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The BahamasBy Keith Bogan
Location
Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba
Coordinates› 24 15 N, 76 00 W
Total Area-13,880 sq km
water: 3,870 sq km slightly smaller than
Connecticut
Capital Population
Nassau- It is a whole island not just a city
Located in the Northwestern part of the Bahamas
309,156 citizens
Interesting Geographical Facts Climate
› tropical marine surrounded by warm waters of the Gulf Stream
Terrain› long, flat coral formations with
some low rounded hills Elevations
› lowest point is the Atlantic Ocean at 0 m
› highest point is Mount Alvernia, on Cat Island at 63 m
Natural Resources› Salt› Aragonite› Timber› arable land
Bahamas is made up of 700 islands and only 30 islands are inhabited
Weather› They have
hurricanes and tropical storms, which usually flood the surrounding area
Currency
Bahamian dollar (BSD)
Languages
The official language of the Bahamas is English.
Common speech is more British than English Locals have a strong accent and every other
word is a slang word
Flag
The colors represent the golden beaches of the islands in gold and are surrounded by the aquamarine sea
Black represents the mental state of mind and force of a united people
The black triangle represents the determination of the Bahamian people to develop the rich resources of land and sea
Government Executive branch
› Chief of State: is Queen Elizabeth II (since February,6 1952)
› Represented by Governor General Arthur D. HANNA (since 1 February 2006)
› Head of Government: Prime Minister Hubert A. INGRAHAM (since 4 May 2007)
› Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the prime minister's recommendation
› Elections, the monarch is hereditary› Governor General is appointed by the
monarch Legislative Branch
› Bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (16 Members), who serve for 5 years
› House of Assembly (41 seats), members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms
Elections last held May , 2007 (next to be held by May 2012)
Judicial Branch Privy Council in London; Courts of Appeal;
Supreme) Court; Magistrates' Courts
Government › constitutional
parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Legal system › Based on English
common law
Bahamas History Lucayan Indians inhabited the
islands when Christopher Columbus first set foot in the New World on San Salvador in 1492.
British settlement of the islands began in 1647; the islands became a colony in 1783.
Obtained Independence from the United Kingdom in 1973
The Bahamas have prospered through tourism, international banking and investment management.
Because of its geography, the country is a major transshipment point for illegal drugs for both the United States and Europe
HIV/AIDS6,200 (2007 est.)country comparison to the world: 118
Median AgeTotal: 28.7 yearsMale: 27.9 yearsFemale: 29.5 years (2009 est.)
Education System
Literacy› definition: age 15
and over can read and write
total population: 95.6%
male: 94.7% female: 96.5%
(2003 est.)
School attendance is compulsory between the ages of 5 and 16
As of 1999, the government fully operates 158 of the 210 primary and secondary schools in The Bahamas.
School starts from nursery (age 3) or kindergarten (age 4) all the way up to high school (grade 12).
Foods
Boiled fish and grits is a favorite breakfast. Boiled fish is also delicious served with homemade Island bread. Grouper is the most popular fish used for boiling. Bahamians are experts at cooking this fish which is flaky, white, tender and mild in flavor.
A typical Bahamian meal consists of crab and rice, steamed fish, served with baked macaroni and cheese and potato salad.
Desserts such as coconut or pineapple tart, bread pudding or guava duff, a delicious dessert that is made through a laborious process of folding the fruit into the dough and boiling and is served with a sauce.
This meal is finished off with a large glass of ice cold "switcha" (lemon, sugar and water mixture) or beer.
This explains why heart disease and diabetes is high in the Bahamas
National Holidays
National holiday › Independence
Day, July 10, 1973 Constitution written
› July 10, 1973
2009 1 Jan New Year's Day.
10 Apr Good Friday.13 Apr Easter Monday.1 Jun Whit Monday.5 Jun Labour Day.10 Jul Independence Day.3 Aug Emancipation Day.12 Oct National Heroes' Day.25 Dec Christmas Day.26 Dec Boxing Day.
Major Religions
Baptist 35.4% Anglican 15.1% Roman Catholic 13.5% Pentecostal 8.1% Church of God 4.8% Methodist 4.2% other Christian 15.2% none or unspecified 2.9%, other 0.8% (2000 census)
Military
Military branches › Royal Bahamian Defense Force
Land Force, Navy, Air Wing (2009)
Military service age and obligation 18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2008)
Soccer in the Bahamas
“It is an event quite unlike any other. The FIFA Congress is about to get started once again and, as usual, that means a huge number of people are on the move and a mammoth logistical effort underway. No fewer than ten tons of material have been transported from FIFA headquarters, representing more than 100,000 items overall, while 3,659 flights have been booked from every corner of the planet, more than 5,000 hotel nights reserved and around 100 journalists accredited for an event that will feature 1,000 participants.”
Works Cited
http://www.bahamaspost.com/bahamas/bahamas-sports/3691.html (newspaper)
http://www.grandbahamavacations.com/about-the-island/our-culture/ (magazine)
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bf.html (website)
http://www.worldtravelguide.net/country/24/public_holidays/Caribbean/Bahamas.html (website)