic Ocean. See maps, videos, and statistics of the tropical savanna islands and their weather patterns.
Learn about the history, geography, people, and culture of The Bahamas, a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. Find out how The Bahamas became independent from Britain in 1973 and how it attracts many tourists.
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A comprehensive alphabetical list of the islands and cays of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, with links to more information. Find out the names, locations, and features of the various islands and cays of this Caribbean archipelago.
