Where To Go: BAHAMAS

THE BAHAMAS FROM SPACE

BAHAMAS

NASSAU - CAPITAL

The Bahamas are made up of 700 islands and over a 900km of the Atlantic Ocean. They are reaching from the southern tip of Florida to the south-east of Cuba. The islands are low-levelled and made of corals. From all the 700 islands only 22 islands are inhabited. The reason is that the soil is poor, no deposits of minerals and any other wealth. Under water the corals reefs are teaming with fish and marine life.

The climate is warm all year round. However, they do have a hurricane season and it can have a disastrous effect. The climate, beaches and coral reefs attracts visitors from all over the world. Tourism is the biggest industry. The nearby US is where the most holiday makers come from.

The Bahamas, unfortunately, are also know for offshore business and shipping registration which provides income but also abuse of the system. It is also known for illegal drugs trafficking and the government is trying to stop the trade.

The Taino people moved into the inhabited south Bahamas from Hispaniola and Cuba in the 7th century AD. They became known as the Lucayans. At the time of Christopher Columbus arrival in 1492 there were about 30,000 people. After his arrival the Lucayans were wiped out by exposure to the smallpox and bad treatment.

When Christopher Columbus sailed to the Caribbean Islands in 1492 it is assumed that he landed on the Bahamas Island called San Salvador or Watling Island. When the Spaniards landed they met the native inhabitants called Lucayans. The Spaniards did not bother with the island but took the native inhabitants and sold them on the island of Hispandiola, also in the Caribbean, as slaves.

The British people arrived in the Bahamas in the mid-16th century and for the first 100 years shared the land with buccaneers and pirates.