Fact Finder - Geography

The Bahamas is an archipelagic state consisting of more than 700 islands, cays, and islets in the Atlantic Ocean. It is located north of Cuba and northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Nassau is the capital, located on the island of New Providence. Unlike many Caribbean islands, the Bahamas is not volcanic; it is made of coral reefs and limestone plateaus. The highest point in the country, Mount Alvernia on Cat Island, is only 63 meters above sea level, making the Bahamas one of the flattest countries in the world. Its geography is characterized by clear, shallow waters and extensive coral systems, including the Andros Barrier Reef, the third-largest in the world. The country has a tropical savanna climate and is highly susceptible to hurricanes. Tourism and offshore finance are the main pillars of its economy. It was the site of Christopher Columbus's first landfall in the New World in 1492.