The the Commonwealth of the Bahamas - whose inhabitants are Bahaméens - is an independent anglophone nation located in the the Caribbean. Archipelago of 700 islands, the Bahamas are located in the Atlantic Ocean, in the east of the Florida, the north of Cuba and of the remainder of the Caribbean and in the west of the Turkish islands and Caïques under British dependence .

History

See also: History of the Bahamas

The first step of Christophe Colomb in the New World in 1492 was, undoubtedly, on the island of San Salvador, located at the Bahamas. It met there friendly Arawak S (such known like Lucaian, and which gave its first name to the archipelago: the Lucayes islands) Amerindian S with which they exchanged present. These Amerindians also lived in Jamaica. The Great Britain was established in the islands at the 17th century and into colony in 1783 transformed them. Since their independence in 1973, the Bahamas developed to them Tourisme, the international Banque S and the management of investment.

Policy

See also: Political in the Bahamas

The queen Elisabeth II is with the report heading and the queen of the Bahamas who remains a member of the the Commonwealth. She is represented in the Bahamas by a general governor, remunerated by the queen itself. The chief of the government is the Prime Minister, usually the chief of the party gaining with the elections of the Parlement. The Parliament of the Bahamas consists of two elected rooms, the Sénat (with 16 members) and the House of the assembly (40 members). The elections are held every 5 years.

Districts

See also: Districts of the Bahamas

Since 1999, the Bahamas include/understand 32 districts:

Geography

See also: Geography of the Bahamas

The largest island of the Bahamas east Andros, in the west. The island of New Providence, in the east of Andros, is the site of the capital, Nassau and represents the two-thirds of the total population. The other important islands are Grand Bahama in north and Inagua in the south.

The majority of the islands - formations of Coral - are relatively punts, with some low hills, of which highest is the Mont Alvernia, on Île Cat, to 63 Mr. the local Climat is tropical, moderated by warm water of the Gulf Stream, with some hurricane S or of the tropical storms.

Economy

See also: Economy of the Bahamas

The Bahamas form a nation stable and developed with an economy strongly dependant on the Tourisme as well as banks offshore oil rig. Tourism only counts with him for 60% GDP and employs directly or indirectly half of the people in age to work of the archipelago. The Bahamas receive especially visitors from the United States. Nearest to the 700 islands which compose the archipelago is located that at 75 km in the east of Miami. A permanent increase in the capacity of reception and a takeoff of new constructions Hotel S, vacation centres and residences allowed a good increase in the GDP these last years. The Bahamas belong to the flags of convenience.

industry (little developed) and joined together agriculture contribute to a tenth of the GDP and progress only slightly, in spite of the governmental incentives in these sectors to mitigate the dependence in tourism coming from the the United States.

• transshipment, refining of pharmaceutical oil

• production, salt, and Rum.

• agriculture is very reduced

• Pêche

In 1998, GNP reached 13,3 billion $, that is to say 11.380 $ per capita.

Demography

See also: Demography of the Bahamas

The majority of the population bahaméenne is to 85% black or mongrel creole type, with 12% of white. The official language is the English, spoken by all the inhabitants. The Christianisme is the principal religion of the islands, distributed between the Baptiste S forming the greatest community (about a third), followed by the church Anglican and the Roman Catholic church.

Others

• Communications in the Bahamas
• Transport in the Bahamas
• Military forces of the Bahamas
• foreign Relations of the Bahamas
• Music of the Bahamas
• the philately of the Bahamas

the majority of information of this article comes from the CIA World Factbook 2000 and from the site of the U.S. Department off State 2003.

Codes

• BAH, according to the Code list country of the CIO,
• BF, according to the Code list countries used by NATO, code alpha-2,
• BHS, according to the standard ISO 3166-1 alpha 3 (code list country),
• BHS, according to the Code list countries used by NATO, code alpha-3,
• BS, according to the standard ISO 3166-1 (code list country), code alpha-2,
• BS, according to the international Code list of number plates,
• BW, according to the standard ISO 3166-1 (code list country), code alpha-2,
• C6, according to the List of prefixes ICAO of registration of the aircraft,
• BFR, according to the List of the prefixes of codes ICAO of the airports,

External bonds

• Site of the government bahaméen
• Ministry off Tourism
• the Constitution bahaméenne
• the Bahamas on Wikitravel

Beats-smg: The Bahamas Be-X-old: Багамы Simple: The Bahamas Zh-min-nan: The Bahamas