a state in the West Indies. Located on 700 small islands and islets and two and a half thousand coral reefs stretching from the south east coast Florida to the east coast of Cuba. About 40 islands are inhabited.

The name of the country comes from the Indian name "island" - "bahama" and the name "island" - "bahama".

Official name: Commonwealth of the Bahamas (Bahamas)

Capital: Nassau

The area of ​​the land: 13.9 thousand sq. km

Total population: 310 thousand people

Administrative division: The state is divided into 21 districts.

Form of government: A constitutional monarchy.

Head of State: The Queen of Great Britain, represented by the Governor General.

Composition of the population: 85% - blacks and mulattoes, 12% - whites (British, Canadians, Americans), 3% - Asians and Hispanics.

Official language: English. The Bahamians speak with a local accent and use a number of words from the Arawak Indians as well as African languages.

Religion: 32% - Baptists, 20% - Anglicans, 19% - Catholics, 6% - Methodists.

Internet domain: .bs

Mains voltage: ~120 V, 60 Hz

Phone country code: +1-242

Climate

The climate here is subtropical, very mild. The influence of the warm current of the Gulf Stream, as well as the constantly blowing southeast wind from the equator (trade wind) affects.

Throughout the year, average monthly temperatures do not fall below +20 degrees. The coolest thing is in January, when at night the temperature drops to +17 degrees, in the daytime it reaches +25 degrees. The hottest time of the year is July, August. The average minimum temperature at this time drops to +24 degrees, the maximum reaches +32 degrees.

The driest months are February and March, with a monthly rainfall of about 40 mm. The rainiest time of the year is the period from May to October, in which the monthly amount of precipitation ranges from 150 to 220 mm. At this time, tropical hurricanes are possible, characteristic of the entire Caribbean region.

The water temperature in the coastal parts of the country from August to October warms up to +30 degrees, in the rest of the months it stays at +25 ... +27 degrees.

Geography

The Bahamas are located in the west of the Atlantic Ocean, at the latitude of the Northern Tropic, near the American continent (100 km from the Florida peninsula). These are about 700 islands, with a total area of ​​13.9 thousand square kilometers, and only 30 of them are inhabited. Most of the islands Coral reefs.

From the east, the Bahamas are washed by the warm current of the Gulf Stream. The islands are raised relative to the ocean level from a few meters to about 60 meters. Nai highest point countries - 63 m, located on the island of Cat. The relief of the islands is flat.

On the shores facing the ocean, a series of marine terraces can be traced. On the west coast there are many salty lagoons, as well as karst lakes and swamps. In places, a strip stretches along the coast sandy beaches. There are no rivers in the archipelago.

Flora and fauna

Vegetable world

Coconut palms, bananas, agave, oranges, pineapples grow on the islands. Natural vegetation on drier eastern islands xerophytic, with a predominance of cacti and aloe.

Most of the islands were originally dominated by tropical forests. At present, many of them have been reduced, and undersized shrubs grow in their place. Where forests have survived (on the islands of Andros, Greater and Lesser Abaco, Grand Bahama), such valuable broad-leaved tree species as red (mahogany), logwood and iron trees, as well as Caribbean pine, are common.

In the broad-leaved forests, bougainvillea, jasmine, orchids and other plants with beautiful and delicately scented flowers grow in abundance. On some islands, artificial plantings of casuarina, mahogany and a number of tropical conifers have been created.

Animal world

The fauna of the Bahamas is poor. There are very few mammals, of which bats are the most numerous. From amphibians there are many frogs, from reptiles - lizards and snakes.

In the fauna of the islands, the most numerous birds, including migratory ones from North America(ducks, geese, etc.), which remain for the winter. Flamingos are found in swamps and within lagoons (only in national park more than 50 thousand red flamingos, pelicans, spoonbills, herons and other waterfowl nest on Bolshoy Inagua Island. Termites, mosquitoes and other insects are abundant.

In the coastal waters, near the reefs, there are many types of fish, including the Atlantic sailfish, barracuda, mackerel, etc. Sea turtles are found (on the island of Big Inagua, the green turtle is laying eggs), mollusks and sponges are numerous.

Attractions

Scattered over a vast area, washed warm waters Gulf Stream, Bahamas has long been considered a symbol of luxury and relaxation.

Christopher Columbus first set foot on the islands of San Salvador in 1492. British settlers began to settle the islands in 1647 and already in 1783 the islands became a colony. With independence in 1973, the Bahamas began to intensively develop tourism and banking.

One of the richest countries in the region, as it is often called - "Caribbean Switzerland", a large offshore center (more than 400 banks are located on the islands), today the Bahamas is one of the largest resort areas western hemisphere.

Banks and currency

The official currency is the Bahamian dollar. It is equal in value to the US dollar.

1 Bahamian dollar = 100 cents. Banknotes in denominations of 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 dollars and coins in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 15, 25 and 50 cents and 1, 2 and 5 dollars are in circulation.

Banks are open throughout the working week: from Monday to Thursday until 15:00, on Friday until 17:00.

It is better to change currency in banks. It is advisable to take American dollars with you on your trip, they have free circulation here.

Useful information for tourists

The traditional culture of the Bahamas is far removed from the heavily American-influenced urban centers of Nassau and Freeport. Folk island creativity is reflected in a large number of fairy tales, natural medicine, music and religious rites brought here by slaves from Africa. The islands have formed an original musical culture.

The country has adopted a system of tips for the services provided. The receptionist expects to receive 1 dollar for each suitcase delivered to the room, 2 dollars a day you can pay the maid for additional service, for example, for a washed and ironed shirt or blouse. In most cases, tips for taxi drivers, waiters, servants are 15% of the cost of services (in the most luxurious restaurants - 20%).

The full name of the state is the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The state consists of more than 3,000 islands, reefs and islets. The Bahamas are located north of Cuba and Haiti and not far from Florida.

Originally inhabited by Lucayans, originally from the Arawak tribe, the Bahamas became the first stop of Christopher Columbus back in 1492. Although the Spanish never colonized the Bahamas, they sent the Lucayans into slavery in Haiti, with the result that the islands were almost empty by 1513. In 1648, English colonists landed on the island of Eleuthera. Bermuda, and in 1718 the Bahamas became a crown colony.

Today, the constitutional monarchy remains the form of government in the state, Queen Elizabeth II is represented by the Governor General. The Bahamas has a parliamentary system of government, in which power is in the hands of a bicameral Parliament.

Capital	Nassau
Population
Population density	23.27 people/km2
	English
Religion	Christianity
Form of government	A constitutional monarchy
	Bahamian dollar
Timezone
International dialing code
Internet domain zone
Electricity

The religious composition of the population of the Bahamas is diverse: 35.4% are Baptists, 15.1% Anglicans, 13.5% Catholics, 15.2% of the population belong to other Christian denominations, another part represent Methodists, Pentecostals, the Church of God, are atheists or undecided.

The economy of the state is based on tourism. It accounts for more than 60% of GDP. Besides tourism activity provides work for more than half of the working population of the country.

Climate and weather

The north of the Bahamas is in the zone of a tropical trade wind climate, and in the south the climate is subtropical. It is formed by the warm current of the Gulf Stream, the influence of which is dangerous, as it provokes hurricanes in summer. Precipitation falls as rain from May to October.

The temperature in summer fluctuates between +26…+32 °C. On the southern islands the temperature can reach +40 ° C, but thanks to the trade winds, the heat is easily tolerated. In winter, the temperature is within +18…+22.

You can go on vacation to the Bahamas at any time of the year, but in the summer southern beaches it can be very hot.

Nature

Geologically, the Bahamas is a limestone plateau. The average height above sea level is 30 m, and the highest point of the Bahamas is Mount Alvernia on Ket Island, rising 63 meters above sea level. Due to the release of limestone saturated with salts, many islands have mangrove swamps, salty lagoon lakes and sandy beaches. There are practically no rivers on the islands, so there is very little fresh water.

The flora of the Bahamas is not very diverse and is represented by undersized shrubs, cacti, and aloe. Grow orchids, jasmine.

The fauna is also not very diverse. There are snakes, frogs, bats in the Bahamas, flamingos in swamps and salt lagoons. In addition, flocks here to spend the winter a large number of migratory birds.

But the underwater world of the Bahamas is simply amazing. In the corals at the bottom of the ocean, there are many types of fish that divers love so much. Mackerel and barracuda can be found in lagoons and backwaters. There are sea turtles. A huge number of corals, mollusks, sponges live on the reefs.

Attractions

The Bahamas are considered the richest country in the region. On each island of the archipelago there is a highlight that will attract any tourist.

In the Bahamian capital of Nassau, there are many interesting places. For example, you can walk along Bay Street - a street with numerous shops, boutiques; or visit the Adastra Gardens, the Retreat Gardens, an underwater aquarium or the famous Cable Beach - an area of ​​sandy beaches, hotels, casinos. The heart of the city central square with the buildings of the Supreme Court, Parliament, Colonial Administration. calling card city ​​is the Atlantis Hotel. The most visited places by tourists are the old water tower with beautiful view to the city and the Queen Victoria staircase with 66 steps carved into the rock.

The city of Freeport is suitable for lovers of water sports, outdoor activities, golf and tennis. It is also worth visiting the Garden of the Groves, the monuments of the ancient culture of the Arawak Indians, the Rand Memorial Park.

In the city of New Bight on Ket Island, there is a unique architectural monument - the Hermitage, built on top of Mount Alvernia. The Hermitage was built by an apostate priest in 1939. The work of Father Jerome belongs to the Church of the Savior on the same island and many beautiful monasteries and temples built on other islands of the archipelago.

Nutrition

Seafood is the basis of Bahamian cuisine. The national ingredient of the Bahamians is the conch sea snail. All kinds of salads, snacks, soups are prepared from this snail.

Can not imagine local cuisine without dishes from rice and peas. Spiny lobster is the most expensive dish. For a very long time, various dishes and soup from sea ​​turtles which led this species of reptiles to extinction. It is worth trying the sea bass dish, which is served with a sauce of mushrooms, onions, spices and white wine.

Dessert is usually served with fruits (melons, pineapples, papayas, mangoes), drinks, the key ingredient of which is rum, as well as the famous Bahamian johnny cake buns. From non-alcoholic drinks, tea, coffee, Pepsi-Cola are found here.

Bahamian cuisine borrowed a lot from British, American and African, but adapted it to local conditions and opportunities.

In large cities there are a large number of restaurants, cafes and bars. On average, the bill for one person in an inexpensive cafe will be $10-15. In the midst of tourist season many cafes and restaurants are overcrowded, so you should take care in advance not to be left without, for example, dinner.

Accommodation

In the Bahamas, there is no classification system for hotels and inns, so the assignment of a "star" level here is made either by the owner of the rented premises or by the tour operator. Holidays in the Bahamas are considered very prestigious and expensive, so most hotels work on an all-inclusive basis.

As a rule, guesthouses are located on the coast, which are mainly rented out to divers and surfers. Service in guesthouses may not always be at the highest level, but it corresponds to its prices.

There are also hotel complexes consisting of bungalows. There are eco-hotels that use only natural products for food and take electricity from solar panels.

If staying at a hotel is not included in the tourist's plans, there is always the opportunity to rent a room from the local population.

Entertainment and recreation

Most people go to the Bahamas for beach holiday, diving and surfing. The coastal zone of the archipelago is replete with beautiful sandy beaches, the most famous and popular of which is Pink Beach on Harbor Island. by the most expensive place beach holiday is the island of Eleuthera.

A large number of shallow reefs attract beginner divers. Under water there is something to see - sunken ships, underwater caves. Underwater feeding of sharks on the islands of Abaco, New Providence, Long Island is very popular. Lovers less extreme recreation swimming with dolphins will be offered.

Most hotels include water sports in the price, while some offer them for a fee. New Providence, Harbor Island and Grand Bahama have a large number of water sports centers.

The Jonkonu festival is held twice a year in the Bahamas. Colorful processions are accompanied by musical performances and fireworks. Freeport hosts the National Windsurfing Championship every January. The Music Fest takes place in the last week of May. July 10 is Independence Day. At the end of September, the Bahamas Wine and Cooking Festival is held.

Nassau and Freeport have a large number of bars, restaurants, clubs for lovers of nightlife.

Purchases

Shops in the Bahamas are open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, followed by a lunch break and reopening from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

The world-famous Bay Street shopping street is located in the old part of Nassau, and next to it is the Straw Market. In these places you can buy a variety of goods, ranging from fashionable clothes of world brands to exquisite jewelry, accessories and handmade souvenirs.

Second popular place for shopping - a small island Paradise. Here, avid shopaholics will find everything their heart desires at affordable prices.

Shopping is best done in the morning of a weekday, as at this time they are the least crowded.

Prices for goods in the Bahamas are commensurate with American ones. lovers beautiful life you will have to pay about $ 200 per day. Those who are more modest in needs will meet $ 70-150 per day. And don't forget that the Bahamas has a duty-free system.

Transport

The Bahamas has two major international airports, Lindel Pindling International Airport in Nassau and Grand Bahama International Airport in Freeport. In addition to these main ones, there are about 60 smaller airports in the Bahamas. Nassau, Freeport and Matthew Town have seaports.

Railway communication, as well as public transport, not in the Bahamas. The movement is carried out on cars, motorcycles, bicycles, which can be rented. There is a taxi in the capital. The fare is regulated by the government. So, the cost for a quarter mile when traveling in a taxi will cost $ 2, then the fare will be 30 cents per quarter mile.

Communication between the islands is carried out by ferries and boats.

Length highways is 2700 km, half of which is paved.

Connection

The communication system in the archipelago is well developed. Payphones are found everywhere, you can make international calls from them, and payment is made using a phone card. The rooms of almost every hotel have a telephone from which you can make local calls or make an international call through the operator, although this will be 10-15% more expensive than from a payphone.

Mobile communications are also well developed. Local telecom operators provide 100% coverage of the territory of the state.

Internet provider BaTelNet provides almost all types of services. The connection cost is on average $5 per hour.

Security

Going to the Bahamas, it is not necessary, but it is advisable to be vaccinated against hepatitis B, diphtheria and tuberculosis. The high prevalence of HIV and AIDS in this region should also be taken into account.

Customs control is quite democratic. There is no restriction on the import and export of foreign currency, but the export of local Money, the amount of which exceeds $ 70, must be accompanied by permission from the Central Bank of the Bahamas. The import ban applies to drugs, explosives, weapons (without special permission).

The local population is quite friendly and ready to help if needed. However, there are some restrictions and prohibitions. Fishing with the use of underwater guns and other devices for these purposes is not allowed.

Local authorities are waging a tough fight against drug trafficking: even for use, imprisonment can be threatened.

In the Bahamas, petty crimes such as pickpocketing and theft are quite common, so you need to be careful. It is undesirable for girls and women to take walks alone after dark.

There is practically no state supervision over local firms offering services in active sports, which leads to frequent accidents and deaths during underwater fishing, diving, and surfing.

Traffic in the Bahamas is on the left.

Business climate

The Bahamas are considered a paradise for businessmen. It is possible to register any offshore companies here. But it should be borne in mind that the purchase of real estate imposes a ban on doing business. However, it is very profitable to invest in business real estate. There are benefits for hotel owners.

There is no income tax, corporate tax, inheritance tax, property tax in the Bahamas.

The property

Foreign citizens have the right to purchase in the Bahamas both building land and other types of real estate: villas, apartments, townhouses. There is a limit on the area purchased foreign citizens real estate - it should not exceed 2 hectares, otherwise a special permit is required. An application for obtaining a permit to acquire real estate must contain information about the buyer and seller, a description of the object and the purpose of its acquisition. After selecting an object in writing, a purchase offer is made and an advance payment is made.

It is best to entrust the registration of real estate to a lawyer. The presence of the parties is not required. Purchased real estate is subject to mandatory insurance and registration with the Investment Council.

The average cost of 1 sq.m. comfortable housing in the Bahamas is $ 7,000. Buying a bungalow will cost $300,000-500,000, villas $500,000 or more, and a penthouse $1,000,000-3,000,000.

To travel to the Bahamas, you need to apply for a visa at the British Embassy. A visa is issued for a period of up to 90 days, unless it concerns employment.

Despite the high cost of services, you can save money in the Bahamas. Many hotels offer guests discount cards to enter nightclubs for $5. This is very profitable proposition taking into account the fact that on weekends the entrance to the club costs from $50.

Prices for imported spirits are very high, so if you want to save on alcohol, it is better to order local drinks, such as rum and beer.

Keep in mind that tips in the Bahamas range from 10 to 15%, and some restaurants and hotels include them in the bill in advance.

AT Atlantic Ocean the famous archipelago is the Bahamas, which are located between Florida and Cuba. This archipelago consists of 700 islands and 2500 reefs. Only thirty islands are considered inhabited. The Bahamas are washed by the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. For a long time holidays in the Bahamas have been called a luxurious pastime. Also, the Bahamas was named a major offshore center, which is considered the richest state in the region. There are more than 400 banks and casinos on the islands. It is worth remembering the countless kilometers of white sandy beaches, clear coastal waters and coral reefs that diving enthusiasts are delighted with. and its sights, look here.

It is not for nothing that the Bahamas are called a true earthly paradise. This archipelago is located in the Atlantic Ocean. The main attractions of the Bahamas are azure waves, White sand and palm trees. It is thanks to tourism that the islands receive 60 percent of their gross income. The subtropical and tropical climate, warm weather, low rainfall make it ideal for relaxing in the Bahamas, as well as doing outdoor activities and fishing. Commonwealth guests come here to play golf or visit the casino. Look at .

Features of the Bahamas

The most popular resorts of the Bahamas are located on such islands as: Eleuthera, Andros, New Providence, Grand Bahama, Mayaguana, Great Abaco, Long Island. Everywhere you can see luxurious tourist complexes, which offer tourists cosmetic services, clean isolated beaches, entertainment program and a variety of water sports options. Travelers call the Bahamas the second Switzerland. After all, this territory is boiling economic life. New Providence is called the center of business activity; life is in full swing on this island around the clock. As a rule, tourists come here for shopping, as there are many shops duty free and bars, discos and restaurants are open around the clock. By the way, the casino here is especially popular among Americans. What does it look like. Look at here.

The best attractions of the Bahamas include the amazing underwater world and coral reefs. This gives vacationers the opportunity to try a variety of pastimes such as sailing, diving, surfing, kiting, dive safari and recreational diving. special attention deserve sunken ships in the Bahamas.

With beauty underwater world calmly competes with the nature of the Bahamas. Proof of this are: Rand Memorial Park, the famous Preacher's Cave and Garden of the Groves. And on a real big coral island built an underwater observatory. Certainly, Nassau is the most popular resort Bahamas, it is also the largest city. Especially for tourists, a large underwater aquarium and a water tower were built. The Bay Street shopping street allows you to get to know the capital better, because next to it is the seat of government. You can also go and see the fortress of the 18th century.

It is impossible to get to the Bahamas from Russia by direct flight - you will need to transfer in London. The flight duration is approximately thirteen hours. In addition, there is the option of flying through the United States. Only in this case it is necessary to take care of an American transit visa. It is noteworthy that Russians in the Bahamas can live 90 days without a visa.

Resorts in the Bahamas

Big Abaco is famous among the yachtsmen of the world. In spring, the sailing season begins, which continues until autumn. There are many fish in the vast coastal waters. In addition, here tourists are offered to do any kind of water sports, fish, go shopping. by the most major city on the island is considered Marsh Harbor. Tourists hardly visit Long Island. Only this is in vain, because it is the most picturesque island among all the Bahamas. It has the most beautiful flora and many places untouched by civilization.

In the north of the island is Cape Santa Maria, which is famous for its long white sandy beach. By the way, this is one of the most beautiful islands from the west side. The main city of the island is Stella Maris, although it is small, it is a fairly modern settlement. Fishing and diving expeditions depart from here. The Exuma island chain consists of more than 360 small islands, although in the south there are two large islands - Little and Great Exuma. Here is the entire local civilization. Yachtsmen call this archipelago a paradise for them, because these places are referred to as the most beautiful places on the planet. Coastal shallows constantly change their depth, ebb and flow occurs regularly, all this makes the sea especially beautiful. According to the full program, diving adherents rest here.

Tourist safety

Almost all famous tourist areas are safe for tourists. Sometimes in hotel rooms petty crimes occur, like theft. Pickpocketing is not uncommon in this region. At night, it is better for tourists to refrain from single walks, especially for women. Note that spearfishing with various devices, such as spearguns, is prohibited in the Bahamas. You can engage in sport fishing, you just need to pay for going out to sea, one way costs up to twenty dollars. In addition, it is forbidden to conduct independent archaeological work on sunken ships. In case of violation of these rules, the tourist will be obliged to pay a hefty fine or be deported from the country.

The Bahamas has very strict drug laws. Here you can get a long prison term for the sale or use of drugs. There are no restrictions on the export and import of foreign currency on the territory of the islands. Only the export of local currency is limited, for this it is necessary to obtain permission from the local Central Bank. It is allowed to import duty-free two hundred cigarettes or fifty cigars, about one liter of wine and other strong alcoholic beverages.

Reminder for the tourist

The Bahamas has a large variety of hotels, including large high-rise complexes, as well as small cozy places to stay. It is noteworthy that in the Caribbean, the Bahamian all-inclusive system is considered the best. Therefore, only the tourist is left with the choice of a suitable hotel. Some locals rent their houses on the sea coast, which can be very convenient for family trips.

Arriving in the Bahamas, you should definitely see the famous coral reefs, swim in the azure sea and bask on the golden sand. And in the evenings, plunge into a cheerful atmosphere nightlife. Countless shops allow you to easily buy a large number of souvenirs for your loved ones. In addition, you need to set aside a whole day to enjoy the natural beauties of the Bahamas.

Photos of the Bahamas

islands

Every year about 6 million tourists rest in the Bahamas. For such a small island country, these are huge numbers. You can understand tourists, because the Bahamas have excellent conditions for a beach holiday, including diving and sailing. Some tourists are also interested in seeing the places that were once "native" to the famous pirates of the Caribbean.

Geography

The Bahamas (officially the Commonwealth of the Bahamas) is a state in the Atlantic Ocean, which includes more than 3,000 islands and coral reefs. The Bahamas are north of Cuba and Haiti, northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and southeast of the Florida peninsula. The total area of ​​the country is 13,938 sq. km.

Most big islands that are part of this state are New Providence, Grand Bahama, Andros, Bimini, Inagua, Eleuthera, Cat Island, Long Island, San Salvador, Acklins.

The landscape of all the Bahamas is flat. The highest local peak is Mount Alvernia, whose height reaches 63 meters.

It should be noted that the territory of the Bahamas is prone to frequent hurricanes. The last destructive hurricane occurred in 2005.

Capital of the Bahamas

Nassau is the capital of the Bahamas. In this city, which is located on the island of New Providence, more than 250 thousand people now live. Nassau was founded by the British in 1666.

Official language

The official language of the population of the Bahamas is English.

Religion

About 35% of the population are Baptists, about 15% are Anglicans, and about 13.5% identify themselves as Catholic.

State structure

The Bahamas is a constitutional monarchy ruled by a governor-general appointed by the Queen of Great Britain. The head of government is the Prime Minister.

The bicameral local parliament consists of the Senate (16 senators) and the House of Representatives (38 deputies).

The main political parties are the Progressive Liberal Party and the Free National Movement.

Climate and weather

The climate is subtropical and tropical, strongly influenced by the Gulf Stream (especially in winter). The average annual air temperature is +24-29C. The hurricane season lasts from June to November. However, in fact, hurricanes in this country are a rare occurrence. The weather service warns in advance if a hurricane is expected.

The best time to visit the Bahamas is winter.

Sea in the Bahamas

The Commonwealth of the Bahamas is surrounded on all sides by the Atlantic Ocean. The average annual water temperature near the shore is +25C.

culture

In the 17th and 18th centuries, caribbean brought millions of Africans, under whose influence the modern culture of the inhabitants of the Bahamas was formed.

The main cultural events are festivals, carnivals, fishing competitions and sailing regattas. The most popular of them are: in January - Junkanoo festival, Sailing regatta, in February - Farmer's Cay Festival, in March - Bacardi Billfish Tournament, in April - Bahamas White Marlin Open, in May - Long Island regatta, in June - Eleuthera festival Pineapple, Independence Week in July, Cat Island Regatta in August, All Abaco Sailing in September, Discovery Day in October, Guy Fawkes Day, One Bahamas Music & Heritage Festival in November, and Junkanoo Boxing Day in December .

Cuisine of the Bahamas

Cuisine, unfortunately, is not one of the main reasons why tourists choose the Bahamas for holidays. Majority local restaurants offer dishes of the so-called. international cuisine. In general, the cuisine of the Bahamas focuses on seafood and fish (mainly sea bass and oysters).

The best restaurants are in Nassau, Cable Beach, Paradise Island, and, to a lesser extent, Freeport.

Bahamian fish soup is most often made with sea bass, adding celery, onions, tomatoes and various spices and spices (for example, thyme), as well as lime juice and a little rum. Many tourists still order turtle soup in restaurants, although the turtles themselves have the status of endangered animals.

The national dish in the Bahamas is oysters, which are eaten as a main dish, made into salads and appetizers. Oyster soup is very popular. Each local chef has his own recipe for this soup. Usually, tomatoes, potatoes, sweet peppers, onions, carrots, bay leaves, thyme, and, of course, salt and pepper are added to oyster soup.

We also recommend trying the original local oyster pancakes - they are made in the shape of balls, served with spicy sauce, as well as "Cracked conch" (fried clams with Creole sauce), baked crab, "Johnnycake" (baked bread with milk, flour and sugar) .

For dessert, we recommend trying local fruits, sour cream apple ice cream, Sapodilla pudding and guava dessert duff. Traditional alcoholic drink- rum. Rum-based Bahamians have invented several local drinks (Yellow Bird, Bahama Mama, and Goombay Smash).

Attractions

Tourists, of course, do not expect any serious unique attractions from the Bahamas. However, in this small island country there is something to see, because it was discovered by Christopher Columbus himself. After the Spaniards and the British (they captured the Bahamas in the middle of the 17th century), many beautiful houses, churches and forts remained.

Parks and reserves are very popular among tourists - national park Inagua, Abaco National Park, Man-O-War Reef and Embrister Creek on Cat Island.

Cities and resorts

The largest local cities are West End, Freeport and Nassau. All these and others settlements are excellent beach resorts especially Nassau.

Among the best local beaches includes the following:

1. Cable Beach (New Providence Island)
2. Cabbage Beach (Paradise Island)
3. Xanadu Beach (Grand Bahama Island)
4. Tahiti Beach
5. Ten Bay Beach
6. Pink Sands Beach (Harbor Island)
7. Saddle Cay (Exumas)

You should also highlight the beaches on Stocking Island and Cat Island. All the beaches of the Bahamas have white sand and are surrounded by coconut palms.

Souvenirs/Shopping

Tourists in the Bahamas buy handicrafts, straw baskets, linen towels, local soap and lotions, bags, purses, hats, guava jelly, pineapple jam, rum.

Office Hours

When it comes to the Bahamas, many people think of luxurious beaches surrounded by sprawling palm trees, blue sea and bright sun. And this is understandable, since the tourism industry is really well developed here. But what else is interesting about this area? We will talk about this in this article.

Bahamas on the map

The state, called the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, is located north to southeast of the island of Florida in the Atlantic Ocean. The archipelago consists of 700 islands of various sizes and coral reefs, which occupy an area of ​​250 thousand km2. Only 30 of them are inhabited.

The land area can be compared with the area of ​​Jamaica. The structure includes the Caicos Islands and the Turks, on which the overseas land of Great Britain is located. The largest of them are Andros, Grand Bahama, New Providence, Eleuthera.

State capital

All tourists arriving at the beginning of their acquaintance with this unusually picturesque territory from the capital of the state. It is located on the island of New Providence. This is a very small island (the smallest in the Bahamas archipelago). The capital of Nassau is small and modern city, which is famous throughout the world for its harmonious combination of ultra-modern buildings with buildings of colonial architecture. The once noisy and small village founded by pirates has turned into a wonderful modern city of Nassau (Bahamas).

Many original and colorful buildings surround the port promenade and harbor, business districts are always lively, and numerous shops and markets offer tourists goods from different countries.

At the beginning of the 20th century, after the construction international airport and deepening of the harbor, the Bahamas (the capital in particular) received up to a million tourists annually. And by the 70s, when the bridge to Paradise Island was built and Cable Beach was landscaped, the city began to receive up to 2.5 million guests a year.

Attractions in Bahamas

At the beginning of our journey, we will get acquainted with some of the islands that are of interest to tourists.

Grand Bahama located in the north of the archipelago. It is the second most visited island in the country by tourists. Despite its name, it is not the most major island. It attracts tourists with snow-white shores, vast forests and rich wildlife. Its most popular area is the city of Freeport.

Andros

Archipelago. It is covered with extensive palm thickets. In addition, mahogany and pine grow here. The forest here, according to the islanders, is inhabited by aggressive little red-eyed elves. They call them “chikcharniz”.

The island is sparsely populated, only on its east coast you can find shabby shacks, surrounded by old cars and abandoned refrigerators. Therefore, Andros is visited most often only by extreme divers, who are attracted here by the third longest barrier reef in the world. It stretched along all the coasts of the island. The city of Andros Town is also one of the attractions of this island, along with an old lighthouse and beautiful beach Somerset Beach. In the town of Red Bay, located in the northwest of Andros, the descendants of the Seminole Indians live, who are famous for their skill in weaving various straw products.

Eleuthera

The Bahamas, whose photos often adorn the covers of glossy magazines, attract very wealthy tourists to rest. As a rule, they prefer this small island, which is traditionally considered to be elite. Luxurious resorts and various clubs alternate with magnificent villas and gourmet restaurants.

The Harbor Island reef, located in the northwest of Eleuthera, deserves special attention. It is home to vibrant and distinctive Dunmore Town, a wonderful beach and superb snorkelling and diving sites.

Long Island

Not all Bahamas are visited by tourists. The map shows that Long Island is an island elongated in length (one hundred kilometers long and five kilometers wide). It is practically not visited by tourists. And absolutely in vain. This is the most picturesque island archipelago, which has many corners untouched by human civilization.

The landscape of Long Island is formed by a combination of hilly terrain, washed out by the surf of the coast, which are washed by the richest marine life in the waters, sandy beaches. In the north of the island there is a long white sand beach- one of the most beautiful in the Western Hemisphere.

Nassau Cathedral

But not only interesting nature famous for the Bahamas. The capital of the state is famous for its architectural structures. One of them - Cathedral. This is the largest religious building in the country. The construction of the cathedral dates back to the end of the 17th century. Next to it, you can see many commemorative plaques with the names of people who died here during epidemics.

Queen Victoria staircase

In Nassau (Bahamas) there is an unusual staircase. It was carved into the limestone rock by slaves in the 18th century. It has sixty five steps. It got its current name much later. This happened during the celebration of the 65th anniversary of the reign of Queen Victoria.

The stairs run along the wall of the fort. On the opposite side, a small waterfall carries its waters. At the very bottom, at the steps, there is a seating area. And from the top steps offers a breathtaking view of Nassau.

Houses of Parliament

This small two-story building is located in the very center of Nassau, on its main square. It was built at the beginning of the 19th century, for the meetings of the colonial government. The first officials from Britain appeared here in the middle of the 17th century. And today there is a direct influence from London in the state, since formally the head of the Parliament of the country is still the Queen of Great Britain.

The Parliament building has an antique portico, which is decorated with four columns. Like all the buildings on the square, it is painted in a rich pink color. It looks especially beautiful in the evening hours.

Bimini road

These are two almost parallel tracks paved with stone slabs that are under water. Some slabs reach a length of six meters. The road is at a depth of nine meters, through absolutely clear water it is perfectly visible from the sea surface. Its length is five hundred meters, its width is ninety meters.

This is not the only unusual find. Not far from the Bimini road, a J-shaped sleeve stretched out. It is also lined with such plates. Here, under water, other strange structures were also found - platforms and concentric circles.

Alice Town

Today, many are attracted to the Bahamas, photos of which you can see in our article. They have many different clubs in their territory. In Alice Town is the most famous of them. E. Hemingway began to write his novel “To have and not to have” in it. Tourists are shown this historical monument, which presents unique photographs of the famous writer, his personal belongings.

Royal Victoria Gardens

The Bahamas are famous for their unusual vegetation. The capital of Nassau on its territory has a unique Botanical Garden built here at the beginning of the 19th century.

The Royal Victoria Gardens has a rare collection of plants from tropical countries. There are more than three hundred types of them. A huge number of rare varieties of orchids twine around the trees and fill the air with a delicious aroma.