Geography

The Bahamas are a group of about 700 atolls and cays in the western Atlantic Ocean, of which only between 30 and 40 are inhabited. The largest of the islands is Andros Island, located 120 miles south-east of Florida. The Bimini islands are to its northwest. To the North is the island of Grand Bahama, home to the second largest city in the country, Freeport, Bahamas. The island of Great Abaco is to its east. In the very south is the island of Great Inagua, the second largest island in the country. Other notable islands include Eleuthera Island, Cat Island, Bahamas, San Salvador Island, Acklins Island, Crooked Island, Bahamas, and Mayaguana . Nassau is the capital and largest city, located on New Providence. The islands have a subtropical climate, moderated by the Gulf Stream.

The islands are surface projections of three oceanic banks, the Little Bahama Bank, the Great Bahama Bank and the westernmost Cay Sal Bank. The highest point is only 63 m above sea level on Cat Island; the island of New Providence, where the capital city of Nassau is located, reaches a maximum elevation of only 37 m.

The land on the Bahamas has a foundation of fossil coral, but much of the rock is oolitic limestone; the stone is derived from the disintegration of coral reefs and seashells. The land is primarily either rocky or mangrove swamp. Low scrub covers much of the surface area. Timber is found in abundance on four of the northern islands: Grand Bahama, Great Abaco, New Providence and Andros. On some of the southern islands, low-growing tropical hardwood flourishes. Although some soil is very fertile, it is also very thin. Only a few freshwater lakes and just one river, located on Andros Island, are found in the Bahamas.

Facts and Figures

• Location: Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba
• Geographic Coordinates: 24 15 N, 76 00 W
• Area:
  • Total: 13,940 sq km
  • Land: 10,070 sq km
  • Water: 3,870 sq km
• Land boundaries: 0 km
• Coastline: 3,542 km
• Maritime Claims:
  • Territorial sea: 12 nm
  • Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
• Climate: tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
• Terrain: long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills
• Elevation Extremes:
  • Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
  • Highest point: Mount Alvernia, on Cat Island 63 m
• Natural Resources:
  • Salt
  • Aragonite
  • Timber
  • Arable land
• Land Use:
  • Arable land: 0.58%
  • Permanent crops: 0.29%
  • Other: 99.13%
• Irrigated Land: 10 sq km
• Natural Hazards: hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and wind damage
• Environmental Issues:
  • Coral reef decay
  • Solid waste disposal