1 GeoFroggy

Bahamas, The

Continent: Central America and the Caribbean

Geography

People &
Society

Government

Economy

Energy

Communications

Military &
Security

Transportation

Terrorism

Transnational Issues
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Background

Lucayan Indians inhabited the islands when Christopher Columbus first set foot in the New World on San Salvador in 1492. British settlement of the islands began in 1647; the islands became a colony in 1783. Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973, The Bahamas have prospered through tourism and international banking and investment management. Because of its geography, the country is a major transshipment point for illegal drugs, particularly shipments to the US, and its territory is used for smuggling illegal migrants into the US.

Location

Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba

Area Comparative

Slightly smaller than Connecticut

Maritime Claims

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate
Tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream

Natural Hazards

Hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and wind damage

Environment Current Issues

Coral reef decay; solid waste disposal

Environment International Agreements

Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

Signed, but not ratified: None of the selected agreements

Geography Note

Strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain of which 30 are inhabited
Year

Map Reference

  • Central America and the Caribbean

Irrigated Land 2003

  • 10 sq km

Area 2006

  • Total
    13,940 sq km
  • Land
    10,070 sq km
  • Water
    3,870 sq km

Coastline

  • 3,542 km

Geographical Coordinates

  • 24 15 N, 76 00 W

Land use 2006

  • Arable Land
    0.58%
  • Permanent Crops
    0.29%
  • Other
    99.13%

Terrain

  • Long
  • Flat coral formations with some low rounded hills

Elevation

  • Lowest Point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
  • Highest Point: Mount Alvernia, on Cat Island 63 m

Land Boundaries

    0 km

Natural Resources

  • Salt
  • Aragonite
  • Timber
  • Arable land
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