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The Bahamas comprise an archipelago of over seven hundred islands,
including small islets and cays (coral reefs), pronounced ‘keys’ -
most of which are uninhabited, extending for over five hundred
miles of beautiful clear water. Approx. 28 of the islands are
inhabited. The islands are located fifty miles off the SE coast
of Florida.
Travel Insurance for The Bahamas:
Area: Worldwide exc. USA / Canada *
Know Before You Go:
FCO Country Advice for The Bahamas
Some of the other islands in the chain include The
Abacos, Eleuthera, Bimini, Acklins/Crooked Isle, Grand Bahama,
Exumas, Long Island, Andros, Inagua, Cat Island and San Salvador
island. English is the official language, and Creole is spoken
among some of the Haitian people.
The capital, Nassau/Paradise Island, is probably the most significant
island economically, and seat of the government. It is also famous
for its Cable Beach and Paradise Island . The Abacos islands
are known for boat-building. Andros is the biggest island and
often referred to as the ‘bone fishing capital.’ Grand
Bahama is a huge tourism and resort area, especially the city
of Freeport , and also offers peaceful villages and towns with
a lot of history.
The Bimini islands are at the heart of the
deep-sea fishing area with the Great Bahama bank close by and
some of the biggest game fishing trophies in the world. The island
of Exuma is known for its excellent sailing and cruising and
attracts yachtsmen from all over the world to explore its cays
and isolated beaches. |
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The Bahamas were first settled by Indians called the Arawaks.
The British settled on the islands in the seventeenth century
after their discover by Columbus who first arrived on San Salvador
. The islands were given self-government in 1964 and became an
independent nation in 1973.
The islands, especially Nassau, have had a dubious reputation
for piracy over the years, and due to its strategic location,
close to the United States , it is still regarded as a hub for
the trafficking of illegal drugs and illegal immigrants to the
U.S. The main industry of the islands is tourism, although the
international banking and investment industry and shipping are
also very prominent.
The Bahamas is understandably a major tourist destination in
the Caribbean area. Its tranquil waters and cool tradewinds have
given the islands a fantastic reputation for water sports. There
is a great abundance of sealife, due to the Gulf Stream . It
is a popular destination for sportfishing, where records are
often set. The islands with its amazing reefs and underwater
parks are a wonderland for SCUBA divers and snorkellers. For
beach lovers, the Bahamas have some of the most beautiful and
unspoiled beaches in the world. Many of the islands have beaches
of pink sand, which is actually crushed coral. Inland, there
are national parks with some rare species of birds and animals.
The Bahamian people are known for the friendly, laid back attitude
and hospitality and their good native cuisine. There is much
natural beauty to be explored and you can island hop, or explore
by bicycle, or plane. Enjoy some golf, cricket or tennis. There
is great shopping and lots of native craft markets to explore.
Facts
Sovereign: Queen Elizabeth II (1952)
Governor-General: (2001) Ivy Dumont
Prime Minister: (2002) Perry Christie
Population: 301,800 approx.
Capital: Nassau
Time Zone: UTC -5
Currency: Bahamian Dollar
Country Dialling Code: 242
Climate
/ Weather
The Bahamas has a marine tropical climate which is near perfect,
moderated by warm waters of the Gulf Stream . There are persistent
trade winds from the east. The summers temperatures rarely rise
as high as 90F, and in winter the temperature rarely drops below
60 F. The average year round temperature is approx. 70 F. The
humidity is quite high during the summer but the constant breeze
compensates for it. The islands can be prone to hurricanes and
tropical storms during the season from June-Nov.
Health
Travel Insurance for
travel to the Bahamas
We recommend purchasing World Wide (exc. USA & Canada)
Travel Insurance for cover.
Links
www.bahamas.com is the
official site of the Ministry of Tourism for the Bahamas .
It gives information on just about anything you need to know.
Disclaimer: While we have tried to ensure this information
is correct we do not accept responsibility for any inaccuracy.
* Inclusion on this guide does not guarantee travel insurance is available in this country at any given time. Travel Insurance is not available in countries for which the F.C.O. advise against travel to.
** At the time of writing, the F.C.O. advised against travel to countries, or areas thereof, marked thus at the time of writing. Travel Insurance is not available in areas where the F.C.O. advise against travel to.
You are strongly advised to visit the F.C.O. web site for up to date information and general travel advice before you travel.
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