Nassau Bahamas The 700 beautiful islands and 2,000 chunks of coral and limestone outcrop that form The Bahamas are playgrounds for sailors, anglers, divers, nature lovers, eco-tourists - and those vacationers in search of the more glitzy pleasures. The islands are visited by more than three million people each year. You will find great enthusiasm for American culture, combined with a strong flavor of Britain. . . and a distinctly Caribbean beat. The Bahamas stands out among the Commonwealth Caribbean nations because of its relative wealth and prosperity, political stability, and close proximity to the United States. The Bahamas also bears the distinction of being the first of the Caribbean islands discovered by Columbus in 1492 on his first transatlantic voyage in search of a new route to India. Several islands in the Bahamas have been named as Columbus's first landing site in the Caribbean, but until very recently, Watling Island was the most widely accepted location; in 1926 it was renamed San Salvador, the name bestowed by Columbus himself. In 1986, however, after an extensive five-year investigation, a National Geographic Society team announced that Samana Cay, a small isolated island in the far eastern Bahamas, was the most probable location of Columbus's first landfall. Just 30 of the islands are populated and, together, they are among the most favored destinations for cruise ship passengers every year. New Providence has almost 60 per cent of the population and in the capital, Nassau, you can go on a horse-drawn carriage tour of a vibrant city filled with history's reminders in its Victorian buildings and fortresses -- and a library that used to be a prison. The Islands Of The Bahamas is a 100,000-sq-mile archipelago that extends over 500 miles of the clearest water in the world. Our 700 islands, including uninhabited cays and large rocks, total an estimated land area of 5,382 sq miles, and register a highest land elevation of 206 ft. Most notable, however, is that each island has it's own diversity that continues beyond geography, carrying through to the heart of The Bahamas, the Bahamian people. You'll find it in our heritage. In our culture. And in the irony of our humble pride. These are The Islands Of The Bahamas. Population: somewhere north of 300,000. There are many options to help you get around each island in The Bahamas, and to help you hop from island to island. But remember, when you take to the road, British rules apply, so please keep to the left. Visitors may use their home driver's license for up to three months and may also apply for an international driver's license. Bahamas Dolphin Diving The Bahamas has the clearest waters in the world with visibility of over 200 feet (61 meters). Travelers who seek beaches, boating and sailing, diving and snorkeling, ecotours, fishing, and water sports will be the first to notice the difference our water clarity makes on their sporting experience. Bimini The closest Bahamian island to the U.S. Distance From Miami: 40 miles. Grand Bahama Island Home to Freeport/Lucaya, the second largest city and port of entry in The Bahamas. Distance From Miami: 105 miles. Nassau/Paradise Island Home to Nassau, the capital city, largest city, and largest port of entry in The Bahamas. Distance From Miami: 185 miles. http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/Bahamas/ en-us Copyright 1998 e-TravelMedia.com/CaribbeanMag.com Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:56:16 EST Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba - 24 15 N, 76 00 W. Between the islands of Grand Bahama and Great Inagua are 23 inhabited islands and thousands of unpopulated cays (pronounced "keys"). Geographically The Bahamas are considered part of the Caribbean, however the archipelago that includes The Bahamas lies in the Atlantic Ocean, extending more than 650 miles from the eastern coast of Florida to the southeastern tip of Cuba. The Tropic of Cancer runs through the Great Bahama Bank and through the Island of Great Exuma. The Bahamas stretch Southeast off the Florida coast. The nearest island to the USA mainland is Bimini, approx. 50 miles off the coast of Florida. The rest of the islands stretch across 100,000 square miles of ocean, beginning at their northernmost point about 175 miles east of Palm Beach, Florida and winding nearly 750 miles to the southeast within 50 miles of Cuba and http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/Bahamas/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:56:16 EST The Bahamas are slightly cooler than other Caribbean island groups owing to their proximity to the continental North American cold air systems. Required clothing: Lightweight or tropical, cottons all year round. Light raincoats are useful during the wet season. Temperatures average around 20°C (68°F) during the winter season, and 30°C (86°F) during the summer. Humidity is fairly high, particularly in the summer. The rainy season is May-October, when the showers are usually short but heavy. June-November is the official hurricane season. The climate of the Bahamas, although somewhat unstable, is very nice. You might want to schedule your vacation outside the hurricane season, of course, but the rest of the year is really delightful. The weather is pleasant in the winter season although cold fronts from the North American continent can bring strong north winds, some rain and surprisingly low temperatures. The summer months are warm and humid, there can be occasional thunderstorms. Because of the Gulf Stream, winters in the Bahamas are fairly mild, about 10 degrees F/5 C warmer than in nearby Florida. The summers can be humid, rainy and warm (day temperatures reaching into the low 90s F/33 C), but are moderated by trade winds. High season is from November to mid April, when the weather is generally good. Hurricane season is from July to October, and most rain falls at that time. There really is no bad time to go, but take along at least a sweater during the winter. Average day temperatures in fall and spring are in the 70s-80s F/23-32 C, with nights in the 60s F/15-22 C. Winter temperatures can be about 10 degrees F/5 C cooler. The Bahamas lies in the region between the sub-tropical and tropical climactic belts, and its weather and climate accurately reflect the country's physical situation. A good reference to the weather of the Bahamas is to consider it to be a maritime climate moderated by the north-east trade winds, with some effect from northerly weather systems in winter, and from southerly weather systems in summer. There are only two seasons in the Bahamas, summer and winter. In summer the tradewinds shift northwards so the Bahamas lies near their southern border, heavy with moisture. With even minor disturbances in this pattern causing rain, the summer is the wet season, bringing double the amount of rain as in winter. In the winter, the Trade Winds then shift southwards, making that time of the year drier. At almost any time, air masses from other directions can cause a change in weather. The skies over the Bahamas are a veritable mixing pot of air, and wind direction is variable, no matter what the season. Avg. Daily Max. Temps (F) Jan(77.3), Feb(77.5), Mar(79.7), Apr(81.8), May(84.6), Jun(87.3), Jul(89.1), Aug(89.3), Sep(88.4), Oct(85.4), Nov(81.8), Dec(78.7) Avg. Daily Min. Temps (F) Jan(62.1), Feb(62.5), Mar(63.8), Apr(66.2), May(69.8), Jun(73.3), Jul(74.7), Aug(74.8), Sep(74.4), Oct(71.9), Nov(68), Dec(63.8) Average Rainfall (inches) Jan(1.86), Feb(1.59), Mar(1.57), Apr(2.12), May(4.58), Jun(9.17), Jul(6.21), Aug(8.5), Sep(6.75), Oct(6.91), Nov(2.23), Dec(2.04) http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/weather/Bahamas/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:56:16 EST Drive on the LEFT side of the road. Bahamian drivers drive very badly. Many a tourist has unfortunately attempted to cross roads without looking in the direction a car is coming from--their right. Getting around in Nassau/Paradise Island, Grand Bahama Island and most of the Out Islands is easy. The various modes of on-Island transportation include: rental cars (major car rental companies include Avis, Hertz, Budget, Dollar) and other local rental companies. Visitors may use their home licenses for up to three months and may also apply for an international driver's license for longer stays. http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/car_rentals/Bahamas/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:56:16 EST Restaurants and Dining: http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/restaurants/Bahamas/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:56:16 EST