The Bahamas and its 66 important Details for UPSC, PSC and Other Competitive Exams

The Bahamas and its Details Like , Capital, GDP, Currency, Geography, Economy, Defence, Culture, Natural resources, Habitat, Sports and all you want to know for UPSC, PSC and Other Competitive Exams.

The Bahamas and its Basic Details :

Attribute	Information
Name of the country	The Bahamas
Capital	Nassau
Independence day	July 10, 1973
Major religions	Christianity (Protestant, Roman Catholic)
Currency	Bahamian Dollar (BSD)
Continent	North America
Top 5 Famous cities	Nassau, Freeport, West End, Coopers Town, Marsh Harbour
Top 10 Famous persons	Sidney Poitier, Lenny Kravitz, Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Tim Aylen, Mychal Thompson, Rick Fox, Ronde and Tiki Barber, Perry Christie, Hubert Ingraham, Lynden Pindling
Type of government	Constitutional parliamentary democracy
Main wars fought	The Bahamas did not participate in major wars
GDP	$12.1 billion (2021)
5 popular tourist places	1. Atlantis Paradise Island, 2. Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, 3. Grand Bahama, 4. Harbour Island, 5. Eleuthera

Geography of The Bahamas :

Attribute	Information
Geography	Archipelago of islands in the Atlantic Ocean
Area	Approximately 13,878 square kilometers
Population	Around 393,000 (as of the latest available data)
Mountain Peaks	Perry Peak, Abraham Hill, James Hill, Crow Hill, Mount View
Rivers	Andros River (30 miles), Exuma River (20 miles), Inagua River (15 miles), San Salvador River (10 miles), Cat Island River (8 miles)
Lakes	No notable lakes
Deserts	Absence of deserts
Plateau	Limited hilly terrain, no major plateau areas
Volcanoes	The Bahamas are not volcanic
Crops and Vegetation	Citrus fruits, pineapples, tomatoes, sugarcane, vegetables
Main Beaches	Cable Beach, Cabbage Beach, Pink Sands Beach, Gold Rock Beach, Treasure Cay Beach
Neighbouring Countries	None, The Bahamas are an independent country and do not share borders with other nations
Nearby Sea/Oceans	Atlantic Ocean
Coastline Length	Approximately 3,542 kilometers
Natural Resources	Salt, aragonite, timber, arable land, fish

Economy of The Bahamas :

Category	Information
Economy	Mixed economy heavily reliant on tourism, finance, and offshore banking.
Major Industries	Tourism, Banking and Finance, Construction, Fishing, Agriculture.
Revenue Sources	Tourism, Financial Services, Real Estate, Manufacturing, Agriculture.
Top 10 Companies	Atlantis Paradise Island, Bank of The Bahamas, Commonwealth Brewery, AML Foods Ltd., Baha Mar, Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) Limited, Albany, Cable Bahamas, Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC), Doctors Hospital.
Per Capita Income	Approximately $30,000 (as of recent data).
Top 5 Imports	Machinery, Transport Equipment, Manufactured Goods, Food and Live Animals, Mineral Fuels.
Top 5 Exports	Mineral Fuels, Chemical Products, Machinery, Transport Equipment, Food and Live Animals.
Total Gold Reserves	Data not available publicly.

Defence Power of The Bahamas :

Category	Data
Defence of the country	The Bahamas has a small military force consisting of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF). The RBDF is responsible for the defence of the country’s territory and waters. The RBDF has a total of about 1,300 personnel, including about 1,000 active personnel.
Size of Defence budget	The size of The Bahamas’ defence budget is relatively small. In 2023, the defence budget was $40 million, which is about 0.9% of the country’s GDP.
Total number of Army Personals	The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) has a total of about 1,000 active personnel. Of these, about 800 are in the army.
Total Number of Air Force Personals	The RBDF has a small air force, consisting of about 200 personnel. The air force operates a small fleet of aircraft, including helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
Total number of Navy Personals	The RBDF has a navy, consisting of about 200 personnel. The navy operates a small fleet of vessels, including patrol boats and coastal defence vessels.
Total Defence Imports	The Bahamas imports a small amount of military equipment. In 2023, the country imported $10 million worth of military equipment.
Total Defence Export	The Bahamas does not export any military equipment.

Cultural of The Bahamas :

Category	Information
Culture	Rich blend of African, European, and indigenous cultures
Main Festivals	Junkanoo, Goombay Summer Festival, Emancipation Day, Independence Day, New Year’s Day Junkanoo Parade
Main Religious Places	Christ Church Cathedral, St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Kirk, St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Temple Emanuel
Main Arts and Dances	Junkanoo (dance), rake and scrape music, Junkanoo costumes, straw work, wood carvings
Main Languages	English (official), Bahamian Creole
Famous Food and Cuisines	Conch salad, cracked conch, Bahamian rock lobster, Johnnycake, Bahamian macaroni and cheese
UNESCO Protected Buildings	Government House, Queen’s Staircase, Fort Charlotte, Pompallier, New Providence Island

Sports in The Bahamas :

Category	Information
Sports of the country	Basketball, cricket, baseball, football, volleyball, sailing
National Game	Sloop sailing – Traditional Bahamian sport dating back to the 18th century; regular races held throughout The Bahamas
Main Sports of the country	Basketball: Dexter Cambridge, Mychal Thompson, Rick Fox, Chavano “Chuck” Moultrie, Jonathon Higgs Baseball: Andre Rodgers, Antoan Richardson, Jazz Chisholm Jr. Athletics: Chris Brown, Golden Miller, Derrick Atkins, Pauline Davis-Thompson, Shaunae Miller-Uibo Swimming: Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace Tennis: Mark Knowles
Top Athletes	Chris Brown: Bronze medal in the 400m at the 2008 Olympic Games Golden Miller: Gold medal in the 400m at the 2000 Olympic Games Derrick Atkins: Silver medal in the 100m at the 1992 Olympic Games Pauline Davis-Thompson: Gold in the 200m, Silver in the 400m at the 1996 Olympic Games Shaunae Miller-Uibo: Gold in the 200m, Silver in the 400m at the 2016 Olympic Games Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace: Bronze in the 400 freestyle at the 2012 Olympic Games Mark Knowles: Three Grand Slam doubles titles
Top Sports Achievements	Gold medal in sloop sailing at the 1964 Olympic Games Bronze medal in basketball at the 1971 FIBA World Cup Gold medal in cricket at the 2017 Cricket World Cup Gold medal in the 400m at the 2008 Olympic Games Gold medal in the 200m at the 2016 Olympic Games

Natural Habitat and wild life of The Bahamas :

Category	Information
Natural Habitat and Wildlife	Coral reefs, marine life, pine forests, diverse bird species, reptiles, marine mammals
National Animal	The Bahamas’ national animal is the flamingo, specifically the West Indian Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber)
National Bird	The national bird of The Bahamas is the American flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber)
Main Forests	Pine forests are prevalent in The Bahamas
Main Recognized Natural Habitats	Lucayan National Park, Andros Barrier Reef, Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park

Biggest in the The Bahamas :

Category	Information
Largest City	Nassau
Richest Person	Joseph Lewis
Biggest Company	First Caribbean International Bank (Market capitalization: $1,321,267,416.00)
Tallest Building	Atlantis Royal Tower East (Height: 261 feet / 79.5 meters, Location: Paradise Island)
Tallest Statue	Ocean Atlas (Location: Waters off the coast of New Providence)
Biggest Bridge	Glass Window Bridge (Location: Eleuthera, Length: 350 feet / 107 meters)
Tallest Mountain	Mount Alvernia (Location: Cat Island, Height: 69 meters / 226 feet)
Longest River	Goose River (Location: Andros Island, Length: approximately 24 kilometers / 15 miles)
Biggest Forest	Lucayan National Park (Location: Grand Bahama Island, Area: 42 square kilometers / 16 square miles)
Biggest Lake	Lake Rosa (also known as Lake Windsor, Location: Inagua Island, Area: 12 square kilometers / 4.6 square miles, Type: Hypersaline lake)

Brief History Of The Bahamas :

Overview of The Bahamas’ history, covering different periods:

Ancient Bahamas:

The islands of The Bahamas were initially inhabited by the Lucayan people, an Arawakan-speaking Taino indigenous group. Christopher Columbus’s arrival in 1492 marked the European discovery of the region. Sadly, the Lucayan population suffered greatly due to the arrival of Europeans, primarily through disease and enslavement, leading to their eventual extinction by the mid-16th century.

Medieval Period:

Following Columbus’s arrival, The Bahamas became a site of interest for various European powers, including the Spanish and British, who attempted to colonize the islands. The Spanish initially claimed the area but faced challenges in establishing permanent settlements.

Modern Era:

In the 17th century, British settlers arrived, establishing the first permanent settlement on the island of Eleuthera in 1648. Over time, more British colonies were established on various islands. The islands became a haven for pirates who used the region’s intricate archipelago to their advantage.

Recent History:

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, The Bahamas experienced changes in governance and economic shifts. The islands were used as a strategic location during the American War of Independence and the American Civil War. British rule continued until The Bahamas gained independence within the Commonwealth of Nations in 1973.

The country has seen significant economic growth through tourism and finance. It has developed into a stable parliamentary democracy, retaining ties with the British monarchy. Modern Bahamas is known for its tourism, banking sector, and vibrant culture, encompassing elements of African, European, and indigenous influences. Political stability has contributed to the nation’s growth and development.

Summary:

The Bahamas’ history encapsulates a journey from its indigenous Lucayan inhabitants through European colonization to its eventual independence. Its legacy includes the impact of European explorers, struggles for colonial control, piracy, and eventual self-governance. Today, The Bahamas stands as a modern nation, blending its historical heritage with contemporary economic and cultural pursuits.

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