Quick Facts - The Bahamas
The Arawak Indians were the first inhabitants of the Bahamas. Columbus first landed on Oct. 12, 1492, on the Bahamian island of San Salvador. The British later built settlements on the islands in the 17th century. A crown colony in the early 18th century, The Bahamas became independant on July 10, 1973.
The Bahamas is an archipelago of 700 islands and cays located in the Atlantic Ocean just east of Florida and north of Cuba and the Caribbean. Only 30 of the islands are inhabited.
| Language: |
English |
| Government: |
Independence from UK on 10 July 1973 |
| Capital: | Nassau |
| Size: | Archipelago of 700 islands and cays |
| Location: | Northern Caribbean |
| Sovereign: | Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) |
| Governor: | His Excellency Arthur Hanna |
| Head of Government: | Prime Minister Hubert A. Ingraham (since 4 May 2007) |
| Climate: | mid 70 - 80s°F |
| Rainfall: | 45 inches per year |
| Electricity: | 110 Volts AC |
| Currency: | Bahamian Dollar (US currency widely accepted); US$1.00 = BAH$1.00 (this rate is indicative) |
| Driving: | On left, license required |
| Rentals: | Car, jeeps, boats, bicycles, scooters |
| Airports/Seaports: | Visit this page for more information on travelling to The Bahamas and between its islands. |
| Entry: | Passport and return or onward ticket required. |
| Online Newspaper(s): | The Nassau Guardian |
