The Bahamas

Nassau, originally called Charles Towne, capital of The Bahamas, West Indies, is a port on the northeastern coast of New Providence Island and one of the world’s top pleasure resorts. The climate is temperate, and the sandy beaches and scenery are beautiful. Although the city proper is comparatively tiny, suburbs and residential districts stretch far along the coast and into the interior. Nassau’s spectacular natural vegetation includes scarlet poinciana trees, poinsettias, and purple bougainvillea. The Ardastra Gardens and Zoo, west of the city, contain flamingos and many rare tropical plants. Paradise Island, a luxury tourist resort with high-rise hotels and casinos, was developed in the 1960s and is connected with Nassau by two bridges, one a toll bridge. It shelters Nassau’s excellent natural harbor, which can accommodate cruise ships of all sizes. Offshore are marine gardens at the eastern end of the port; glass-bottomed boats are available for underwater sightseeing. Nassau is a tourist and international banking center. Domestic exports include crawfish (spiny lobster), other seafood, fruit and vegetables, rum, and crude salt. The College of the Bahamas was established in 1974. Nassau is reached by international sea or air routes and has local services to other islands.

The climate of The Bahamas is sub-tropical with fairly high mean temperatures and moderate rainfall.

  English is the official language of the Bahamas.

1. Baha mar means shallow sea in Spanish. As can be seen in any satellite image, the water around the Bahamas is indeed shallow—the entire region has a delightful turquoise color. The turquoise comes from the white calcium carbonate sand and the color of light when reflected off the bottom and unabsorbed by the water. The water around the Bahamas is so saturated with calcium carbonate (the stuff that makes up sea shells) that it will often precipitate directly out of the water.
2. It believes that Columbus’ first landfall in the new world was on the island of San Salvador. In 1986, National Geographic postulated that he landed on Samana Cay. The European land rush in the new world began in the Bahamas.
3. After the United States and Canada, the Bahamas is the third most prosperous country in the new world. The Bahamian dollar is pegged 1-to-1 with the U.S. dollar. The largest industry in the country is tourism (which makes sense), and that accounts for a whopping 60% of the country’s income and half of all employment.
4. The island of Bimini is only 50 miles from Miami. Only Russia is closer, with the distance between the Big and Little Diomede Islands only 2.5 miles. Regular ferries can take you between Miami and Bimini about two hours flat. The island of Bimini is only 50 miles from Miami. Only Russia is closer, with the distance between Big and Little Diomede Islands only 2.5 miles. Regular ferries can take you between Miami and Bimini about two hours flat.
5. The Bahamas’ $1 note has an image of the Nassau Police Marching Band on the currency, making them the only marching band to appear on any legal tender.
   
   
   

• Nothing is more indigenous and unique to Bahamian culture than Junkanoo. It is a music and dance form that originated in The Bahamas during the days of slavery. Over the years, it has remained remarkably unchanged, a festive parade complete with colorful costumes, goatskin drums, clanging cowbells, whistles, and horns.
• ‘Goombay’ music can be considered among the earliest indigenous forms of Bahamian music that originated with its Afro-descendant population in a drumbeat rhythm. And was the style used by many early Bahamian musicians and composers like Blind Blake, George Symonette, and Eloise Lewis.
• ‘Rake and Scrape’ has its origins in the family island of Cat Island, where it developed as a hybrid form from European and African music cultures. It is popular folk music among Bahamians and has been used as a classical folk form for various traditional folk musicals, folk plays, and folk operas by various Bahamian composers. It operates as an accompaniment for the ‘quadrille, plaiting the maypole, and other folk dance forms.
• Sharing a meal is the most common way to build a relationship. However, they also maintain a sense of decorum and are very polite. Hospitality is an extension of this, and they like to get to know people, say hello to strangers, and invite people into their homes.
• Local people chose their partners by themselves. Weddings arrange in churches. In the countryside, local people can marry their cousins, but this is something that doesn’t happen in cities. A married couple can divorce without any problems. There are families where a woman is ahead. It is not rare to see retired people raising their grandchildren in the countryside – they do it because parents move to cities to earn money. Family is an essential treasure for Bahamians. They always take care of their elder relatives as carefully as they take care of their children. Traditions and gender roles are still strong in local society – girls expect to be cheerful and help their mothers with the household, and boys play outside with other boys and crave independence.