Bahamas - Featured Caribbean Island

Excerpts from Wikipedia
The Commonwealth of The Bahamas is an English-speaking country located in the Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida and the United States, north of Cuba, and north of the island of Hispanola and the Caribbean. The Commonwealth of the Bahamas consists of approximately two thousand cays (pronounced "keys") and seven hundred islands.

The Islands Of The Bahamas form a 100,000-sq-mile archipelago that spans over 500 miles of clear, blue waters. The total estimated footprint of the 700 islands of the Bahamas, including uninhabited cays and large rocks, covers an area of 5,382 sq. miles, with Cat Island having the highest land elevation of 206 ft. As of the most recent census, the overall population of the combined Islands Of The Bahamas is approximately 305,000.


One of the world's longest barrier reef and approximately 14.5 percent of the world's coral can be found in the pristine waters of the Bahamas. The islands are made entirely of calcium carbonate, produced mostly by the organisms of coral reefs. Interestingly enough, there are no rivers in The Bahamas.

The Bahamas offers a variety of vacation spots and inland attractions to its international visitors. Islands are surrounded by cays. Some cays are bordered by uninhabited rocks. There are 14 main islands that serve as hubs for the remaining 686 islands, with beautiful cays from which to choose, offering a challenging exercise to any vacationer.

Language
English is the official language of The Islands Of The Bahamas. Anyone with a reasonable command of the English language should have little trouble getting around, understanding the street signs, shopping and ordering meals at restaurants, and other normal requirements.

Nevertheless, the people of the region do have a dialect, and this may require a visitor to pay keen attention to the dialog or ask the native Bahamian to repeat what they say. Like many English-speaking Caribbean islands, Bahamian English is an intriguing combination of African languages, the Queen's English, and island patois. However, after gaining a grasp of the dialect, regular conversations with the Bahamian becomes a breeze.

Government and Politics
The Bahamas is an independent country and a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Political and legal traditions closely follow those of the United Kingdom.


Queen Elizabeth II is the ceremonial head of state, represented by a Bahamian governor-general. The Prime Minister is the head of government and is the leader of the party with the most seats in the elected House of Assembly. The upper house (the Senate) is appointed. Executive power is exercised by the cabinet. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of parliament.

The party system is dominated by the centre-left Progressive Liberal Party and the centre-right Free National Movement. Additional parties include the Bahamas Democratic Movement, the Coalition for Democratic Reform and the Bahamian Nationalist Party.

Constitutional safeguards include freedom of speech, press, worship, movement, and association. Although The Bahamas is not geographically located in the Caribbean, it is a member of the Caribbean Community. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. Jurisprudence is based on English common law.

Getting Around in the Bahamas
Since the curious vacationer would like to take advantage of sight-seeing most of the constituent islands of the bahamas during the vacation, there are many options available for touring each island in The Bahamas, and skipping from island to island. It is essential the vacationer is at least 21 years old with a valid driver's license for all types of rentals. Visitors can present their personal driver’s license for up to three months and/or may choose to secure an international driver's license. However, for vacationers, especially those from the United States, it is important to remember that on the streets of the Bahamas, drivers must keep to the left. Taxi service is easily secured by telephone. Normally, taxi stands are conveniently located close by at many large hotels, and if in a hurry, one can also wave down a taxi in the street. Although metered rates vary by island, prices are reasonable and fixed by law. Surcharges may apply for more than two passengers and/or extra luggage. While bicycles are not customarily available for rental on the Islands, there are a few all-inclusive properties that provide bicycles for use by their guests.

Nassau
Nassau, capital city of The Bahamas, resides on New Providence Island, neighbor to Paradise Island. This island pair maintains a distinct blend of international glamor and tropical ease, giving travelers freedom to do everything or nothing at all.

Grand Bahama Island
With its impressive combination of ecological wonders and manmade attractions, Grand Bahama Island generously offers something for everyone, including two or three vacations in one. The challenge is deciding which to try first.

The Out Islands
There are several islands in the archipelago that are called the Out Islands because they are the most remote islands in The Bahamas. Out on the Out Islands activities are virtually unlimited. The Vacationer will find the choice between islands and cays an unending challenge, while further out into the Archipelago, the closer one gets to the real Bahamian culture. No matter what Out Island you settle on you can be as relaxed or as active as you choose to be. The Out Islands include:
- Acklins/Crooked Island
- Andros
- Bimini
- Cat Island
- Eleuthera/Harbour Island
- Inagua
- Long Island
- Mayaguana
- San Salvador
- The Abacos
- The Berry Islands
- The Exumas
For more information on the Islands of the Bahamas please visit www.bahamas.com