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Bahamas is an Archipelago of approximately 700 islands and 2400 uninhabited islets and cays. Only 30 of the islands are inhabited, and the most important is New Providence, where the capital Nassau is situated. Other consisting islands are Abaco, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama, Cat Island, Andros, and Salvador.
Bahamas is in the North of America, Located in the Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida and United States, Northwest of the British overseas territory of the Turks and Caicos Island, and north of Cuba, the land of Hispanola and the Caribbean.
Bahamas comprises of numerous islands and islets, and they they all have their own history, story of existence and mysteries like the Bermuda triangle or the Devil's Triangle, The Conception Island which is an islet famous for nesting seabirds and hatching site for green turtles. |
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| History |
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Columbus first rendezvous with the new world was on San Salvador an island in the central part of the Bahamas archipelago. Columbus contacted the Lucayans and exchanged goods with them. Bahamian Lucayans were forcibly turned into slaves and later taken to Hispaniola. Lucayan societies ceased to exist due to forced labour, disease, massacre, warfare, emigration and intermarriage. After the elimination of the Lucayan population, the Bahamian islands were fundamentally unoccupied until, in 1647, English settlers led by William Sayle from Bermuda seeking religious freedom.
In 1964, the British made the islands internally self-governing. The Bahamas became fully independent on 1973, but retained membership in the Commonwealth of nation. |
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| Politics |
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Bahama is an Independent country and also a member of Commonwealth of Nation. It follows the political and legal traditions as of the United Kingdom. Queen Elizabeth II is the ceremonial head of the state, represented by a Bahamian Governor- general. The Prime Minister is the head of the Government. He is the Leader of the party that enjoys the maximum number of seats in the elected house of the Assembly.
The Cabinet exercises the Executive power and the Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of parliament. Bahamas is a member of the Caribbean community, although it is not geographically located in Canberra.
Prime Minister- Hubert Alexander Ingraham |
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| Climate |
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| The Bahamian climate is Subtropical to tropical, in winters it is moderated relatively by the waters of the Gulf Stream. This can turn very dangerous during summer and autumn, when hurricanes pass near or through the islands. Hurricanes have hit this islands several times. High winds and tidal surges have destroyed homes and schools in the Grand Bahama. About 1000 people have gone homeless especially those who lived in the west coast of the island. |
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| Economy |
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Bahamas is a developing nation, it is the third wealthiest country in the Western hemisphere. The Economy is highly dependent on tourism and offshore banking. 50% of the employment is accounted to tourism, only 5% percent of the employment accounts to agriculture. The major agricultural products are Citrus, vegetables and poultry. Other major industries, apart form tourism is banking, e-commerce and transshipment, salt, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral-welded steel pipe, cement, oil refining
Export commodities are fish and crawfish, fruit and vegetables, rum, salt and chemicals
Monetary unit: Bahamian dollar |
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| People |
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The total population of Bahamas is 300,529 (July 2002 est.). The major ethnic groups in Bahamas are black 85%, white 12%, Asian and Hispanic 3% .The Religion followed by the Bahamians are Baptist which comprises 32%, Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic 19%, Methodist 6%, Church of God 6%, other Protestant 12%, unknown 3%, other 2% . English is the official language and among the Haitian immigrants creole is the language of communication. The culture followed is a Hybrid of African and European influence.
Towards the southern and eastern islands, people practice Obeah, similar to Voodoo. The national sport of Bahamas is Cricket. Other popular sports are sailing, track and field athletics. |
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