When it comes to the Bahamas, many people think of luxurious beaches surrounded by sprawling palm trees, blue sea and bright sun. And this is understandable, since the tourism industry is really well developed here. But what else is interesting about this area? We will talk about this in this article.
Bahamas on the map
The state, called the Commonwe alth of the Bahamas, is located north of the Caribbean Sea, southeast of the island of Florida in the Atlantic Ocean. The archipelago consists of 700 islands of various sizes and coral reefs, which occupy an area of 250 thousand km2. Only 30 of them are inhabited.
The land area can be compared to the area of Jamaica. The Bahamas includes the Caicos Islands and the Turks Islands, on which the overseas land of Great Britain is located. The largest of them are Andros, Grand Bahama, New Providence, Eleuthera.
The abundance of coral reefs, magnificent sandy beaches have turned into a sought-after and popularresort Bahamas. Tours to these places are especially popular during winter (November to May).
Climatic conditions
The climate on the islands is tropical, mild, trade wind. Heavy rainfall is typical in May-June, as well as in autumn (September-October). In January, the average air temperature is 21 °C, in July - about 30 °C. Severe hurricanes are not uncommon between June and October.
Population
The total population is 353,658. 85% - mulattoes and blacks, 12% - Europeans, 3% - Hispanics and Asians. Literacy of the population - 95, 6%. Despite the diversity of the peoples inhabiting the Bahamas, the (state) language is English. Along with it, immigrants from Haiti use Haitian Creole.
State capital
All tourists arriving in the Bahamas begin their acquaintance with this unusually picturesque territory from the capital of the state. It is located on the island of New Providence. This is a very small island (the smallest in the Bahamas archipelago). The capital of Nassau is a small and modern city, which is famous all over the world for its harmonious combination of ultra-modern buildings with buildings of colonial architecture. Once a bustling and small village founded by pirates, it has become a wonderful modern city of Nassau (Bahamas).
Many original and colorful buildings surround the waterfront and harbour, business districts are always busy, and numerous shops and markets offer tourists goods from around the world.
At the beginning of the 20th century, after the construction of an international airport and the deepening of the harbor, the Bahamas (the capital in particular) received up to a million tourists annually. And by the 70s, when the bridge to Paradise Island was built and Cable Beach was landscaped, the city began to receive up to 2.5 million guests a year.
Bahamas Attractions
At the beginning of our trip, let's get acquainted with some of the islands that are of interest to tourists.
Grand Bahama is located in the north of the archipelago. It is the second most visited island in the country by tourists. Despite its name, it is not the largest island. It attracts tourists with snow-white shores, vast forests and rich wildlife. Its most popular area is the city of Freeport.
Andros
The largest island in the archipelago. It is covered with extensive palm thickets. In addition, mahogany and pine grow here. The forest here, according to the islanders, is inhabited by aggressive little red-eyed elves. They call them "chikcharniz".
The island is sparsely populated, only on its eastern shore you can find shabby shacks, surrounded by old cars and abandoned refrigerators. Therefore, Andros is visited most often only by extreme divers, who are attracted here by the third longest barrier reef in the world. It stretched along all the coasts of the island. The city of Andros Town is also one of the attractions of this island, along with an old lighthouse and the beautiful Somerset Beach. In the town of Red Bay, located onnorthwest of Andros, live the descendants of the Seminole Indians, who are famous for their skill in weaving various straw products.
Eleuthera
The Bahamas, whose photos often grace the covers of glossy magazines, attract very we althy tourists to rest. As a rule, they prefer this small island, which is traditionally considered to be elite. Luxurious resorts and various clubs alternate with magnificent villas and gourmet restaurants.
The Harbor Island reef, located in the northwest of Eleuthera, deserves special attention. It is home to vibrant and distinctive Dunmore Town, a wonderful beach and superb snorkeling and diving sites.
Long Island
Tourists do not visit all the Bahamas. The map shows that Long Island is an elongated island (one hundred kilometers long and five kilometers wide). It is practically not visited by tourists. And absolutely in vain. This is the most picturesque island of the archipelago, which has many corners untouched by human civilization.
Long Island's landscape is made up of a combination of rolling hills, surf-washed shores lapped by waters rich in marine life, and sandy beaches. In the north of the island there is a long white sandy beach, one of the most beautiful in the western hemisphere.
Nassau Cathedral
But the Bahamas are famous not only for their interesting nature. The capital of the state is famous for its architectural structures. One of them is the Cathedral. This is the largest religious building in the country. The construction of the cathedral dates back to the end of the 17th century. Next to it, you can see many commemorative plaques with the names of people who died here during epidemics.
Queen Victoria Stairs
In Nassau (Bahamas) there is an unusual staircase. It was carved into the limestone rock by slaves in the 18th century. It has sixty five steps. It got its current name much later. This happened during the celebration of the 65th anniversary of Queen Victoria's tenure.
The stairs run along the wall of the fort. On the opposite side, a small waterfall carries its waters. At the very bottom, at the steps, there is a seating area. And from the top steps you can enjoy a breathtaking view of Nassau.
Parliament Building
This small two-story building is located in the heart of Nassau, on its main square. It was built at the beginning of the 19th century, for the meetings of the colonial government. The first officials from Britain appeared here in the middle of the 17th century. And today the direct influence from London is felt in the state, since the Queen of Great Britain is still formally the head of the Parliament of the country.
The Parliament building has an antique portico, which is decorated with four columns. Like all the buildings on the square, it is painted in a rich pink color. It looks especially beautiful in the evening hours.
RoadBimini
These are two almost parallel tracks paved with stone slabs that are under water. Some slabs reach a length of six meters. The road is located at a depth of nine meters, through absolutely transparent water it is perfectly visible from the sea surface. It is five hundred meters long and ninety meters wide.
This is not the only unusual find. Not far from the Bimini road, a J-shaped sleeve stretched out. It is also lined with such plates. Here, other strange structures were found under water - platforms and concentric circles.
Alice Town
Today, many are attracted to the Bahamas, photos of which you can see in our article. They have many different clubs in their territory. In Alice Town is the most famous of them. E. Hemingway began to write his novel “To have and not to have” in it. Tourists are shown this historical monument, which presents unique photographs of the famous writer, his personal belongings.
Royal Victoria Gardens
The Bahamas are famous for their unusual vegetation. The capital of Nassau has a unique botanical garden on its territory, built here at the beginning of the 19th century.
Royal Victoria Gardens has a rare collection of plants from tropical countries. There are more than three hundred types of them. A huge number of rare varieties of orchids twine around the trees and fill the air with a delicious aroma.
