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THE NATION OF the Bahamas is made up of 700 islands and
cays
lying to
the southeast of Florida. Bordered on the north and east by the Atlantic
Ocean and on the south and west by the Gulf Stream, the Bahamas are not
technically part of the Caribbean.
New Providence and Grand Bahama are perhaps the best known of the
islands that make up the Bahamas. The largest of the islands is Andros, a
major bonefishing destination. Both Harbour Island and Eleuthera are
famous for their fantastic pink sand beaches. Other large islands include Cat
Island, Long Island, Crooked Island, and Mayaguana Island.
Several island groups are also part of the Bahamas. Closest to Florida’s
coast are the Bimini Islands. The Exuma Islands consist of more than 365 cays
and islands totaling 130 square miles (337 square kilometers). The Abaco
Islands and Cays
(Opposite) Tourists stroll the beach on
Paradise Island. (Right) Palm trees
and turquoise waters off the coast of
Nassau, the capital city of the
Bahamas. Although together Nassau
and Paradise Island (which are
connected by bridge) make up less
than 2 percent of the total land area
of the Bahamas, 60 percent of
Bahamians live there.
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