The capital city of Nassau in on the island of New Providence. Freeport, the second largest city, is situated on Grand Bahama. Islands in the archipelago other then New Providence and Grand Bahama are known as the Family Island. The Bahamas' well-developed economy is driven largely by tourism, which accounts for approximately 60% of the nation's $4.8 billion gross domestic product, and a rapidly expanding financial services industry. The balance of economic output comes from retail and wholesale trade, fishing, light manufacturing and agriculture. The three main income-producing areas in The Bahamas are tourism, financial/real estate (includes banking) and manufacturing/construction. The Central Bank of The Bahamas, established in 1974, is the central financial institution. The agricultural and industrial sectors are relatively smaller industries. The government funding is mainly obtained from import tariffs/duty. There is no income tax and no substantial property tax. There are annual fees for licenses of businesses, vehicle registration and inspection fees and other important fees to assist with departmental funding.

The Bahamas became an independent nation on July 10, 1973. They are a member state of the Commonwealth of Nations and have retained the British Monarch as the head of state. The Queen of England is represented by the Governor-General of The Bahamas.

The Bahamas offers many Islands and Cays, each of which is unique and has its own special personality. The Family of Out Islands offer a quiet, relaxing way of life which is a big difference from the fast-paced lifestyle on the Islands of New Providence and Grand Bahama.

Nassau, as the nations capital, is the center of industry, commerce and communications. There remain well-preserved colonial buildings, attractions, duty free shopping, pristine beaches, wonderful cuisine and cultural activities. Nassau is on the island of New Providence.   Nassau presents a special charm which captures the elegance of the old world while at the same time continuing to develop up-to-the-minute modern features. Paradise Island, connected by bridge to Nassau and New Providence, boasts gorgeous beaches, luxury hotels, first class entertainment in the largest casino within The Bahamas.   top

Grand Bahama (The Magic City), a stone's throw off the Florida coast, it known for its miles of canals, white powdery beaches, wide streets, infrastructures, quality healthcare, bed and breakfast motels to upscale hotels, dazzling casinos, night time entertainment, international and local shopping, superior scuba diving facilities as well as land and sea sports. Grand Bahama is able to provide from a romantic rendezvous for two on the beach to a heavy industrial manufacturing plant. Just pack you picnic basket or a small bag into a small sailing boat, motor yacht or jet for a weekend hideaway from the stress of the big city every day living. Its an ideal spot for Bahamian living, with daily international flights, marinas and year round sun. Grand Bahama offers the largest deep-water container port in the Caribbean.   top

Andros Island is the biggest of all the Islands but the most sparsely populated. It is a large bone fisherman attraction and has the world's third largest barrier reef, which is over 140 miles long. It offers superior diving and is home to Androsia Batik Many small and friendly business establishments thrive there as well as offering a home to many fisherman.

Abaco Island has naturally protected waters and many cays, which make them a favourite to yachtsmen and fishing fanatics. There are excellent marinas, guides and boats for hire as well as a championship golf course in Treasure Cay. A tradition of boat crafting has been down the generations. The major islands of this small archipelago are Great and Little Abaco, with the off-lying cays of Elbow Cay, Man-O-War Cay, Green Turtle Cay, Guana Cay, Stranger's Cay, Umbrella Cay and Walker's Cay completing the string. Over forty kinds of wild orchids, rare, endemic birds, wild boar, iguanas as long as four feet. It is even said to be the home of pirate Henry Morgan's buried treasure.   top

The Biminis are recognized as one of the champion fishing areas of the world for their abundance of game fish. Championship tournaments are held there year-round.  Bimini is a mere 40 miles east of Miami, so close that you can see the glow of the city at night. This island is by far the closest to the United States. It is a short journey by plane or boat from Florida making if very assessable for both U.S. and Canadian travelers. Many take seaplanes or private yachts to this sleepy island. Being the closest of The Islands Of The Bahamas to the coast of Florida has made The Bimini Islands a popular destination for American visitors. Of course, as with any Bahamian island, relaxing on a sun-soaked beach is always a favourite activity. For a weekend getaway or a more extended stay The Bimini Islands can provide you with a fun-filled Bahamian experience.

Eleuthera offers many unique and interesting settlements, each quiet. Of interest are Harbour Island with its pink sandy beaches and New England cottages. Similary different and unique is Spanish Wells. Folks from the busier islands enjoy a relaxed visit anywhere in Eleuthera. It is also home to the Pineapple festival each June in Gregory Town. Miles of glistening pink and white sand beaches, serene colonial villages and rolling acres of pineapple plantations make Eleuthera Island an island of the most casual sophistication. The cool laziness of Eleutheran life and dusty-yet-drenched colours of the island give it the feel of a giant illusion. Much of the island's architecture and way of life were influenced by Loyalist settlers in the late 1700s. With its two companions, Harbour Island and the community of Spanish Wells, Eleuthera Island has long been a favoured destination among travellers seeking a bit of quiet charm.   top

The Exumas are a pleasurable experience for anyone! Some of the bluest waters and appealing seascape can be found here. Because many of the Exuma cays are reached only by sea, boaters find island hopping in and around the Exumas a pleasure. More about the Exuma Cays.

Cat Island There are so many other intriguing Islands on which one can find tranquility, hospitality and serenity. The mysterious and superstitious Cat Island, has a claim of being one of Columbus' original landing sites in the New World. This boot-shaped, untamed island is one of the most beautiful and fertile of The Bahamas. A lush sanctuary, it provides tranquillity for those seeking an escape from the pressures of modern civilization. Others thought so too, like Father Jerome, a penitent hermit who built a medieval monastery hewn from the limestone cliffs atop 206-foot Mt. Alvernia, a place for meditation. From these high cliffs, there is a marvelous view down to densely-forested foothills and 60 miles of deserted pink-and-white-sand beach. geographia.com

San Salvador, is also believed to be the place where Christopher Columbus first landed in the new world on October 12, 1492. The island was originally named Guanahani by its first descendants, the Lucayan Indians. The isand is small but scenic and beset by superb beaches and reefs, it is an ideal place for snorkeling, diving and fishing.

Long Island was the third Island to be discovered by Christopher Colombus in 1492. In his diary, Christopher Colombus is said to have described Long island as 60 miles long, fringed with beaches on one side and cliffs on the other. It hosts excellent sites for diving and snorkeling. It's indeed a land of eloquent contrasts in geography, architecture and enterprise. One of the most scenic and contrasting hideaways in The Bahamas, Long Island is divided by the Tropic of Cancer and bordered by two very different coasts, soft-white broad beaches and rocky headlands that descend suddenly into the roiling sea.   top

The Berry Islands Just to the northeast of Andros, on the northeastern edge of the Great Bahama Bank, lie the Berry Islands, a stirrup-shaped chain of 30 cays and numerous smaller islets. The Berries (population 634) offer beautiful opportunities for both divers and snorkelers.
The two largest, Great Harbor Cay and Chub Cay, are where most of the Berry Island residents live, and are the centers for activity. Although Chub Cay was severely damaged by Hurricane Andrew in 1992, the hotel, marina, and restaurants have been completely re-built, and offer the same amenities as before. The Berry Islands have long been prized for sport fishing. Lately, diving has begun to catch on, and divers are finding a new and relatively unexplored territory.
Since Chub Cay is located on the edge of the Bahama Bank, shallow dives among the area's many reefs are plentiful, and with the Tongue of the Ocean just a stone's throw away, the rare experience of diving along sheer walls is also standard fare.   top

Acklins & Crooked Island are two of the four islands forming an atoll which hugs the beautiful shallow lagoon known as the Bight of Acklins, a safe cruising ground for shallow-draft vessels. Bordered by the nearly uninhabited Castle Island and Long Cay, they are as natural as they were when The Bahamas was first "discovered." Columbus reputedly sailed down the leeward side of the islands through the narrow Crooked Island Passage, which has ever since served as an important route for steam ships travelling from Europe to Central and South America. Crooked Island has a natural beauty and possesses fair weather cruising ground. Offering several fine harbours, miles of creeks and tidal flats exceptional for tarpon and bonefishing. Acklins Island is long, narrow and hilly with numerous caves and bays along its western shore; a ferry provides transportation from Acklins Island to Crooked Island.

Inagua is the third largest island and is the southernmost in The Bahamas. Inagua provides a treasure of a different kind: salt, a critical staple in the days before refrigeration. Sailing vessels called here regularly to purchase the commodity, and the settlement of Matthew Town developed into a prosperous trading post. The Morton Salt Company produces around a million pounds of salt annually from there. Great Inagua has been called The Bahamas' "great outback" or "wild west." Inagua is also a refuge of one of the world's largest colonies of flamingoes in the world. It also offers a haven for birdwatchers and nature lovers. Mainly low and flat, Inagua is a naturalist's paradise, where rare birds and reptiles thrive in a rugged and salty environment, wild cows and donkeys ramble, and wild boars are pursued across wide open spaces for both food and sport. Sailing, deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming and walking are principal forms of recreation.   top

Mayaguana - The most easterly island of The Bahamas, Mayaguana still has its original Indian name. The island was uninhabited until 1812, after which it was gradually settled by people from the nearby Turks Islands. This unspoiled, mostly undiscovered slice of The Bahamas is a favorite stopover for yacht enthusiasts, offering a peaceful, quiet and relaxing vacation and miles of unspoiled beaches for swimming, scuba diving and shelling enthusiasts. The waters off Mayaguana afford excellent sports fishing. Fish frequently surface and peer out of the water causing an eerie sensation.

credits: Some information in this section comes from http://www.bahamasgo.com/outislands.htm