T h e B a h a m a s B y : R i l e y S t a c k 7 - B

1. The BahamasBy:Riley Stack 7-B

2. Geography and Location • The Bahamas are located in the Caribbean, southeast of Florida. The Bahamas are an archipelago of about 700 islands, in the Atlantic Ocean. Only 30, of the 700 islands, are inhabited. Some of these islands are: Harbour Island, Windermere Island, Paradise Island, New Providence, Acklins and Crooked Island, and Grand Bahama. The Bahamas also has about 2,400 coral reefs. Some cays in the Bahamas are: Samana Cay, Jamaica Cay, and Nurse Cay.

3. Language • Official Language: English • The English language in the Bahamas is often referred to as “Bahamian English.” If you were to here a Bahamian person speak they would sound British, with African influence, and island dialect. • In Bahamian English, the “h” is dropped, so it sounds like “ouse,” instead of “house,” or “t’anks,” instead of “thanks.”

4. Religion • The Bahamian people practice a variety of religions. • Main religion: Christian 50% (19% of the population is Roman Catholic) • Other religions: Baptist, Anglican, Methodist, and Presbyterian

5. Government • The Bahamas government is a Parliamentary Democracy. • The Bahamas has three branches of government; the Executive Branch, the Legislative Branch, and the Judicial Branch. • The prime minister leads the Executive Branch of government, and serves a five year term. • Perry Christie is the current Prime Minister of the Bahamas (he served another term as prime minister, from 2002 to 2007).

6. Economy • The Bahamas has a Tourist Economy. • Tourism, alone, counts for 60% of the GDP in the Bahamas. • The GDP of the Bahamas is 5 billion dollars. • The currency of the Bahamas is the Bahamian dollar. • Atlantis: Paradise Island (the Bahamas’#1 tourist attraction) makes up 15% of the Bahamas’ economy.

7. TouristAttractions

8. Atlantis:Paradise Island • Atlantis is a beautiful resort in the Bahamas, that has three tourist attractions, in the whole resort. Nassau, Bahamas is one of the top places were cruise ships dock, and most people come for Atlantis.

9. AtlantisParadiseIsland: Hotel • Atlantis holds one high-quality hotel, and one time-share estate, the Cove. • One room in the Atlantis: Paradise Island Hotel (the bridge connecting the hotel) costs $25k a night, but if you rent the room you already have to stay for four nights ($100k). The room holds a kitchen, a dining room that seats eight, multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, and much more! Some famous people that have occupied this room are: Michael Jackson, Bill Clinton, and Jonny Depp. • Most people don’t come just to stay at the hotel, they go for the spa, and the huge casino in the hotel. The Bahamas are one of the few countries where children are allowed in casinos. • The hotel is also known for its large aquariums throughout the hotel.

10. Atlantis: AquaventureWater Park • Aquaventure Water Park has a large variety of water rides, water slides, and pools. • The most famous water slide in Aquaventure Water Park is “the Leap of Faith.” This slide is about five stories high, and dives into a pool of sharks.

11. Atlantis: Dolphin Cay • Atlantis’s Dolphin Cay is one of the largest, and most complicated, marine habitats and animal rescue rehabilitations in the world. • Here vacationers can interact with the playful dolphins and sea lions. • Tourists can also spend a day in Dolphin Cay learning how Atlantis cares for its marine life, including tropical fish, sharks, sea lions, and dolphins!

12. Holidays • The most popular and favorite holidays in the Bahamas are Christmas and New Year’s Day. During these holidays the country has great celebrations with color, carnivals, music, and dance. • Some other important holidays are Easter, Good Friday, and Independence Day celebrated on July 10th (when the Bahamas received their independence). • Other holidays: • Discovery Day, October 12th (celebrated to remember the discovery of the Bahamas) • Labor Day, June 1st (celebrated to honor working people) • Fox Hill Day, August 9th (celebrates abolition of slavery) • Whit Monday, May 20th (celebrates the feast of Pentecost)

13. BahamianFood • Since the Bahamas are located in the Caribbean, the country is known for its seafood. • Conch (a mollusk), is the most popular seafood in the Bahamas. There is conch chowder, conch stew, conch salad, and conch fritters. • Other popular seafood meals are: crawfish (the local rock lobster), land crabs, and fish, such as Grouper, Yellow Tail, and Red Snapper. Conch Fritters Conch Chowder Conch Salad

14. Sports Tennis Squash Baseball Football (soccer) Volleyball Rugby Cricket Basketball

15. Facts • Nassau is the capital of the Bahamas. • Junkanoo music is the most popular music in the Bahamas. This music goes along with Junkanoo, which is a type of street carnival. Junkanoo is also the strongest remaining African tradition in the Bahamas. • The Bahamas was a British Colony, until it received its independence on July 10th, 1973. • The national bird of the Bahamas is the Flamingo. • The population of the Bahamas is 320,000. • The Lucayan National Park, in Grand Bahama, has some of the oldest underwater caves in the world. • In the Bahamas, people drive on the left side of the road. • The song, “Who Let the Dogs Out,” was made by a Bahamian group, called the Baha Men.

16. TheMeaningoftheBahamian Flag • The black triangle on the flag, represents the unity and determination, of the people of the Bahamas. • The three stripes on the flag symbolize areas of natural resources. The two aquamarine stripes represent the sea, and the golden stripe represents the land.

17. TheBahamas