Where is the Bahamas located? The capital of the state, sights. Bahamas on the world map. Where are

BAHAMAS

(Commonwealth of the Bahamas)

General information

Geographical position. The Bahamas is a country in the West Indies. The country is located on 700 small islands and islets and almost two and a half thousand coral reefs, which stretch for 1,200 square meters. km from south- east coast Florida to the east coast of Cuba. About 40 islands are inhabited.

Square. The territory of the Bahamas occupies 13,935 square meters. km.

main cities, Administrative division. The capital of the Bahamas is Nassau. The largest cities: Nassau (171 thousand people), New Providence (171 thousand people), Freeport (25 thousand people).

Political system

The Bahamas are part of the Commonwealth. The head of state is the Queen of Great Britain, represented by the Governor General. The head of government is the prime minister. The legislature is a bicameral parliament.

Nature

Relief. Bahamas located on the outskirts of flat-topped underwater hills, composed mainly of coral limestones. The submerged areas of underwater elevations are vast shallow waters teeming with coral reefs. The surface of the islands is flat, up to 60 m high.

Geological structure and minerals. The bowels of the country do not contain any significant resources.

Climate. The climate is tropical trade winds, with a rainy season from May to October. Precipitation is 1,100 - 1,600 mm, hurricanes are frequent.

Inland waters. There are many salt lakes on the islands (connected to the sea), there are practically no rivers.

Soils and vegetation. Bahamas - worldwide famous resort, famous for its beaches, tropical vegetation and the so-called Paradise Island ( paradise island) in Nassau harbor.

Animal world. There are many birds in the Bahamas and almost no mammals.

Population and language

The population is 279 thousand people. Ethnic groups: blacks-85%, whites (British, Canadians, Americans) - 15%. English language.

Religion

Baptists - 32%, Anglicans - 20%, Catholics - 19%, Methodists - 6%.

Brief historical sketch

In ancient times, Indians lived on the islands. In 1492, the islands were discovered by the Spaniards. Since 1783 it has been a British colony. In 1964 they received internal self-government. Since July 1973 an independent state.

Brief economic essay

The basis of the economy is foreign tourism. Enterprises of oil refining, cement, pharmacological industries. Logging. Grow pineapples, citrus fruits, tomatoes, sugar cane. Catching fish and seafood (lobsters, turtles, oysters). About 80% of food is imported. Export: petroleum products, medicines, rum.

Currency unit- Bahamian dollar.

A Brief Outline of Culture

Art and architecture. Nassau. Parliament building and courthouse; Government House (built 1801) - the official residence of the Governor General; "sea gardens"; Fort Scarlet (1789); Fort Fincastle (1793); botanical garden "Adastra Gardens", which presents many tropical and subtropical plants; Jambi Village - reconstruction of the British settlement of the XVIII century.

Surely, many tourists have repeatedly wondered: Where exactly are the Bahamas located? Bahamas - so affectionately called the Bahamas Russian tourists. These islands are an archipelago in the Atlantic between Cuba and Florida. About seven hundred islands are scattered at a short distance from each other, creating this paradise, however, only thirty islands are inhabited.

The Bahamas, just like the Maldives, have long been on the list of the best luxury resorts peace. Every person who loves to actively relax and travel has long dreamed of visiting these heavenly places.

Bahamas on the world map

Also, the Bahamas are not just famous resort, it is also an offshore zone with largest center gaming business. Famous businessmen, and just rich people, often stay here for months, enjoying the beauty of this marvelous resort. And, of course, the most amazing and beautiful place here are white sandy beaches. Kilometers white sand bathed in warm clear waters, incredible beauty Coral reefs, blue clear sky - all this is collected in one place.

Most visited islands in the Bahamas

Despite the countless number of islands, the main concentrations of tourists can be observed only on a few. The first island is Great Abaco. It annually hosts world-famous sailing regattas. Well, lovers of fishing here, too, will not be left out of work. There are also quite a few different duty-free shops on the island, so you can do shopping to your heart's content.

The second island most visited by tourists is Long Island (translated from English. Long Island). Perhaps this is the most beautiful place in the Bahamas: amazing vegetation, rare exotic species birds and more. In addition to everything previously listed, on this island there is famous beach Santa Maria, which is rightfully called by many experts and tourists one of the best in the world.

And the last place visited is the many small islands, united by one name Exuma. This place is famous for its unrealistically beautiful ebb and flow. And rightfully deserved honor and fame among yachtsmen and diving enthusiasts who know a lot about this business. In general, an incredibly beautiful and lovely place to stay.

We hope that we have helped you better know where the Bahamas are.

Bahamas on the world map

Tropical islands, washed by the warm current of the Gulf Stream, annually attract thousands of vacationers to their snow-white sandy beaches. This international center tourism and diving, a major offshore center and the richest state in the region. The islands themselves are made up of coral and reef limestone. There are extensive shallow waters, the largest of which is the Great Bahama Bank, which stretches for 530 kilometers.

The surface of the island is mostly flat, karst phenomena are noted, leading to the appearance of underground and underwater caves. The coastline of the islands abounds sandy beaches, many salt lakes that communicate with the ocean. There are practically no rivers in the Bahamas, so there are problems with fresh water. Clean fresh water has to be extracted from deep karst wells.

Map of the Bahamas in Russian

The vegetation on the islands is represented by evergreen shrubs, cacti and mango thickets, a significant part of the territory is occupied by savannah. Evergreens grow on large islands rainforests, and along the coast - coconut palms.
The climate of the Bahamas is a trade wind, tropical, here almost all year round - summer. Even in January the temperature does not drop below +22°C. Winters are dry and short, while summers are hot and rainy. The rainy season lasts from May to October, with frequent hurricanes.

You can talk endlessly about the sights of the Bahamas. It's famous National parks and reserves, historical, natural and architectural monuments, luxury hotels and casinos with bright nightlife. It is interesting to visit ancient churches and relax in modern tourist complexes to visit magnificent botanical gardens and descend into the underwater kingdom to get acquainted with its inhabitants, see unique coral reefs and underwater caves. Photo materials used from Wikimedia © Foto, Wikimedia Commons

The full name of the state is the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The state consists of more than 3,000 islands, reefs and islets. The Bahamas are located north of Cuba and Haiti and not far from Florida.

Originally inhabited by Lucayans, originally from the Arawak tribe, the Bahamas became the first stop of Christopher Columbus back in 1492. Although the Spanish never colonized the Bahamas, they sent the Lucayans into slavery in Haiti, with the result that the islands were almost empty by 1513. In 1648, English colonists landed on the island of Eleuthera. Bermuda, and in 1718 the Bahamas became a crown colony.

Today, the constitutional monarchy remains the form of government in the state, Queen Elizabeth II is represented by the Governor General. The Bahamas has a parliamentary system of government, in which power is in the hands of a bicameral Parliament.

The religious composition of the population of the Bahamas is diverse: 35.4% are Baptists, 15.1% Anglicans, 13.5% Catholics, 15.2% of the population belong to other Christian denominations, another part represent Methodists, Pentecostals, the Church of God, are atheists or undecided.

The economy of the state is based on tourism. It accounts for more than 60% of GDP. In addition, the tourism sector provides employment for more than half of the country's working population.

Climate and weather

The north of the Bahamas is in the zone of a tropical trade wind climate, and in the south the climate is subtropical. It is formed by the warm current of the Gulf Stream, the influence of which is dangerous, as it provokes hurricanes in summer. Precipitation falls as rain from May to October.

The temperature in summer fluctuates between +26…+32 °C. On southern islands the temperature can reach +40 ° C, but thanks to the trade winds, the heat is easily tolerated. In winter, the temperature is within +18…+22.

You can go on vacation to the Bahamas at any time of the year, but in the summer southern beaches it can be very hot.

Nature

By geological structure The Bahamas is a limestone plateau. Average Height above sea level is 30 m, and highest point Bahamas - Mount Alvernia on the island of Ket, rising 63 meters above sea level. Many of the islands have mangrove swamps, salty lagoons and sandy beaches due to the salt-laden limestone coming to the surface. There are practically no rivers on the islands, therefore fresh water very little.

The flora of the Bahamas is not very diverse and is represented by undersized shrubs, cacti, and aloe. Grow orchids, jasmine.

The fauna is also not very diverse. There are snakes, frogs, bats in the Bahamas, flamingos in swamps and salt lagoons. In addition, flocks here to spend the winter a large number of migratory birds.

But the underwater world of the Bahamas is simply amazing. In the corals at the bottom of the ocean, there are many types of fish that divers love so much. Mackerel and barracuda can be found in lagoons and backwaters. There are sea turtles. A huge number of corals, mollusks, sponges live on the reefs.

Attractions

The Bahamas are considered the richest country in the region. On each island of the archipelago there is a highlight that will attract any tourist.

IN the Bahamian capital Nassau has many interesting places. For example, you can walk along Bay Street - a street with numerous shops, boutiques; or visit the Adastra Gardens, the Retreat Gardens, an underwater aquarium or the famous Cable Beach - an area of ​​sandy beaches, hotels, casinos. The heart of the city central square with buildings Supreme Court, Parliament, Colonial Administration. calling card city ​​is the Atlantis Hotel. The most visited places by tourists are the old water tower With beautiful view to the city and the Queen Victoria staircase with 66 steps carved into the rock.

The city of Freeport is suitable for lovers of water sports, active rest, golf and tennis. It is also worth visiting the Garden of the Groves, monuments ancient culture Arawak Indians, Rand Memorial Park.

The city of New Bight on Ket Island has unique monument architecture - the Hermitage, built on top of Mount Alvernia. The Hermitage was built by an apostate priest in 1939. The work of Father Jerome belongs to the Church of the Savior on the same island and many beautiful monasteries and temples built on other islands of the archipelago.

Nutrition

Seafood is the basis Bahamian cuisine. The national ingredient of the Bahamians is the conch sea snail. All kinds of salads, snacks, soups are prepared from this snail.

Can not imagine local cuisine without dishes from rice and peas. Spiny lobster is the most expensive dish. For a very long time, various dishes and soup from sea ​​turtles which led this species of reptiles to extinction. It is worth trying the sea bass dish, which is served with a sauce of mushrooms, onions, spices and white wine.

Dessert is usually served with fruits (melons, pineapples, papayas, mangoes), drinks, the key ingredient of which is rum, as well as the famous Bahamian johnny cake buns. From non-alcoholic drinks, tea, coffee, Pepsi-Cola are found here.

Bahamian cuisine borrowed a lot from British, American and African, but adapted it to local conditions and opportunities.

In large cities there are a large number of restaurants, cafes and bars. Average bill per person per inexpensive cafe will be 10-15 $. In the midst tourist season many cafes and restaurants are overcrowded, so you should take care in advance not to be left without, for example, dinner.

Accommodation

In the Bahamas, there is no classification system for hotels and inns, so the assignment of a "star" level here is made either by the owner of the rented premises or by the tour operator. Holidays in the Bahamas are considered very prestigious and expensive, so most hotels work on an all-inclusive basis.

As a rule, guesthouses are located on the coast, which are mainly rented out to divers and surfers. Service in guesthouses may not always be at the highest level, but it corresponds to its prices.

There are also hotel complexes consisting of bungalows. There are eco-hotels that use only natural products for food and take electricity from solar panels.

If staying at a hotel is not included in the tourist's plans, there is always the opportunity to rent a room from the local population.

Entertainment and recreation

Most people go to the Bahamas for beach holiday, diving and surfing. coastal zone The archipelago is replete with beautiful sandy beaches, the most famous and popular of which is pink beach on Harbor Island. by the most expensive place beach holiday is the island of Eleuthera.

A large number of shallow reefs attract beginner divers. Under water there is something to see - sunken ships, underwater caves. Underwater feeding of sharks on the islands of Abaco, New Providence, Long Island is very popular. Lovers less extreme recreation swimming with dolphins will be offered.

Most hotels include service water sports sports, some offer them for separate fee. New Providence, Harbor Island and Grand Bahama have a large number of water sports centers.

The Jonkonu festival is held twice a year in the Bahamas. Colorful processions are accompanied by musical performances and fireworks. Freeport hosts the National Windsurfing Championship every January. The Music Fest takes place in the last week of May. July 10 is Independence Day. At the end of September, the Bahamas Wine and Cooking Festival is held.

Nassau and Freeport have a large number of bars, restaurants, clubs for lovers of nightlife.

Purchases

Shops in the Bahamas are open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, followed by a lunch break and reopening from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

The world-famous Bay Street shopping street is located in the old part of Nassau, and next to it is the Straw Market. In these places you can buy a variety of goods, ranging from fashionable clothes of world brands to exquisite jewelry, accessories and handmade souvenirs.

Second popular place for shopping - small island Paradise. Here, avid shopaholics will find everything their heart desires at affordable prices.

Shopping is best done in the morning weekday, since at this time they are the least crowded.

Prices for goods in the Bahamas are commensurate with American ones. lovers beautiful life you will have to pay about $ 200 per day. Those who are more modest in needs will meet $ 70-150 per day. And don't forget that the Bahamas has a duty-free system.

Transport

The Bahamas has two major international airports - international Airport named Lindel Pindling in Nassau and Grand Bahama International Airport in Freeport. In addition to these main ones, there are about 60 smaller airports in the Bahamas. Nassau, Freeport and Matthew Town have seaports.

Railway communication, as well as public transport, not in the Bahamas. The movement is carried out on cars, motorcycles, bicycles, which can be rented. There is a taxi in the capital. The fare is regulated by the government. So, the cost for a quarter mile when traveling in a taxi will cost $ 2, then the fare will be 30 cents per quarter mile.

Communication between the islands is carried out by ferries and boats.

Length highways is 2700 km, half of which is paved.

Connection

The communication system in the archipelago is well developed. Payphones are found everywhere, you can make international calls from them, and payment is made using a phone card. The rooms of almost every hotel have a telephone from which you can make local calls or make an international call through the operator, although this will be 10-15% more expensive than from a payphone.

Mobile communications are also well developed. Local telecom operators provide 100% coverage of the territory of the state.

Internet provider BaTelNet provides almost all types of services. The connection cost is on average $5 per hour.

Safety

Going to the Bahamas, it is not necessary, but it is advisable to be vaccinated against hepatitis B, diphtheria and tuberculosis. The high prevalence of HIV and AIDS in this region should also be taken into account.

Customs control is quite democratic. There is no restriction on the import and export of foreign currency, but the export of local Money, the amount of which exceeds $ 70, must be accompanied by permission from the Central Bank of the Bahamas. The import ban applies to drugs, explosives, weapons (without special permission).

The local population is quite friendly and ready to help if needed. However, there are some restrictions and prohibitions. Not allowed fishing using underwater guns and other devices for these purposes.

Local authorities are waging a tough fight against drug trafficking: even for use, imprisonment can be threatened.

In the Bahamas, petty crimes such as pickpocketing and theft are quite common, so you need to be careful. It is undesirable for girls and women to take walks alone after dark.

There is practically no state supervision of local firms offering services for active species sport, which entails frequent accidents and fatalities during underwater fishing, diving, surfing.

Traffic in the Bahamas is on the left.

Business climate

The Bahamas are considered a paradise for businessmen. It is possible to register any offshore companies here. But it should be borne in mind that the purchase of real estate imposes a ban on doing business. However, it is very profitable to invest in business real estate. There are benefits for hotel owners.

There is no income tax, corporate tax, inheritance tax, property tax in the Bahamas.

Real estate

Foreign citizens have the right to purchase in the Bahamas both building land and other types of real estate: villas, apartments, townhouses. There is a limit on the area purchased foreign citizens real estate - it should not exceed 2 hectares, otherwise a special permit is required. An application for obtaining a permit to acquire real estate must contain information about the buyer and seller, a description of the object and the purpose of its acquisition. After selecting an object in writing, a purchase offer is made and an advance payment is made.

It is best to entrust the registration of real estate to a lawyer. The presence of the parties is not required. Purchased real estate is subject to mandatory insurance and registration with the Investment Council.

The average cost of 1 sq.m. comfortable housing in the Bahamas is $ 7,000. Buying a bungalow will cost $300,000-500,000, villas $500,000 or more, and a penthouse $1,000,000-3,000,000.

To travel to the Bahamas, you need to apply for a visa at the British Embassy. A visa is issued for a period of up to 90 days, unless it concerns employment.

Despite the high cost of services, you can save money in the Bahamas. Many hotels offer guests discount cards to enter nightclubs for $5. This is a very advantageous offer, given that on weekends the entrance to the club costs from $50.

Prices for imported spirits are very high, so if you want to save on alcohol, it is better to order local drinks, such as rum and beer.

Keep in mind that tips in the Bahamas range from 10 to 15%, and some restaurants and hotels include them in the bill in advance.

The Commonwealth of the Bahamas is an island archipelago in which 30 of the 700 islands are inhabited. The Bahamas are located 90 km from Florida in the Atlantic Ocean. IN Caribbean these islands are in the very north. The islands of Abakos, Andros, Aklins, Exumas, Berry, Biminis and some others are considered the largest in the archipelago. total area state is approximately 14 thousand square meters. km. The capital is Nassau. This The largest city 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 beaches white sand, 2500 coral reefs, transparent coastal waters heated by the Gulf Stream, have long been associated with the concept of " luxury vacation». Untouched nature most of the islands attract crowds of tourists. On the island of Inagua there are rare pink flamingos and iguanas.

Climatic conditions

The Bahamas has a humid subtropical climate. The rainy season starts in May and lasts until October. Due to the mild wind from the equator, the winter is very warm with a temperature of +15°C, and in summer, due to the trade winds, the temperature is not higher than +32°C. The warm Gulf Stream washing the Bahamas from the west contributes to warming sea ​​water up to about +25°C throughout the year.

Language

The only one in the Bahamas official language- English. It is freely spoken by the entire population of the country.

Kitchen

The cuisine in the Bahamas is fruit and all kinds of fish, crab and seafood dishes. The main ingredient of most dishes is the sea shellfish "konk". This is a well-known aphrodisiac, widely used here. In the Bahamas, people like to cook very spicy dishes, combining them with lime juice. And coconuts are used even in ice cream.

Currency of the Bahamas

The national currency is the Bahamian dollar. In relation to the US dollar, it is equivalent, and therefore the American 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 religion.

Holidays

December 26th is Boxing Day in the Bahamas. 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.

The main resorts of the Bahamas

The most visited resorts in the Bahamas are located on the Paradise Islands, Grand Bahama and New Providence. Grand Bahama Island has a golf course, tennis courts, spearfishing and diving. On Inagua Island, 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 the Parliament, the Supreme Court and the Colonial Administration were built around the statue of Queen Victoria.

Nassau Underwater Aquarium, Retreat Gardens, beautiful beaches Cable Beach is 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 indifferent to the labyrinth, which resembles the ruined Atlantis. A unique tunnel passing under water and striking beauty 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. Walks to the reefs, visits to the natural corners in which flamingos live, observation of underwater world The Atlantic will become an entertaining pastime for all tourists.