20 Amazing Bahamas Facts That Will Make You Fall in Love

The Bahamas, officially famous as the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, is mainly an island country. So, just saying the name of this country conjures beautiful images of white sandy beaches, pristine aqua waters, and even cruise ships galore.

Hence, this beautiful country is famous as one of the most popular tourist destinations for numerous people all around the globe.

However, along with this, the Bahamas have some interesting facts to amaze you. 

So, in this article, we will go through some amazing facts about the Bahamas.

1. It was the landing site of Christopher Columbus

It is believed that Columbus’s first landfall in the new world was on the island of San Salvador. In 1986, it was postulated by National Geographic that he landed on Samana Cay. Either way, the land rush of the Europeans started in the Bahamas.

2. The name of this country comes from a Spanish term

In Spanish, the term Baha mar means shallow sea. As can be found in satellite images, the water around this country is no doubt shallow, and the entire area has a beautiful turquoise color to it.

This turquoise color comes from the color of light and the white calcium carbonate sand. It happens when the color of light is reflected off the bottom and even unabsorbed by the water.

The water around this country is so saturated with the component calcium carbonate that it will sometime precipitate directly out of the water.

3. The deepest blue hole in the world has been found here

Though the Great Blue Hole in Belize’s Great Barrier is better known around the globe, still Long Island’s Dean’s Blue Hole is the deepest one in the world. Unlike Belize’s blue hole, called the blue hole in this country, the Bahamas is right next to the shore. 

You may go from knee-deep water on the shore to a sudden drop of almost 663 ft or 202 m. This spot is even preferred by many divers who want to attempt world records. 

4. The Bahamas is actually not in the Caribbean

The Bahamas archipelago is not part of the Caribbean, as it is situated in the north of the Caribbean. The islands were formed through a completely different procedure than the volcanism that created the island in the Greater and Lesser Antilles.

Also, the greater religion that they would be a part of with the Caribbean might be the West Indies. 

Thus, it is often grouped with the Caribbean islands because of its similar climate and proximity.

5. The only country with a marching band on their currency

The Bahamas is the only country in the world with a marching band on its currency. The $1 note of this country has an image of the Nassau Police Marching Band. This makes them the only marching band to appear on any legal tender.

6. This highest point is only 63 m above sea level

The highest point in this country, the Bahamas, is just 207 feet or 63 m above sea level. Almost all lands of this country are made of raised sandbars or coral reefs.

Due to this, there is a very little elevation in the entire nation. The highest point, called ‘Mount’ Alvernia on Cat Island, is actually a raised and tilted reef.

Usually, just four countries in the world have a lower “highest point” than the Bahamas. Those are The Marshall Islands, the Gambia, the Maldives, and Tuvalu.

7. In the western hemisphere, the Bahamas has the 3^rd highest per capita GDP

After the countries like the United States and Canada, the Bahamas is known as the third richest country in the new world.

In this nation, the largest industry is tourism, which accounts for almost a whopping 60% of the income of this country and even half of all employment. Moreover, the dollar of this country is pegged 1-to-1 with the U.S. dollar.

8. This country is made up of more than 700 islands.

There are more than 700 islands in the Bahamas. All of those islands are some limestone or sand island.

Among those 700 islands, only 30 are inhabited. Also, among the almost 400,000 people who live in the Bahamas, around 70% of them reside on the island of New Providence, which is the location of the capital, Nassau.

9. This country should have been bigger

The country of the Bahamas includes most, but not all, of the Lucayan Archipelago. In 1973, when they became independent from the United Kingdom, the remaining portion of the archipelago remained a territory of the British as the Caicos and Turks. 

Today, many people think that the Caicos and Turks should have been a part of this country, the Bahamas, when they became independent.

Today, a small but growing movement of people want the Caicos and Turks to join the Bahamas.

10. The Bahamas: One of the best places on the planet for cave diving

As the Bahamas is mostly made of limestone, the islands of this country are riddled with caves that were formed thousands of years ago when the seas were more than 100 feet lower than they are now.

After the last glaciation, the sea levels rose and became filled with water, making them one of the best places to enjoy cave diving in the world.

11. The biggest boxing day celebration

The famous and popular festival in the Bahamas is known as Junkanoo, which takes place on 26^th December every year. It is mainly the Bahamian version of Carnival and includes parties, bands, floats, parades, and costumes.

Due to its proximity to Christmas, getting a hotel in the Bahamas is the most difficult time of the year.

12. It snowed in the Bahamas once in 1977

Once, the Bahamas had a wintery experience on January 17, 1977. From southern Florida, cold weather swept right down to the islands, and for the first time ever, the people of the Bahamas experienced snow. 

Though no actual snow piled up, resulting in various areas and even beaches being covered in slush, there were flurries in Freeport, Grand Bahama.

13. The Bahamas lies on the tropic of cancer

The Tropic of Cancer happens to miss both Florida and Cuba. However, it does bisect Exuma and Long Island in the Bahamas. Mexico is the only other country in the western hemisphere that crosses it.

14. This country has the seventh-highest number of a registered ship

For tax purposes, ships often register their names in certain countries. These are known as “flags of convenience.”

The Bahamas is a huge draw for ships due to its laws, mainly cruise ships that sail in the Caribbean.

So, if you see cruise ships in the Caribbean, there is a great chance that it is flying a flag from the Bahamas, as this country has the seventh-highest number of the registered ship in the globe.

15. The Bahamas is one of the 11^th countries with the word “the” in their names

The official name of this country is the “Commonwealth of the Bahamas.” The other countries that have ‘the’ in their names are the Union of Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of the Gambia, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Republic of the Philippines, Republic of the Sudan, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

16. There is no income or sales tax in the Bahamas

Due to its ship registries and heavy dependence on tourism, the Bahamas collects no tax on sales or income. Most of their revenues come from tourists visiting the country and tariffs on imported goods.

In fact, the Bahamas is an import-oriented country. However, substantial tourism activities bring in a lot of foreign exchange to balance the economy of this country. According to the CIA, the Bahamas economy is developing and stable.

Also, there is only one stock exchange in this country, BISX or The Bahamas International Stock Exchange.

17. The famous hurricanes that caused damage to the Bahamas

Hurricane Floyd caused extensive damage to the Bahamas, and the country saw a dip in tourism.

Also, in the year 2004, this country was hit by another furious hurricane called Hurricane Frances. This hurricane caused widespread damage to both living and on-living.

Things have not settled yet, and the people of this country experienced another hurricane, tearing houses apart, tossing automobiles, uprooting trees, and even battering homes.

However, this country is still ready to shine again and make a strong comeback.

18. The most popular seafood here is Conch

The Bahamas is famous for fresh seafood that is both varied and delicious. Among various types of seafood, conch is the most popular one. So, while staying in this country, you must try foods like johnny cakes, conch salad, rock lobster, baked crab, fried fish, etc. 

19. An established site for the drug trade

‘Lynden O’ became the first prime minister of this country after it gained independence on July 10, 1973.

However, during the 1980s, the Bahamas became an established site for the drug trade. Almost 90% of the cocaine entered the United States by passing through this beautiful country, the Bahamas.

Later, ‘Hubert Ingraham’ became the prime minister in 1992, emphasizing economic development and job creation in the Bahamas.

20. The Bahamian dollar is equal to the U.S. dollar

As the Bahamian dollar is equal to the U.S. dollar, one can easily use the U.S. dollars in this country as they are freely accepted as cash.

However, the U.S. does not accept Bahamian dollars on its retail counters, so one must spend it in the Bahamas before leaving the country or exchanging the currency.

So, the Bahamas is a fascinating country with its interesting culture, history, cuisine, festivals, islands, and many more.

At the end of this article, we have come to know 20 really fascinating facts about the Bahamas. These facts offer us a clear picture of this unique and beautiful country. To get some additional amazing facts, you can see our website.