The Bahamas
Izzie Sudkin
Person scuba diving in the Bahamas
Government
The government type is parliamentary democracy and a member of the
Commonwealth of Nations. This means The Bahamas is under jurisdiction by
the UK and the monarch is directly-elected.
Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (Since 02/06/1952)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Hubert A. Ingraham (Since 05/04/07)
Queen Elizabeth II
Hurbert A. Ingraham
Economy
Economy type: Market Economy
Success: Tourism provides 60% of the GDP and employs
about half of the Bahamian workforce.
Struggle: The Bahamas has always been a much larger
importer than exporter.
Freeport on Grand Bahama is where cargo is loaded
Economy Continued
major imports: machinery, transport equipment,
manufactured goods, chemicals, mineral fuels, food, and
live animals.
major exports: mineral products, salt, animal products, rum,
chemicals, fruit, and vegetables
The US is the most important trade partner.
Fruit is a major export in the tropical climate.
Geography Maps
General Region
Political Map
Physical Feature map
General Geography
• Over 700 significant islands and
cays.
• It is 5,382 square miles.
• The capital is Nassau, located on
the island New Providence
• Nassau's latitude and longitude
coordinates are; 25 °N
,
77 ° W
Map of New Providence, where Nassau is
located.
Climate
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The overall climate is warm all year
long because the Bahamas lie in the
path of the Gulf of Mexico.
The average annual rainfall is 52 inches
and humidity is 60-100 percent.
The islands are located right outside of
the Caribbean hurricane belt. Global
warming and climate change are
causing hurricanes to occur more often
with a higher intensity.
Climate map of Nassau, Bahamas
Climate (Vegetation)
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Many of the islands have enriched soil and many
swamps.
Although there is little lush vegetation, trees such as
mahogany, ironwood, and pine grow on some islands.
Lignum vitae (also called holywood), a hardwood with
blue flowers is the national tree.
There are 30 to 40 wild orchid species.
Lignum vitae
Country Flag
• The bands stands for the 700 bahamian islands.
• The black triangle stands for unity.
• The golden hue is said to symbolize the sunwarmed coasts of the islands.
Bahamian Flag
Currency
• Currently, (April 25, 2012) $1.00 USD is equal to
.9948 BSD.
• The sign for their money is $B since 1966
• 1$B is divided into 100 cents.
• The dollar replaced the pound at a rate of 1
dollar = 7 shillings in 1966
Bahamian Coins
Bahamian Dollar
Culture
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This is a picture of the Nassau
"Junkanoo" on December 26, or New
Years.
Drums, cowbells, horns, scrapers,
and brass instruments are common
instruments used in the celebration.
The word "Jon canoe" came from an
African slave named John Canoe in
the 17th century
A typical Junkanoo festival
Culture
• Johnnycake is a popular dish in the Bahamas
• This recipe is said to have came over from the Southern
US with the slave ancestors of today's Bahamians.
• Often considered a poor man's food since it was the
staple diet for early settlers.
Johnnycake
NATIONAL ANTHEM
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CLICK LINK FOR FULL VIDEO:
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Sources
http://www.2012queensdiamondjubilee.com/wpcontent/themes/queens/timthumb.php?src=http://www.2012queensdiamondjubilee.com/wpcontent/uploads/2011/07/Queen-at-Parliament-430.jpg&h=296&w=430&zc=1
http://www.eleutheranews.com/thumbnail.php?file=Hubert_Ingraham_Offical_944255718.jpg&size=article_me
dium
http://www.countryreports.org/country/TheBahamas/symbols/flag.htm
http://www.currency-calculator.org/exchangerate/BSD/
http://www.planetware.com/picture/grand-bahama-island-port-of-freeport-bah-bah289.htm
http://www.turkey-visit.com/map/Bahamas/bahamas_map.jpg
http://www.intercarto.com/EN/produits_image/image_1457_BDM_Bahamas_GB.gif
http://www.mapsofworld.com/bahamas/maps/bahamas-location-map.gif
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bahamian_coins_by_Slapyvard.jpg
http://www.countryreports.org/country/TheBahamas/gallery/recreation.htm