The Bahamas is one of the most geographically complicated nations of the Atlantic. A coral-based archipelago, it is composed of more than 700 islands, 2,000 cays, and hundreds of rocky outcroppings.
The Commonwealth of The Bahamas came into being in 1973 after centuries of colonial rule. After Great Britain granted The Bahamas internal self-rule in 1964, the fledgling nation adopted its own constitution but chose not to sever its ties with its motherland. It has remained in the Commonwealth, with the British monarch as its head of state.
The Bahamas has remained politically stable and made the transition from minority white rule to black majority rule with relatively little tension.
New Providence Island (Nassau, Cable Beach)
New Providence isn't the largest of the Bahamian Islands, but it's the historic heart of the nation, with a strong maritime tradition and the largest population in the country. Its two major resort areas are Cable Beach and Nassau. Nassau retains a surprising amount of its traditionally British feel. The resort area of Cable Beach is a glittering beachfront strip of hotels, restaurants and casinos.
Paradise Island
If high-rise hotels and glittering casinos are what you want, along with some of the best beaches in The Bahamas, there is no better choice than Paradise Island, directly off the coast of Nassau.
The Exumas
Just 35 miles southeast of Nassau, this string of islands and cays - most of them uninhabited - is the great yachting hub of The Bahamas. This island chain's commercial center is George Town on Great Exuma, while the Exuma National Land and Sea Park encompasses much of the coastline. The park is accessible only by boat and is one of the major natural wonders and sightseeing destinations of The Bahamas, with an abundance of undersea life, reefs, blue holes, and shipwrecks.
