The+Bahamas

== ** The Bahamas ** ==

====The Bahamas was established on January 7th 1974 by Queen Elizabeth II. Not very long ago, about 38 years ago. Since then the population hasn't been very high either. Roughly about 350,000 people counted in 2010.====
 * ==__**Population**__:==

==== The Arawak Indians were the first inhabitants of the Bahamas. Columbus's first encounter with the New World was on Oct. 12, 1492, when he landed on the Bahamian island of San Salvador. The British first built settlements on the islands in the 17th century. In the early 18th century, the Bahamas were a favorite pirate haunt. ====
 * == **__History:__** ==

==== The Bahamas were a Crown colony from 1717 until they were granted internal self-government in 1964. The islands moved toward greater autonomy in 1968 after the overwhelming victory in general elections of the Progressive Liberal Party, led by Prime Minister Lynden O. Pindling, over the predominantly white United Bahamians Party. With its new mandate from the black population (85% of Bahamians), Pindling's government negotiated a new constitution with Britain under which the colony became the Commonwealth of the Bahama Islands in 1969. On July 10, 1973, the Bahamas became an independent nation ====

====The Bahamas are an archipelago of about 700 islands and 2,400 uninhabited islets and cays lying 50 mi off the east coast of Florida. They extend for about 760 mi (1,223 km). Only about 30 of the islands are inhabited; the most important is New Providence (80 sq mi; 207 sq km), on which the capital, Nassau, is situated. Other islands include Grand Bahama, Abaco, Eleuthera, Andros, Cat Island, and San Salvador (or Watling's Island).====
 * ==**__Geography : __**==


 * ==__**Government:**__==

The Bahamas has a Parliamentary Democracy.

 * ==**__Culture__:**==

[|Ethnicity/race]: Black 85%, White 12%, Asian and Hispanic 3%
==== __**Art:**__ **Art**, **Dance**, and **Music** are very important to many Bahamians. And the people of the Bahamas celebrate their love for art with great color. Local artwork in towns and citiesacross the Bahamas is often very colorful. The music of the Bahamas reflects the country's African heritage. A couple of hundred years ago, slaves were sent to the Bahamas. Today, almost everyone who lives in the Bahamas is related to those slaves. You can guess that many slaves who ended up in the Bahamas were very poor. In fact, the slaves had to invent and build their own musical instruments.==== ==== __**Food**__: Seafood is the most important part of the Bahamian diet. The conch shellfish is a national favorite used in many dishes. Peas with rice, a dietary staple, consists of dried pigeon peas and rice prepared with thyme and other spices. //Souses// (dishes containing lightly pickled meats) also figure prominently in Bahamian cuisine. Served with cooked grits and johnny cake (a type of bread), they are a popular breakfast food.==== ==== __**Sports:**__ Softball is the most popular sport in the Bahamas. Other favorite sports include basketball, volleyball, and track and field. Water sports, including sailing, windsurfing, and fishing, are popular with Bahamians and tourists alike. Many islanders race in the Family Islands regatta, held every April.====

====Urban living conditions on the main islands of New Providence and Grand Bahama differ from those on the smaller Family Islands. Inhabitants of the Family Islands have little contact with tourists and live a simple, traditional life. Most live in villages near the shore. Their houses are simple wooden structures, some without plumbing or electricity. Two out of three households in the Family Islands did not have running water in 1986.====
 * ==__**Living Conditions:**__==

Migration to the cities for better jobs has produced an urban housing shortage, especially in low-income areas.
====The Bahamian economy is almost entirely dependent on tourism and financial services to generate foreign exchange earnings. Tourism alone provides an estimated 60% of the [|gross domestic product] (GDP) and employs about half the Bahamian workforce. In 2004, over half a million tourists visited The Bahamas, most of whom are from the [|United States].====
 * ==**__The Bahamas Economy__:**==

[|Grand Lucayan- 4 Star Beach Front Resort (Golf - Casino - Spa - Premium Location)] [|Viva Wyndham Fortuna - All-Inclusive] [|Island Seas Resort - Beachfront Condos] [|Ocean Reef Yacht Club - Condos] [|The Royal Islander - Great Value] - Special Promotion [|Flamingo Bay Yacht Club] - Port Lucaya / Newly Renovated
 * ==__**Resorts:**__==



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