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General Information

The Bahamas, with an estimated land area of about 5,383 square miles, lie about 50 miles off the coast of Florida. There are over 700 islands and islets and another 2400 cays composed of mainly limestone and coral. Fourteen of the major islands and a few of the smaller islands and cays are inhabited.

The climate is generally excellent, considered marine tropical, with predominantly easterly winds and average year round temperature of 70 degrees farenheight.

Bahamians are friendly, laid back people primarily of African (85%) and European (15%) descent. Religion is an integral part of their lives, with Christianity bring the most popular. Churches are found in most every town and village.

Although Calypso music is heard everywhere in the Bahamas, the official music is the fast tempo Goombay. The drumbeat can be traced back to early slaves on the islands, and is a basis for story telling and dancing. Junkaroo, a music and dance form that originated in the Bahamas is now a festival of the same name held Dec 26th and Jan 1. Lively competitions are held where people in brightly colored costumes dance to drums, whistles, horns, and bells while parading past the judges to compete for best costume and dance performance. The grandest celebration is usually held in Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas.

The local cuisine is spicy and as one would expect, seafood is a staple on the islands. Conch, a mollusk, is usually eaten fresh with lime juice and spices, although it is also served deep fried and known as cracked conch when served in this manner. Other commonly seafood dishes includes rock lobster, crabs, and boiled fish. The influence of the Southern American inhabitants on the cuisine is seen with the ever-popular fish and grits.

With a diverse culture and each island having its own unique traits, there are a variety of activities in the Bahamas. You will find a multitude of things to do and explore whether it be snorkeling, diving, fishing, shopping, visiting nightclubs, or relaxing on the beach. There is something for everyone.

History

The Arawaks who traveled throughout the Caribbean islands from South America were the original inhabitants that settled the Bahamas. Christopher Columbus first discovered San Salvador in the eastern Bahamas in 1492 and noting the shallow waters, named the area “baja mar” meaning low sea. Due to this name, the area later becomes known as Bahamas.

Eleutheran’s, the first English settlers, arrived in 1647 searching for religious freedom and established a colony on the island of Eleuthera. These people started the first plantations that lead to the agricultural development on the islands. The abolition of slavery in 1834 crippled the agricultural economy.

Through the early 1700’s, the shallow seas of this area attracted pirates who would lure unsuspecting ships into the shallow waters, run them aground, and pirate their goods. The distinction between privateers (sent at the request of the European governments to acquire goods), and pirates (who looted any and all ships they encountered) was often blurred. Some of the well-known pirates who traveled the area include Blackbeard, Calico Jack, Anne Bonny, Mary Read, Sir Henry Morgan, and Captain Kidd. In 1718, Woodes Rogers (the first governor of the Bahamas) finally drove the pirates and buccaneers from the Bahamas.

In the late 1700’s, American colonists from the South of the United States who were loyal to the British, brought their slaves and developed cotton plantations. Their colonial building style and structure influenced much of the homes and city buildings that is evident on the islands today.

During the U.S. civil war, 1861 thru 1865, Bahamians flourished by running ships of cotton from the confederates to the English and returning with military equipment for the confederate armies.

Prosperity returned again in 1919 when prohibition for alcohol in the Unites States ignited smuggling whisky and rum. Once prohibition ended in 1934 the economy collapsed again until World War II when the Bahamas become a way station for the Navy and Air force.

In the 1950’s, tourism and offshore banking started to develop and help strengthen the economy. With the closing of Cuba to American tourists, the Bahamians promoted tourism to Americans and opened their harbors to accommodate more cruise ships. Supporting industries developed and tourism became the mainstay of the economy and remains so for the islands today.

The British granted the Bahamas limited self-government in 1964 and in 1969 thru the efforts of the Progressive Liberal Party was able change their status to a commonwealth. The Bahamas become an independent nation on July 10, l973 now celebrated as the Bahamian Independence Day.

	Featured Accommodations in Bahamas
	Small Hope Bay Lodge
	http://www.smallhope.com
	Email: shbinfo@smallhope.com
	Twenty-one rooms in cottages located directly on the beach, each handbuilt of coral rock and Andros Pine with overhead ceiling fans, locally made furniture, decorated in Androsia Batik fabrics, and all with a view of the sea.more...

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