The Bahamas, or Commonwealth of the Bahamas, colloquially The Bahamas is a state located on almost 700 islands to the north Caribbean Sea and Cuba, southeast of the Florida Peninsula, with a population of 391,232 (2016 data). The Bahamas is part of the British Commonwealth, the official language is English, and the head of state is the British monarch.
The Bahamas archipelago includes about 700 islands and 2,000 coral reefs, it covers an area of more than 250 thousand km2, with a land area of 13,878 km2. Only 30 islands are inhabited, the population is concentrated on the island of New Providence with the capital of the state of Nassau and the island of Grand Bahama with the second largest city of Freeport. The largest island of the archipelago is Andros.
The first inhabitants of the archipelago are considered to be the Lucayans from the Arawaks (South American Indians), who appeared here in the 9th century. Scientists estimate that the population of the Bahamas at that time numbered about 40 thousand people. The first European to arrive in the Bahamas in 1492 was Christopher Columbus, who landed on Watling Island (now San Salvador) on October 12, 1492. In 1495, Spanish settlers began to colonize the islands of the archipelago, and soon almost the entire island population was sold into slavery in Haiti. Soon after this, the Spanish colonists left the islands.
Over the next 100 years, the islands were virtually uninhabited. In 1650, the first English settlers arrived in the Bahamas with Bermuda. At the same time, pirate bases appeared on the islands, which existed until 1718. Also in 1718, the Bahamas were officially declared a British colony. The population began to increase in the late 18th century, when 8,000 loyalists were exiled here after the Declaration of American Independence. It was the loyalists who began to actively develop agriculture on the islands, in particular, to grow cotton.
In 1781, power on the islands again passed to Spain, and was returned to England in 1783. After the slave trade was banned in Great Britain in 1807, slaves in the Bahamas also gained freedom, after which a large number of The white population left the islands. Locals- former slaves - subsisted on fishing and Agriculture. Economic prosperity came to the islands along with the development of beach tourism in the USA, as well as after the adoption of Prohibition in the USA - the Bahamas turned out to be a base for smugglers and bootleggers. The capital of the archipelago, Nassau, turned into a single large warehouse of rum, which led to the development of “alcohol tourism” from the United States, and many hotels of various categories appeared in the Bahamas.
During World War II, American soldiers vacationed on the islands, and after the war and revolution in Cuba, the flow of wealthy tourists from America only increased.
In 1964, the Bahamas received the right to self-government, and on July 10, 1973, they declared independence as part of the British Commonwealth. Today, the Bahamas is part of a number of international organizations, including the Organization of American States and the UN, as well as the Caribbean Community.
Current time in Nassau:
(UTC -5)
The basis of the state's economy is beach, eco- and sports tourism, as well as the provision of banking services. The absence of many taxes also plays a leading role in the development of the economy of the Bahamas.
How to get there
In addition to these two, there are 62 more airports and airstrips on the remaining islands of the Bahamas archipelago.
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Climate and weather in the Bahamas
Cities and regions
Currently, the state is divided into 31 districts. This system was created in 1996, and until 1999 there were 23 districts in the country. The largest or most noteworthy tourist islands are listed below, as are the largest cities on these islands. Following the links you will find a description of the islands and cities, their location and other information.
New Providence is the most populous island of the Bahamas, a center of tourism and recreation for Americans, the area of which is almost entirely occupied by the capital of the Bahamas, the city of Nassau.
Lying in the north of the archipelago, Grand Bahama Island is the second most visited region in the country. The most famous city on the island is Freeport.
Andros is the most large island Bahamian archipelago, it covers an area of 5957 km². The population of Andros is 7,386 people (2010 data).
Eleuthera is an island in the Bahamas archipelago, located 80 km east of Grand Bahama and Nassau. The long (180 km) and narrow (about 2 km) island covers an area of 484 km². It is home to 7,826 people (2010 data).
The Abaco Islands are located in the north of the Bahamas archipelago. They include the main islands of Great Abaco and Little Abaco, 13 smaller islands and the Abaco Cays group of coral reefs. The area of the islands is 1,681 km² and is home to 16,692 people.
Long Island is one of the most picturesque islands in the Bahamas archipelago. It is 100 km long and 5 km wide, and is famous for its excellent sandy beaches and rich flora and fauna of coastal waters. The capital of the island is the city of Clarence, but the main tourist destination is the Stella Maris area.
The Bimini Islands, or "Ernest Hemingway Islands", are a chain of islands in the Bahamas archipelago, located between Andros Island and south coast Florida, with an area of 23 km². The capital of the island chain is the city of Alice Town, mentioned more than once by Ernest Hemingway in his works (“The Old Man and the Sea”, “Islands in the Ocean”, “To Have and to Have Not”).
Cat Island is an island located in the central part of the Bahamas archipelago, being the sixth largest island in the country and having an area of 388 km². The main city of the island is Arthur's Town, with a population of 1,503 people (2010 data).
What to see
Despite the fact that people mainly go to the Bahamas for beaches and related entertainment, an inquisitive tourist will also have something to please himself with - there are several remarkable places on the island, links to which you will find below. Follow the links for more detailed information.
Where to go in the Bahamas
Attractions
Museums and galleries
Entertainment
Parks and Recreation
Leisure
Transport
Private guides in the Bahamas
Russian private guides will help you get acquainted with the Bahamas in more detail.
Registered on the Experts.Tourister.Ru project.
Things to do
Beaches of the Bahamas
The Bahamas is an ideal destination for beach holiday. Almost all the islands of the archipelago have beaches with white or pink sand, located surrounded by palm groves on the shores of emerald lagoons.
Kitchen
The cuisine of the Bahamas is a culinary mix of different cultures, each dish combining the bounty of the tropical Caribbean nature and the culinary traditions of one or more groups of people who inhabited the islands - the Arawak Indians, the Spanish, the English, the French, the Dutch, the Africans, the Indians, the Chinese and the Americans.
A distinctive feature of Bahamian cuisine is the use of fresh vegetables, fruits and seafood. At the same time, Caribbean cuisine also contains meat dishes- from chicken, lamb and mutton. Other types of meat are imported, and are most often used to prepare and serve dishes in European and American restaurants.
On a Caribbean table there is a group of dishes under common name Salsas, which have an intense flavor and are a cross between a condiment and a side dish. Salsas are prepared from a variety of fruits, vegetables, spices and herbs, and are served with any independent dish to enhance its taste.
The first liquid hot dishes occupy an important place in the Bahamian menu. Most often they are represented by soups - vegetable, fish and meat, as well as liquid dishes of stewed meat and vegetables, similar to stews.
The most popular Caribbean soup is sea bass soup with the addition of celery, onions, tomatoes and spices, as well as sherry, dark rum and lime juice. Bahamians also have soups made from other seafood on their table.
Less common these days is turtle soup, which has been one of the most popular dishes for centuries. The decrease in demand for turtle soup is due to the fact that turtles are endangered on the islands.
Vegetable soups are very popular, in particular pea soup, which is prepared with smoked meats, rice or dumplings.
The Asopao group of dishes, which means "liquid" in Spanish, is a liquid stew of meat (chicken, lamb) or seafood with rice, vegetables and spices.
Peas "n" Rice is a staple of the Bahamian table, a traditional dish of peas and rice, prepared with salted meat, tomatoes, celery, green peppers and spices. Used as a side dish, Peas "n" Rice is topped with hot sauces.
Fish dishes form the basis of the menu in the Bahamas. Fish on the islands is prepared in many ways - grilled, stewed, salted, dried and cooked fish cutlets. Worth trying are the red snapper fillets, chargrilled or steamed, served with aromatic Creole sauce or a white wine, mushroom, onion and thyme sauce.
The Bahamas is famous for its abundance of seafood, among which lobsters, lobsters, crabs, shrimps, clams, etc. are considered delicacies. They are baked on coals, stewed, fried, pickled, and seafood-based salads are prepared. Thus, one of the most popular seafood is the local spiny lobster, which is served in season (from April to August) with curry sauce, lime juice and fresh coconut pulp. Baked sea crab is also one of the most famous dishes in the Bahamas. The cook mixes the meat extracted from the crab with eggs and herbs, fills the empty crab shell with the mixture and bakes it.
The Bahamas are famous for their excellent beaches, beautiful underwater world and original culture. The archipelago includes about 700 islands, of which only 40 are inhabited. Local resorts are perfect for both a leisurely holiday in complete unity with nature, and for extreme diving, as there are many underwater tunnels and “blue holes”.
Information about the Bahamas
The Bahamas have official name- Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The state is in Atlantic Ocean on an archipelago stretching over 1,500 km, and is separated from Cuba by the Old Bahamas Strait and from the United States by the Gulf of Florida. The total area of the islands is about 14 thousand square meters. km. The largest of them are Andros, Great Abaco, Grand Bahama, Great Inagua, New Providence, Great Exuma, Eleuthera and several others.
Capital: Nassau.
Population: 377,374 people (as of 2013).
Government system: constitutional monarchy headed by the Queen of Great Britain, which is represented in the Bahamas by the Governor General.
Language: English, “Patois” (Creole) is common among Haitians.
Religion: most of the population are Christians, mostly Baptists (35%). Folk beliefs also spread (“obeah”).
Time: 8 hours behind Moscow in summer and 9 hours in winter. On the last Sunday in March, time is moved forward one hour (valid until the first Sunday in November).
Climate
The climate in the Bahamas can be described as subtropical (in the south) and trade wind (in the north). In summer, the air temperature here reaches +32 °C, in winter - +22 °C. The central part of the archipelago is always cooler than the southern islands. The water temperature in the resorts of the Bahamas is about +27 °C in summer and +23 °C in winter.
Most of the precipitation on the islands falls from May to October, and strong storms and hurricanes are possible during these same months. Based on this, best time The period for holidays in the Bahamas is from the end of October to the beginning of May.
Average daily temperature at the resorts of the Bahamas, °C
| Resorts in the Bahamas | Jan | Feb | March | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Nassau | +25 | +25 | +26 | +27 | +29 | +31 | +32 | +32 | +31 | +30 | +28 | +26 |
| Nassau, water t | +25 | +25 | +25 | +26 | +27 | +28 | +29 | +29 | +29 | +28 | +27 | +26 |
| Andros | +25 | +25 | +26 | +27 | +29 | +31 | +31 | +32 | +31 | +29 | +27 | +26 |
| Andros, water t | +23 | +23 | +23 | +24 | +25 | +27 | +28 | +28 | +28 | +27 | +26 | +24 |
| Abaco | +25 | +25 | +26 | +27 | +29 | +31 | +31 | +32 | +31 | +29 | +27 | +26 |
| Abaco, water t | +23 | +23 | +23 | +24 | +25 | +27 | +28 | +28 | +28 | +27 | +26 | +24 |
| Grand Bahama | +25 | +25 | +26 | +27 | +29 | +31 | +31 | +32 | +31 | +29 | +27 | +26 |
| Grand Bahama, t water | +23 | +23 | +23 | +24 | +25 | +27 | +28 | +28 | +28 | +27 | +26 | +24 |
| Eleuthera | +25 | +25 | +26 | +27 | +29 | +31 | +31 | +32 | +31 | +29 | +27 | +26 |
| Eleuthera, t water | +23 | +23 | +23 | +24 | +25 | +27 | +28 | +28 | +28 | +27 | +26 | +24 |
| Bimini | +20 | +21 | +22 | +24 | +26 | +27 | +28 | +28 | +28 | +26 | +23 | +21 |
Map of the Bahamas
Nature
The Bahamas are stretches of limestone plateau jutting out from the ocean. Its underwater part has deep cracks and ferrous layers, making the underwater world of the Bahamas look very picturesque. Adding to its beauty are numerous coral reefs, blue holes and long tunnels connecting deep underwater caves. All this makes the islands of the archipelago very attractive for divers.
Previously, the entire territory of the Bahamas was covered rainforests, however, today they are preserved only on the islands of Grand Bahama, Abaco and Andros. On their territory you can see valuable types of wood - red ironwood and logwood, Caribbean pine trees, as well as various types exotic flowers- orchids, jasmine, bougainvillea, etc. Often on the islands you can find artificial plantings with coniferous trees, casuarinas and mahogany.
The fauna in the Bahamas is not very diverse. The most common species are bats, frogs, snakes, lizards, as well as birds - red flamingos, pelicans, herons, etc. Near the coasts there are numerous species of fish - mackerel, barracuda, Atlantic sailfish, etc. Thanks to this, fishing in the Bahamas is very exciting class.
Another natural feature of the Bahamas is its beautiful sandy beaches with fine sand, which attracts many travelers who want to soak up the sun and swim in the clear coastal waters.
Traditions and customsMain feature Bahamians are leisurely; on the islands it is not customary to rush anywhere. Local residents are generally calm and friendly, but sometimes they can express their emotions quite violently.
The dress code on the islands is informal. In most cases, a shirt and long trousers will be enough for men. In resort areas, shorts are fine; in cities, overtly beachwear should be avoided. In the evening and on holidays for women in good form counts long dress with ethnic patterns, for men - a light suit.
As for culinary traditions, in the Bahamas they are closely associated with seafood. Char-baked shells, crabs, shrimp, fish cakes, seafood salads, various variations of dishes with conch snail, reef snapper in tomato or anchovy sauce, soup with lime juice, celery, meat and onions - these delicacies can be found in menus of almost all restaurants in the archipelago. The cuisine of the Bahamas was greatly influenced by the British colonialists, so traditional English dishes prepared taking into account local characteristics are also common here. Among the desserts, Caribbean coconut pies, rice puddings and fruit salads are very popular. In the bar menu you will definitely see Nassau Royal rum, the famous Bahamian beer Kalik, as well as various imported drinks.
Culture and architectureThe culture of the Bahamas was influenced by Africans, inhabitants of neighboring Caribbean islands and colonists. An important part of the national folklore are obeah rituals, which are reminiscent of the rites of Santeria in Brazil and Cuba, as well as voodoo from Haiti. The practice involves turning to white and black magicians, communicating with departed ancestors and spirits of the underworld, etc. Followers of obeah believe that evil spirits live in silk cotton, and with special skill their power can be controlled. Voodoo rituals are also common in the Bahamas, especially among immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.
Another bright side of Bahamian culture is music, which combines the traditions of colonialists and African slaves. Particularly popular are the down-home styles (music performed on accordions, guitars and maracas) and gumbay, which combines English folk songs with calypso melodies.
Dance art It is also common in the Bahamas. In special halls or on the street you can see real dance performances that intricately combine ritual African dances, classical ballet And modern choreography.
There are also architectural attractions in the Bahamas. Most of them date back to the colonial period and are located in the capital of the state, the city of Nassau.
Main currency
The main currency on the islands is the Bahamian dollar, equal to 100 cents. Both coins and banknotes of various denominations are in circulation. US dollars are in free circulation. Credit cards international systems are accepted almost everywhere.
You can exchange currency in the Bahamas in shopping centers, hotels and banks, which are usually open on weekdays until 15:00. The most favorable exchange rates are available at international banks located in Freeport and Nassau. There are a large number of ATMs in popular tourist areas, which cannot be said about the peripheral islands, where withdrawing money is quite problematic. Hotels, restaurants and exchange offices may charge quite a large commission for cashing travel checks, so be sure to check their terms and conditions before using their services. It is most profitable to use travel checks in US dollars.
FlightYou cannot fly from Russia to the Bahamas using a direct flight. Most the best option- British Airways flight with a transfer in London (operates five times a week), taking about 13 hours. You can also fly to the USA, and from there, with the help of American airlines, to the capital of the Bahamas - Nassau. The disadvantage of this option is that such a trip requires an American transit visa. From the USA you can also get to the Bahamas by ferry (the trip takes about 5 hours).
ElectricityMains voltage - 110V, 60 Hz. American type sockets.
Car rentTo rent a car in the Bahamas you need an international driver's license, passport and credit card. The driver must be at least 21-23 years old (depending on the rental company). Car rental offices are located at airports, large hotels and in central city areas.
Our adviceThe tourist areas of the Bahamas are quite safe, but you should follow the usual precautions: do not walk around the outskirts at night, watch your wallet, leave valuables in the safe.
You do not need to have any vaccinations to enter the country - they will only be needed if you are arriving in the Bahamas from a hotbed of infectious diseases. It is advisable to be immunized against tuberculosis, diphtheria and hepatitis B. You should also avoid swimming in local fresh water bodies.
Tap water in the main cities is safe, although it tastes salty, so drinking bottled water is recommended. Water outside popular tourist areas may be contaminated and should not be drunk. Dairy products, meat, poultry, vegetables and fruits can be eaten without fear - their safety is monitored.
To protect yourself from the sun, you should use special creams, since the level of insolation in the Bahamas is very high. On excursions, it is advisable to wear light clothing that covers your shoulders.
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brief information
About 6 million tourists vacation in the Bahamas every year. For such a small island country these are huge numbers. Tourists can be understood, because the Bahamas has excellent conditions for a beach holiday, including diving and sailing. Some tourists are also interested in seeing the places that were once “home” to the famous pirates of the Caribbean.
Geography
The Bahamas (officially the Commonwealth of the Bahamas) is a country in the Atlantic Ocean made up of more than 3,000 islands and coral reefs. The Bahamas are north of Cuba and Haiti, northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and southeast of the Florida Peninsula. The total area of the country is 13,938 square meters. km.
The most large islands included in this state are New Providence, Grand Bahama, Andros, Bimini, Inagua, Eleuthera, Cat Island, Long Island, San Salvador, Acklins.
The landscape of all the Bahamas is flat. The highest local peak is Mount Alvernia, whose height reaches 63 meters.
It should be noted that the territory of the Bahamas is subject to frequent hurricanes. Last destructive hurricane occurred in 2005.
Capital of the Bahamas
Nassau is the capital of the Bahamas. More than 250 thousand people now live in this city, which is located on the island of New Providence. Nassau was founded by the British in 1666.
Official language
The official language of the people of the Bahamas is English.
Religion
About 35% of the population is Baptist, about 15% is Anglican, and about 13.5% consider themselves Roman Catholic.
State structure
The Bahamas is a constitutional monarchy governed by a Governor-General appointed by the Queen of Great Britain. The head of government is the Prime Minister.
The bicameral local parliament consists of the Senate (16 senators) and the House of Representatives (38 deputies).
The main political parties are the Progressive Liberal Party and the Free National Movement.
Climate and weather
The climate is subtropical and tropical, strongly influenced by the Gulf Stream (especially in winter). The average annual air temperature is +24-29C. Hurricane season runs from June to November. However, in fact, hurricanes in this country are a rare occurrence. The weather service warns in advance if a hurricane is expected.
The best time to holiday in the Bahamas is winter.
Sea in the Bahamas
The Commonwealth of the Bahamas is surrounded on all sides by the Atlantic Ocean. The average annual water temperature near the shore is +25C.
Culture
IN XVII-XVIII centuries Millions of Africans were brought to the Caribbean islands, under whose influence the modern culture of the inhabitants of the Bahamas was formed.
The main cultural events are festivals, carnivals, fishing competitions and sailing regattas. The most popular of them: in January - Junkanoo Festival, Sailing Regatta, in February - Farmer's Cay Festival, in March - Bacardi Billfish Tournament, in April - Bahamas White Marlin Open, in May - Long Island Regatta, in June - Eleuthera Festival Pineapple, July - Independence Week, August - Cat Island Regatta, September - All Abaco Sailing Regatta, October - Discovery Day, November - Guy Fawkes Day, One Bahamas Music & Heritage Festival, and December - Junkanoo Boxing Day .
Bahamian cuisine
Cuisine, unfortunately, is not one of the main reasons why tourists choose the Bahamas for vacation. Most local restaurants offer so-called dishes. international cuisine. In general, the cuisine of the Bahamas focuses on seafood and fish (mainly sea bass and oysters).
The best restaurants are in Nassau, Cable Beach, Paradise Island, and to a lesser extent Freeport.
Bahamian fish soup is most often prepared with sea bass, adding celery, onions, tomatoes and various spices and herbs (such as thyme), as well as lime juice and a little rum. Many tourists still order turtle soup in restaurants, although turtles themselves have the status of endangered animals.
The national dish of the Bahamas is oysters, which are eaten as a main dish and made into salads and appetizers. Oyster soup is very popular. Each local chef has his own recipe for making this soup. Usually tomatoes, potatoes, sweet peppers, onions, carrots are added to oyster soup. Bay leaf, thyme, and, of course, salt and pepper.
We also recommend trying the unique local oyster fritters - they are made in the shape of balls, served with spicy sauce, as well as “Cracked conch” (fried clams with Creole sauce), baked crab, “Johnnycake” (baked bread with milk, flour and sugar) .
For dessert, we recommend trying local fruits, sour cream apple ice cream, Sapodilla pudding and guava dessert “duff”. The traditional alcoholic drink is rum. The Bahamians have invented several local drinks based on rum (Yellow Bird, Bahama Mama, and Goombay Smash).
Attractions
Tourists, of course, do not expect any serious unique attractions from the Bahamas. However, this small island country also has something to see, because it was discovered by Christopher Columbus himself. After the Spaniards and the British (they captured the Bahamas in the middle of the 17th century), many beautiful houses, churches and forts remained.
Parks and reserves are very popular among tourists - National Park Inagua, Abaco National Park, Man-O-War Reef and Embrister Creek on Cat Island.
Cities and resorts
The largest local cities are West End, Freeport and Nassau. All of these and other localities are excellent beach resorts, especially Nassau.
Some of the best local beaches include the following:
- Cable Beach (New Providence Island)
- Cabbage Beach (Paradise Island)
- Xanadu Beach (Grand Bahama Island)
- Tahiti Beach (Abacos)
- Ten Bay Beach (Eleuthera)
- Pink Sands Beach (Harbor Island)
- Saddle Cay (Exumas)
Also worth highlighting are the beaches on Stocking Island and Cat Island. All beaches of the Bahamas have snow-white sand and are surrounded by coconut palms.
Souvenirs/shopping
Tourists in the Bahamas buy handicrafts, straw baskets, linen towels, local soaps and lotions, bags, wallets, hats, guava jelly, pineapple jam, and rum as souvenirs.
Office hours
Banks:
Mon-Thu: 09:30-15:00
Fri: 09:30-17:00
The shops:
Mon-Sat: 09:00-17:00/18:00
Grocery stores are open on Sundays from 07:00 to 12:00.
Visa
The name of the country comes from the Indian name for “island” - “bahama” and the Indian name for “island” - “bahama”.
Capital of the Bahamas. Nassau.
Area of the Bahamas. 13,935 km2.
Population of the Bahamas. 388,000 people (
Bahamas GDP. $8.511 billion (
Location of the Bahamas. The Bahamas is a state in the West. Located on 700 small islands and two and a half thousand coral reefs, stretching from the southeast coast of Florida to the east coast. About 40 islands are inhabited.
Administrative divisions of the Bahamas. The state is divided into 21 districts.
Form of government of the Bahamas. .
Head of State of the Bahamas. The Queen, who is represented by the Governor-General.
Supreme legislative body of the Bahamas. Bicameral Parliament: Senate and House of Assembly.
Higher executive agency Bahamas. Government.
Major cities of the Bahamas. New Providence, Freeport.
Official language of the Bahamas. English.
Religion of the Bahamas. 32% are Baptists, 20% are Anglicans, 19% are , 6% are Methodists.
Ethnic composition of the Bahamas. 85% are Africans, 15% are British, Americans.
Currency of the Bahamas. Bahamian dollar = 100 cents.
Flora of the Bahamas. The vegetation on the islands is tropical. Thickets of evergreen shrubs and pine forest, on the coast there are groves of coconut palms. Here in Nassau Harbor is the world famous Paradis Island (Paradise Island).
Fauna of the Bahamas. The islands are home to a large number of birds and virtually no mammals. Many tropical fish species.
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The Commonwealth of the Bahamas is an island archipelago, in which out of 700 islands, 30 are inhabited. The Bahamas are located 90 km from Florida in the Atlantic Ocean. In the Caribbean, these islands are located in the very north. The islands of Abacos, Andros, Acklins, Exumas, Berry, Biminis and some others are considered the largest in the archipelago. The total area of the state is approximately 14 thousand square meters. km. The capital is Nassau. This is the largest city in the country, which is both its cultural and commercial center.
Population of the Bahamas
The number of inhabitants of the Bahamas is approximately 366 thousand people. Blacks and mulattoes make up more than 80% of the population.
Nature in the Bahamas
Hundreds of kilometers of white sand beaches, 2,500 coral reefs, clear coastal waters heated by the Gulf Stream have long been associated by most vacationers with the concept of “luxury vacation.” The untouched nature of most of the islands attracts crowds of tourists. Inagua Island is home to rare pink flamingos and iguanas.
Climatic conditions
The Bahamas has a humid subtropical climate. The rainy season begins in May and lasts until October. Thanks to the soft wind from the equator, winter is very warm with a temperature of +15°C, and in summer due to trade winds the temperature does not exceed +32°C. The warm Gulf Stream washing the Bahamas from the west contributes to warming sea water up to approximately +25°C throughout the year.
Language
In the Bahamas, the only official language is English. The entire population of the country speaks it fluently.
Kitchen
The cuisine in the Bahamas consists of fruits and all kinds of fish, crab and seafood dishes. The main ingredient in most dishes is the conch shellfish. It is a well-known aphrodisiac and is widely used here. In the Bahamas they like to cook very spicy dishes, combining them with lime juice. And coconuts are even used in ice cream.
Currency of the Bahamas
The national currency is the Bahamian dollar. It is equivalent to the US dollar, and therefore US currency is also freely used in the Bahamas.
Religion
In the Bahamas, the island population is Christian, but belonging to other religious denominations is not condemned, thanks to complete freedom of religion.
Holidays
Boxing Day is celebrated in the Bahamas on December 26th. This very solemn and bright event is considered traditional for everyone. former colonies Britain. The holiday is very colorful, in the form of a colorful carnival, which begins at midnight on Bay Street.
Major resorts in the Bahamas
The most visited resorts in the Bahamas are located on the islands of Paradise, Grand Bahama and New Providence. The island of Grand Bahama has a golf course, tennis courts, and you can go underwater fishing and diving. On the island of Inagua you can swim with dolphins.
Attractions
In the center of the capital of the Bahamas is the famous Parliament Square, where in the 19th century the buildings of Parliament, the Supreme Court and the Colonial Administration were built around the statue of Queen Victoria.
The Nassau Underwater Aquarium, Retreat Gardens and the beautiful beaches of Cable Beach are perfect for nature lovers. Not far from the center of the capital is Fort Charlotte, which was built back in 1788. Tourists will not be left indifferent by the labyrinth, which resembles the ruined Atlantis. A unique tunnel that passes under water and amazes with the beauty of the underwater world has no analogues in the world. "Sea Gardens" is a place where you can get acquainted with the rich flora and fauna of the underwater world. Handmade souvenirs created by local craftsmen from clay, straw and shells are very popular all over the world.
But the main attraction of the islands is unique nature. Walking to the reefs, visiting natural areas where flamingos live, observing the underwater world of the Atlantic will be an interesting pastime for all tourists.