THE BAHAMAS
Scattered like precious jewels over 3,884 square km of clear tropical sea at the top of the Caribbean, the chain of 700 islands, uninhabited cays and large rocks that make up the “The Bahamas” covers just 13,939 square km of land. Formed mainly of flat coral, with just a few gently rounded hills, the highest point in the entire archipelago is just 206 ft. But despite this shared topography, the character of each island is as individual as the 300,000 people who live here.
The very first people, believed to have arrived from Cuba, were soon followed by Lucayan Indians, 40,000 of whom were living on the islands when Christopher Columbus set out to explore the New World and landed on San Salvador in 1492.
Over the centuries, each new population that has settled in The Bahamas, with their different backgrounds, traditions and beliefs, has shaped Bahamian culture into the unique, colourful patchwork of life and lifestyles that it is today.
The Islands of The Bahamas gained independence from Great Britain on 10 July 1973, which is celebrated as Bahamian Independence Day. As a member of the British Commonwealth, The Bahamas has a symbolic link to Great Britain, with an appointed Governor-General representing the Queen of England, and as an example of the continued British influence on Bahamian government, who continues observance of the historical Changing of the Guards. There is much pomp and ceremony, as the Royal Bahamas Police Force Band performs. The ceremony takes place at Government House (the office and residence of the Governor-General) in Nassau every two weeks.
The trade winds that blow almost continually throughout The Islands of The Bahamas give the islands a warm, agreeable climate, which hardly varies all year round.
The most refreshing time to explore is between September and May, when the temperature averages 21-24°C (70-75°F), with the more northerly islands around 5° cooler than the southern islands.
The rest of the year is a bit warmer, with higher humidity in the summer months and temperatures between 27 and 29°C (80-85°F).
I loved my time on these islands and will I am quite sure return at some point in the future with my camera in hand!
The very first people, believed to have arrived from Cuba, were soon followed by Lucayan Indians, 40,000 of whom were living on the islands when Christopher Columbus set out to explore the New World and landed on San Salvador in 1492.
Over the centuries, each new population that has settled in The Bahamas, with their different backgrounds, traditions and beliefs, has shaped Bahamian culture into the unique, colourful patchwork of life and lifestyles that it is today.
The Islands of The Bahamas gained independence from Great Britain on 10 July 1973, which is celebrated as Bahamian Independence Day. As a member of the British Commonwealth, The Bahamas has a symbolic link to Great Britain, with an appointed Governor-General representing the Queen of England, and as an example of the continued British influence on Bahamian government, who continues observance of the historical Changing of the Guards. There is much pomp and ceremony, as the Royal Bahamas Police Force Band performs. The ceremony takes place at Government House (the office and residence of the Governor-General) in Nassau every two weeks.
The trade winds that blow almost continually throughout The Islands of The Bahamas give the islands a warm, agreeable climate, which hardly varies all year round.
The most refreshing time to explore is between September and May, when the temperature averages 21-24°C (70-75°F), with the more northerly islands around 5° cooler than the southern islands.
The rest of the year is a bit warmer, with higher humidity in the summer months and temperatures between 27 and 29°C (80-85°F).
I loved my time on these islands and will I am quite sure return at some point in the future with my camera in hand!
