The Bahamas Uncovered
The Bahamas is a group of over 700 islands (including 
Gold Rock Beach, Grand Bahama by George Talbot
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some very small ones) in the West Indies. It has been an independent country since the 1970s, but it is still part of the Commonwealth and technically ruled over by the British Queen. Its colonial heritage means that the official language of the islands is still English, and the widely-spoken English has been a key factor in helping the country to flourish and become a favorite with tourists from the United States.The two biggest islands in the Bahamas are Grand Bahama and New Providence, where the capital, Nassau, is situated. Over half the population is employed in tourism, and the two largest islands especially, for better or worse, feel like one big tourist resort. If you prefer your holidays to be comfortable, then stick to the bigger islands, and if you want more of an adventure, try the smaller ones.Of course, that doesn’t mean that you won’t see anything traditional if you go to the largest islands. On the contrary, Bahamians are very proud of their traditions. Their traditional music styles tend to involve large brass bands, and you will often find brass bands playing in the streets. Traditional foods include pineapples and crabs, which are eaten at large festivals around the time of the harvest. People in the Bahamas are also very fond of regattas, enjoying boat racing and other boat-related pastimes, as well as sports like cricket and athletics. On the smaller islands, traditional arts and crafts are still practiced, largely for sale to tourists nowadays, meaning that you can get very beautiful hand-woven baskets and other items for a very good price in some places.However, if you do go to visit the Bahamas, make sure that there aren’t any hurricanes predicted in the area in the near future. The Bahamas was struck by hurricanes in 1992, 1999, 2004 and 2005, and many people lost their lives.Cheap Bahamas Holidays
If you have been searching for that once in a lifetime dream holiday, then the Bahamas could be the resort for you! A Bahamas holiday is almost the definition of a dream vacation, blue skies, crystal clear water,pristine white sandy beaches,wide varierty of marine life to explore, water activities, good local cuisine, shops, bars and unforgettable evening entertainment.
The Bahamas is about 90 miles off the coast of Florida which makes it ideal for a twin destination holiday - imagine the Bahamas and Miami in one vacation! With over 700 islands and 2,400 cays,the Bahamas islands offer an overwhelming amount of things to do and see, from snorkelling over the famous wreck from the James Bond movie thunder ball, to exploring the natural beauty of the National Park. Take a yacht tour and swim with dolphins ( and sharks if you are brave enough!), or enjoy a round of golf then cool off with a relaxing drink on Bahamas most famous "picture postcard" Cable Beach.
Learning to Dive is a wonderful experience that will enable you to touch and see creatures of the deep that you would never get to meet any other way. Local Dive operators supply equipment and offer classes for unguided dives all over the Bahamas, You can qualify as a scuba driver in a few short lessons in the Bahamas and then simply hire equipment and dive at your leisure. Dolphin dives are an amazing experience, swim along side these friendly, intelligent mammals are, and if you are looking to broaden your knowledge about the Coral reef habitat then an Eco dive is perfect.
Nassau Town, the capital, has many restaurants, bars and retails stores that sell cheap duty free goods to take home from your Bahamas Holiday from all around the world, best buys are leather goods, watches and fine linen. While you are there why not take a walk up the Water Tower where you can see the whole of the Island or stroll around the library that was once a prison.
Sea world Explorer allows you to admire the sea from the inside of a Submarine. This kind of activity is located around the Islands of Grand Bahamas and New Providence and is a tour not to be missed for the photo opportunities alone.
if you enjoy an active nightlife there is a wide range of Clubs, casinos, live music venues and local performing arts groups.If you are lucky enough to be on the islands in June, the Junkanoo is a fantastic way of finding out about the Islands culture and history. There are costume making exhibitions, dancing and other carnival activities and to feed your appetite, are many fish fry stalls.
Experience Paradise With Your Bahamas Getaway
Are you planning to experience your honeymoon on an island where romance is in the air? Are you arranging a family reunion where you could spend quality time with your loved ones? Are you searching for an island to escape with your friends during the summer vacation?
Here’s a great way to spend your precious occasions. Try the Bahamas getaway and you’ll be able to experience the time of your life.
Everyone deserves a Bahamas getaway. And here’s the proof:
Geography of the BahamasBahamas is a country where there are 700 different islands. Plus, each of these islands has something unique to offer your island vacation. There are islands which would make you think you’re in Las Vegas with the bright lights and the line of casinos. There are islands with white sand that stretches to the southeast of the Florida coast. There are islands for the pleasure of the fisherman alone. There are islands with a club setting where you can enjoy golfing and relaxing by the pool. There are islands that could provide you with all your city needs – the shopping mall, night clubs, and restaurants. It is the third largest barrier reef in the world.
Historical interest For you to taste the culture of the Bahamians, you should attend the Junkanoo Festival. During the days when they were enslaved by the West Indies, the Bahamian slaves were given a day to celebrate. From there, the festival became a yearly event in honor of their freedom. This festival is a parade of at least a thousand locals dressed in colorful costumes dancing to the beat of the drums and whistles.
On the 65th year of their Queen Victoria’s reign, the slaves were forced to use axes to make a 102 feet staircase. This is the most visited attraction in the Bahamas is the Queen’s Staircase. With what the name says, you have to climb 65 limestone steps to reach Bennett’s hill.
There are many forts located at the Bahamas, but the Fort Charlotte is the most visited of all. The visitors are take interest in this fort because it is the largest in the country. It has dungeons and battle marks all around the fort, although it has been said that there was no shot fired in this fort.
Surely, history buffs would consider these islands as an ideal getaway.
Environmental aspectsThe Bahamas is surrounded with pine trees and flourishing plantations. The country has limestone caves located in all of its 700 islands. There are fishing flats available to ensure the laws in fishing are abided. And lastly, the Bahamas ranks third in the world’s largest barrier reef. The Bahamas is a getaway for people who want to enjoy the nature surrounding the island.
Cultural aspectsBahamians are people who handle their money by doing business. They are born nature-lovers. Because of this, many of the Bahamians contribute in making their country a place to for visitors to getaway.
The food in the Bahamas is simply irresistible. The famous foods in the Bahamas are seafood. Majority of the local restaurants in the cities serve boiled, baked stewed fish of all kinds. The Bahamian cuisine is a perfect getaway for people who love spicy foods and maintain a fish diet.
In 1942, when the sponge industry fell, the Bahamian women started designing dried palms in making baskets, dolls, and baskets. These became the most sought out souvenir visitors buy from the vendors.
Island AdventuresYou could choose with a number of sports provided in the island. These sports include fishing on the shoreline, kayaking on an environment full of fishes and birds, surfing through the undiscovered parts of the islands, beachcombing a large collection of seashells, snorkeling through the clear reefs, discovering the caves and ruins; and hiking through spectacular cliffs.
The Bahamas getaway is perfect for people who are
Sunny beach by Mike Yarworski
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celebrating their honeymoon. It is also an amazing place to mark their vows as a married couple. It could be also spent with friends and family who wish to experience an island getaway.
It’s easy to get into the Bahamas paradise. A U.S. citizen should just be able to provide a passport, their official birth certificate, a citizenship certificate, and their two-way ticket. After presenting this, you could now start and explore the wonders of the country and enjoy your Bahamas getaway...
Travel & Vacation in the Bahamas
If you're traveling to or planning a vacation in the Bahamas you might be interested in knowing a little about the area.
If you're traveling to or planning a vacation in the Bahamas you might be interested in knowing a little more about the area.
The Commonwealth of the Bahamas is an independent English-speaking nation in the West Indies. Where in the world are they? The Bahamas are located in the Atlantic Ocean, east of Florida in the US, north of Cuba and the Caribbean, and west of the British dependency of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The Bahamas are a group of about 700 islands in the western Atlantic Ocean, of which only between 30 and 40 are inhabited. That may sound like a large place but on a comparison basis, the Bahamas are only slightly smaller than the state of Connecticut.
The largest of the islands is Andros Island, located 120 miles south-east of Florida. The Bimini islands are to its northwest. To the North is the island of Grand Bahama, home to the second largest city in the country, Freeport, Bahamas.
The island of Great Abaco is to its east. In the very south is the island of Great Inagua, the second largest island in the country.
A few facts and figures: Nassau is the capital and largest city, located on New Providence. The islands have a subtropical climate, moderated by the Gulf Stream. Most people are ethnic Christians, and English is the official language.
The islands are surface projections of three oceanic banks, the Little Bahama Bank, the Great Bahama Bank and the westernmost Cay Sal Bank. The highest point is only 2480 inches (just less than half a mile) above sea level on Cat Island; the island of New Providence, where the capital city of Nassau is located, reaches a maximum elevation of only 1,457 inches.
The land on the Bahamas has a foundation of fossil coral, but much of the rock is oolitic limestone; the stone is derived from the disintegration of coral reefs and seashells. The land is primarily either rocky or mangrove swamp. Low scrub covers much of the surface area. Timber is found in abundance on four of the northern islands: Grand Bahama, Great Abaco, New Providence, and Andros. On some of the southern islands, low-growing tropical hardwood flourishes.
Although some soil is very fertile, it is also very thin. Only a few freshwater lakes and just one river, located on Andros Island, are found in the Bahamas.
The climate in the Bahamas is semitropical. They have only two seasons, summer and winter.
During the summer, which extends from May through November, the climate is dominated by warm, moist tropical air masses moving north through the Caribbean. Midsummer temperatures range from 70° to 93° F with a relative humidity of 60- 100%.
In winter months, extending from December through April, the climate is affected by the movement of cold polar masses from North America. Temperatures during the winter months range from 59° to 75° F.
Yearly rainfall averages 52 inches annually and is usually concentrated in the May-June and September-October periods. Rainfall often occurs in short-lived, fairly intense showers accompanied by strong gusty winds.
Winds are predominantly easterly throughout the year but tend to become northeasterly from October to April and southeasterly from May to September. These winds seldom exceed 15 mph per hour except during hurricane season.
Although the hurricane season officially lasts from June to November, most hurricanes in the Bahamas occur between July and October. The last hurricane to strike was Hurricane David in September 1979. Damage was estimated at US$1.8 million and mainly affected agricultural products. The most intense twentieth-century hurricane to strike the Bahamas was in 1929. Winds of up to 140 mph were recorded. Many lives were lost, and there was extensive damage to buildings, homes, and boats.
Don't let the hurricanes and heat scare you. The Bahamas are a wonderful place to vacation, any time of the year. Pick up your sunglasses, find your swim suit and call your travel agent today!
History of the Bahamas
Are you a history buff? This informative article will give you the basics on the history of the Bahamas.
When you're learning about something new, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of relevant information available. This informative article will give you the basics on the history of the Bahamas.
Those of you not familiar with the history of the Bahamas now have at least a basic understanding of its history and culture.
Christopher Columbus's first landfall in the New World in 1492 is believed to have been on the island of San Salvador (also called Watling's Island), in the southeastern Bahamas. He encountered Taino (also known as Lucayan) Amerindians and exchanged gifts with them.
Taino Indians from both northwestern Hispaniola and northeastern Cuba moved into the southern Bahamas about the 7th century AD and became the Lucayans. They appear to have settled the entire archipelago by the 12th century AD. There may have been as many as 40,000 Lucayans living in the Bahamas when Columbus arrived.
The Bahamian Lucayans were deported to Hispaniola as slaves, and within two decades Taino societies ceased to exist as a separate population due to forced labour, warfare, disease, emigration and outmarriage.
Some say the name 'Bahamas' derives from the Spanish for "shallow sea", baja mar. Others trace it to the Lucayan word for Grand Bahama Island, ba-ha-ma ("large upper middle land").
After the Lucayans were destroyed, the Bahamian islands were deserted until the arrival of English settlers from Bermuda in 1650. Known as the Eleutherian Adventurers, these people established settlements on the island now called Eleuthera (from the Greek word for freedom).
The Bahamas became a British crown colony in 1718 but remained sparsely settled until the newly independent United States expelled thousands of American Tories and their slaves. Many of these British Loyalists were given compensatory land grants in Canada and the Bahamas. Some 8,000 loyalists and their slaves moved to the Bahamas in the late 1700s from New York, Florida and the Carolinas.
The British granted the islands internal self-government in 1964 and, in 1973, Bahamians achieved full independence while remaining a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Since the 1950s, the Bahamian economy has prospered based on the twin pillars of tourism and financial services.
The urban renewal project has been launched in recent years to help impoverished urban areas in social decline in the main islands. Today, the country enjoys the third highest per capita income in the western Hemisphere. Despite this the country still faces significant challenges in areas such education, healthcare, correctional facilites and violent crime and illegal immigration. However, the Out Islands or Family Islands are free from such problems and these Islands are:
These are the hidden jewels of the Caribbean of which you would do yourself no great disservice by finding out more about.