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Bahamas

Islands are popular with boaters. Lesser-known islands, known as the “out islands,” attract fewer visitors. The coral islands of the Bahamas are all relatively flat. Some have slight rolling hills, but most do not rise much above sea level. The highest point in the Bahamas, on Cat Island, is Mount Alvernia. It is only 206 feet (62.8 meters) above sea level. Climate of the Islands The Bahamas enjoys a tropical maritime climate moderated by the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. From December to April (winter in the Bahamas), the average temperature throughout the islands is 70ºF (21ºC). Evenings are slightly cooler. The temperature on an average Bahamian summer day is 80ºF (27ºC). The rainy season in the Bahamas lasts from May to November. The Bahamas experience an average rainfall of 52 inches (132 centimeters) per year. The islands to the north receive a larger amount of this rainfall than do the islands in the south. February and March are the nation’s driest months.

Words to Understand in This Chapter

cay— a small, low-lying island or small reef of sand or coral. fauna— animal life. flora— plant life.