Bahamas

Originally settled by the Lucayan Indians, the Bahamas were first discovered by Europeans, in the form of Christopher Columbus, in the late 15th century. The Commonwealth of the Bahamas, which covers an area of only 1,368 square miles, is made up of a chain of 700 islands situated in the North Atlantic Ocean. Only 30 islands are inhabited, and the chief tourist destinations are usually Nassau and Freeport. The other inhabited islands are collectively known as the Family Islands. More than 84 percent of residents live in urban areas. The Bahamas’ nearest neighbors are the United States and Cuba. The islands were settled by the British, and the Bahamas won its independence in 1973. Its status as one of the most beautiful islands in the ...