Fun Facts about the Bahamas

The Bahamas is a Commonwealth realm located in the Caribbean and is made up of hundreds of islands. The country is a popular tourist destination due to its tropical climate, given that the country enjoys over 340 days of sunlight annually. The following are fun facts about the Bahamas.

The Bahamas covers an area of 5,358 square miles and is made up of over 700 islands in the Atlantic Ocean.
The Bahamas lies in a relatively flat landscape, with the highest elevation in the country being the 207-foot high Mount Alvernia.
The origin of the name “Bahamas” is speculated to be from the ancient Amerindian Taino people who called the region “ba ha ma,” meaning “big upper middle land.”
The Taino (Lucayan) people are believed to be the first inhabitants of the islands, occupying the southern islands as early as the 11th century.
Christopher Columbus led a Spanish expedition which arrived in the Bahamas in 1492 and became the first Europeans to do so.
These early Spanish explorers forced most native Lucayans into slavery. Over 50% of Lucayans died from smallpox during this period.
Later, in 1718, The Bahamas officially became a British colony. The British placed a ban on slavery, which led to an influx of freed slaves into the country.
The Bahamas gained independence from Britain colonial rule on July 10, 1973.
Nassau is the largest city in the Bahamas and is the country’s capital city.
The Bahamas is a member of numerous international organizations including the International Monetary Fund and the United Nations (joined both in 1973).
The Bahamas has strong international relations, particularly with the United States and the United Kingdom.
The country lies in a hurricane-endemic region, and the Bahamas has been hit by devastating hurricanes, including the deadly 1999 Hurricane Floyd.
August is both the hottest and wettest month in the Bahamas.
Due to its tropical beaches, the Bahamas attracts over 5 million visitors annually.
The Bahamas is one of many British Commonwealth realms, and Queen Elizabeth II serves as the country's head of state.
Defense of the country is mandated to the Royal Bahamas Armed Forces, which is made up of an army, navy, and air force.
The Bahamas' national flower is the yellow elder and its national animal is the flamingo.
The Bahamas is among the richest countries in the Americas in terms of GDP per capita.
The official currency of the Bahamas is the Bahamian dollar.
Tourism is the Bahamas' chief foreign exchange earner, accounting for 50% of the country’s GDP.
The financial sector is another economic pillar in the Bahamas, which accounts for 15% of the GDP.
Agriculture accounts for about 7% of the GDP, and Bahamas is a food deficient country that relies on food imports.
The Bahamas has an estimated population of over 392,000 people and a population density of 65.3 persons per square mile.
The country has a relatively young population, as 93.1 % of its population is under 64 years of age.
The Bahamas has a life expectancy of 69.87 years.
Christianity is the dominant religion in the Bahamas. About 70% of Bahamians identify as Protestant Christians.
English is the official language in the Bahamas.
Junkanoo is the most popular festival in the country and is observed every New Year’s Day and Boxing Day.
Cricket is the most popular sport in the Bahamas and is the country’s national sport.
Education is a right mandated by the Constitution of the Bahamas, and 98.2% of the population is considered to be literate.
In the Bahamas there are 120 species of plants and 109 species of birds.
Inagua has the largest breeding colony of West Indian flamingoes in the world and is known as a birdwatcher’s paradise. The ratio of people to the flamingoes in the great Inagua is 1:61
Bahamians drive on the left side of the road, however, most vehicles in the country are left hand drive.
The Nasau Public Library, which is octagonal in shape, is a former jail.