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Vegetarian iguanas munch leafy plants, fruits, and berries on the less inhab-
ited outlying islands and cays.
At least 230 species of birds can be seen at various times of the year in
the Bahamas. Many of them travel from North America to winter in the trop-
ical maritime climate. Others, like the Bahamas parrot and the woodstar
hummingbird, are resident year-round.
Islands and Cays 13
Location:
chain of islands in the North
Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida
Area:
(slightly smaller than Connecticut)
total: 5,382 sq miles (13,940 sq km)
land: 3,880 sq miles (10,070 sq km)
water: 1,494 sq miles (3,870 sq km)
Borders:
none
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 feet
highest point: Mount Alvernia, on Cat
Island—206 feet (63 meters)
Natural hazards:
hurricanes and other
tropical storms that cause extensive
flood and wind damage
Quick Facts: The Geography of the Bahamas
Source: CIA World Factbook 2014.