Bahamas
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE IN THE WHOLE WORLD!......... :)
Bahamas
These facts about the Bahamas will make your trip to the Bahamas more enriching and enjoyable! The Bahamas is an English speaking independent nation comprised entirely of islands. The Northern portion of the Bahamas island chain is located around 50 miles to the East of the United States at the narrowest point between the two countries. The population of the Bahamas is estimated to be around 307,000. About 60% of the population lives in the capitol city of Nassau.
This unique aquatic nation is comprised of over 700 islands and 2000 cays sprinkled across the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
All that water is why we love the Bahamas. We love to sail, surf, kayak, fish, swim, snorkel, and dive. We love pretty much anything that has to do with the ocean.
The Bahamas archipelago are actually the tops of banks that were formed somewhere between 90,000 and 120 years ago from coral reef formation. The famous pink sand beaches of the Bahamas get their colorful appearance from the broken pieces of seashell mixed in with the sand.
The highest point in the Bahamas is Mount Alvernia on Cat Island, which is 63 meters (over 200 feet) high. Now that's a nice climb! You easily can walk the length and width of many of the smaller cays, which are usually pretty flat. If you do find a hill to climb, it will be worth it. You will be rewarded by some of the most beautiful views you have ever seen!
Who knew that because of this unique geology, we could see some of the most interesting, (and a little spooky), caves with awesome stalactites and stalagmites in them!
During the ice ages, the sea level was much lower, as low as over 250 feet below its present level! One of the most interesting Bahamas facts is that it was during this time that a lot of rainwater erosion took place in the limestone rock that forms the islands. When rain falls from the sky, it absorbs a small amount of carbon dioxide, which causes it to become a weak carbonic acid. This "acid rain" is what carved out the hundreds of vertical and horizontal cave systems that are now below the islands. The cave systems began on dry land until the ice melted, causing the sea level to rise.
Not only does the primordial limestone composition of the Bahamas islands create a favorable environment for caves on land... it also boasts the uncommon feature of submarine caves, also known as Blue Holes! Our favorite blue hole to swim and dive is Dean's Blue Hole on Long Island, Bahamas. One fun Bahamas Fact is that Dean's Blue Hole is the world's deepest blue hole. It is located in the most picturesque little spot called Turtle Cove.
For More About Bahamas Blue Holes, Click Here.
All those caves made great hiding places for pirate treasure, maybe that's why so many pirates made the Bahamas their favorite hangout. How's that for a really cool Bahamas Fact? When you see these hidden grottos, you can just imagine a pirate's delight in finding such a perfect lair!
Bahamas History
There were real life pirates in the Bahamas, but the first human settlers in the Bahamas were South American indians that first arrived in the Bahamas around ninth century AD. Other groups that helped make the Bahamas what it is today were the Spaniards who arrived with Columbus in 1492, the African slaves who were brought to the islands by the Europeans, and English settlers who migrated from Bermuda in 1648 called the Eleutherian Adventurers.
Which brings us back to the pirates, things actually got so out of control for awhile in the Bahamas that they were made into a British crown colony in 1718 just to restore order! And it worked. On July 10, 1973, the Bahamas became a fully independent country with its own government. Click here to learn what the Bahamas Flag represents
The Capital of the Bahamas is Nassau.