Bahamas

Country in the Caribbean

The Bahamas, officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is a country within the Lucayan Archipelago of the West Indies in the Atlantic Ocean. It takes up 97% of the Lucayan Archipelago's land area and is home to 88% of the archipelago's population. The archipelagic state consists of more than 700 islands, cays, and islets in the Atlantic Ocean, and is located north of Cuba and Hispaniola (split between Haiti and the Dominican Republic), northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, southeast of the U.S. state of Florida, and east of the Florida Keys. The capital is Nassau on the island of New Providence.

History

The Bahamas were inhabited by the Lucayans, a branch of the Taíno people, for many centuries. Christopher Columbus was the first European to see the islands, making his first landfall in the New World in 1492. The Spanish never colonized the Bahamas, but they shipped the native Lucayans to slavery in Hispaniola. The islands were mostly deserted from 1513 until 1648, when English colonists from Bermuda settled on the island of Eleuthera.

In 1718, the Bahamas became a British Crown colony, and remained so until achieving independence on 10 July 1973, leading to the establishment of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. The country has prospered through tourism and international banking and investment management, which constitute the bulk of the Bahamian economy.

Geography

The Bahamas is an archipelago of 700 islands and over 2,400 cays, located in the Atlantic Ocean. The largest island is Andros Island, located north of Cuba and 200 miles southeast of Florida. Other notable islands include Grand Bahama, Eleuthera, Cat Island, Long Island, and San Salvador Island.

Government and Politics

The Bahamas is a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy, with Charles III as the current monarch. The Governor-General represents the monarch in the Bahamas. The Prime Minister is the head of government. The Parliament of the Bahamas is bicameral, consisting of the Senate and the House of Assembly.

Economy

The Bahamian economy is heavily dependent on tourism, which accounts for over 60% of the GDP and employs about half of the Bahamian workforce. The financial services sector is the second most important sector of the Bahamian economy. The Bahamas is known for its offshore banking and has a well-developed financial services sector.

Demographics

The population of the Bahamas is approximately 385,637 as of 2020. The majority of the population is of African descent, with smaller groups of European and Asian descent. The official language is English, and the predominant religion is Christianity.

Culture

The culture of the Bahamas is a blend of African, European, and indigenous influences. The country is known for its Junkanoo festival, a traditional Bahamian street parade of music, dance, and costumes. Bahamian cuisine is also notable, with seafood being a staple, including dishes such as conch, rock lobster, and grouper.

Education

Education in the Bahamas is compulsory between the ages of 5 and 16. The education system is based on the British model, and the country has a high literacy rate. The University of the Bahamas is the primary institution of higher education in the country.

See also

• Lucayan Archipelago
• Caribbean
• West Indies
• British Overseas Territories
• Commonwealth of Nations