The capital city, Nassau, is located on the small (80 square miles) but important New Providence Island. Other islands, known collectively as the Family (or Out) Islands, include Grand Bahama (530 square miles), which contains the major settlements of Freeport and West End; Andros (2,300 square miles), the largest island; Great Abaco (372 square miles); and Eleuthera, site of one of the early attempts at colonization. In spite of the concentration of the population in urban centres (especially Nassau and Freeport) devoted to tourism, the traditional pattern of small farming and fishing prevails in many villages, notably in the southeastern islands.

The strategic position of the Bahama Islands, which lie at the geographic centre of the New World landmass, commanding the gateway to the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and the entire Central American region, has given the history of the islands a unique and often striking character. It was there that Christopher Columbus made his original landfall in the Americas. The subsequent fate of the peaceful original inhabitants remains one of the more tragic episodes in the development of the entire region, while the early attempts at European-dominated settlement were marked by intense national rivalries, interspersed with long periods of lawlessness and piracy. As a result, the society and culture that has evolved in The Bahamas is a distinctive blend of European and African heritages, the latter a legacy of the slave trade. The islands, lacking natural resources other than their magnificent climate and dazzling beaches, have become heavily dependent on the income generated by the extensive tourist facilities that have been developed, often as a result of the injection of foreign capital. The continued popularity of the islands, largely with North American tourists, has maintained a relatively high standard of living among the population, most of whom are black.

Physical and human geography

Extensive areas of flatland, generally a few feet in elevation, are the dominant topographic features of the major islands; Bimini, for example, has an elevation of only 20 feet (six metres). A number of islands fronting the Atlantic have a range or series of ranges of hills on their northeastern side and parallel to the longer axis of the island. These are formed of sand washed ashore and blown inland by the trade winds. The newer hills adjacent to the seashore are normally sand dunes. Solidity increases toward the interior, where the particles become cemented to form Bahama limestone. Eleuthera and Long Island have the greatest number of hills exceeding 100 feet, and the highest point, 206 feet (63 metres), is on Cat Island. Beneath the soil, the islands are composed of the skeletal remains of coral and other marine organisms. There are no rivers, but several islands--particularly New Providence, San Salvador, and Great Inagua--have large lakes.

Climate

The Bahamian climate, mild throughout the year, is one of the great attractions of the area. The average temperature varies from 70 F (21 C) during the winter to 81 F (27 C) during the summer, and extremes seldom fall below 60 F (16 C) or rise above 90 F (32 C). The average annual rainfall is about 44 inches (1,120 millimetres), occurring mostly during the summer months. Prevailing winds, coming from the northeast in winter and from the southeast in summer, lend a cooling influence to a generally humid atmosphere. Hurricanes present something of a threat during the period from mid-July to mid-November and have occasionally caused great destruction.

Plant and animal life

Extensive and beautiful forests of Caribbean pine are found on Grand Bahama, Great Abaco, Andros, and New Providence. Hardwood forests, known locally as "coppices," also occur on some of the islands. Elsewhere, the woody vegetation consists mostly of shrubs and low trees. Animal life is dominated by frogs, lizards, and snakes, all of them nonpoisonous, and several species of bats are found in caves along the more rocky coasts. Larger animals include the agouti, a rodent; the raccoon; the iguana; and the elegant flamingo, the national bird. All of these have been much reduced in numbers and in distribution. In addition, several animals--notably sheep, horses, and other livestock--have been introduced from Europe. The surrounding waters abound with fish and other edible marine animals, such as conch and crayfish.

Settlement patterns

The centres of population are widely distributed on each island. Some are located to the leeward, where it is calm and sheltered--for example, Cat Island--and others face the north and northeastern sides, where they are exposed to the northeast trade winds--as in the case of the Abaco Cays. Main settlements usually occur where there is a natural harbour or at least accessibility for shipping. There has been a marked shift of population from fishing and farming villages to the centres of tourist and commercial activity. Most of the population movement has been to New Providence, Grand Bahama, and Great Abaco.

The people

A minority of the population is descended from English pioneer settlers and loyalist refugees. Most of the population is of African descent, many with varying amounts of Caucasian blood. There are also minorities of Greeks, Syrians, Haitians, and other West Indians. English is the only language native to Bahamians, although since the influx of Haitian immigrants, French or its creole dialect is spoken.

A high percentage of Bahamians are members of Christian churches. Most are Protestants, the largest denominations being Baptist, Church of God, Anglicans, and Methodists. Roman Catholics form a large minority.

About two-thirds of the Bahamian population is concentrated on New Providence Island, which, with Grand Bahama and Great Abaco, has received the most internal migration. The Bahamas' rate of population increase is much higher than the Caribbean average, primarily because of immigration from the United States and other West Indian islands. The rate of natural population increase is about equal to the Caribbean mean, but both the birth and death rates are less than the average for the West Indies as a whole.

The economy

The major economic activities that sustained The Bahamas until the mid-20th century were farming and fishing. During the latter part of the 19th century, sponge fishing and the production of pineapple and sisal were important. Sponge fishing was the major industry between the 1860s and 1938, but it declined and has been replaced by tourism. Banking has become the second most important industry, and The Bahamas is growing as an international financial centre. Crayfishing contributes significantly to the economy.

Industry

Manufacturing industries include food-processing plants (mainly tomato and pineapple canning and crayfish freezing), a petrochemical refinery and a pharmaceutical factory (mainly producing hormones). Freeport has become the most important centre of industrial development and is second only to Nassau in tourist and commercial activity. Salt is produced by solar evaporation at Inagua. Aragonite, a hard, granular limestone used in the manufacture of cement, steel, petrochemicals, glass, and other products, is mined near Sandy Cay. The government has encouraged the development of small industries, and various forms of food production continue at numerous places for domestic consumption. The Bahamas has an open shipping registry, and the merchant fleet sailing under its flag is one of the world's largest. There is no direct taxation, and customs duties produce the major share of revenue.

Cultural life

Bahamian culture reflects the origins of its people and has also been influenced by the peoples of nearby islands. Outstanding among traditional group activities is the Junkanoo parade on Boxing Day and New Year's Day in Nassau. The main thoroughfare is given over to hundreds of gaily bedecked celebrants who, with clanging cowbells and beating drums, march and dance to a goombay rhythm of African origin. Island folklore includes stories of a three-toed, human-faced creature called the Chickcharney and the workings of Obeah, a brand of witchcraft. In Nassau, Bahamian drama and art have come into their own. There is a repertory season at the Dundas Centre for the Performing Arts that includes serious drama, musicals, and dancing. Various drama groups also present musicals and drama in the off-season. Works of art can be seen at the various galleries. The National Trust is concerned with the preservation of wildlife and historic buildings, and the Department of Archives preserves public and private records, making them accessible to the public. The Historical Society promotes local history.

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