The Bahamas: a tourism country

Cruise ships anchored in Nassau.

July 25, 2015, Saturday/ 17:00:00/ SAİM ORHAN / NASSAU

The Bahamas consist of numerous islands and islets in the Atlantic Ocean close to the coast of Florida in the US as well as Cuba.

Its surface area is 13,039 square kilometers and it has a population of 350,000. Nassau is its capital city. Although the country is a conglomeration of 700 islands and 2,000 islets, only 31 islands are inhabited by people. The highest altitude in the country is only 63 meters but even this altitude is significant for the country. A small hill located on Cat Island is called Mount Alvernia because from the residents' perspective it looks like a mountain. It should be noted, however, that there are countries with a lower elevation than the Bahamas, such as Gambia, the Marshall Islands and the Maldives.

The Bahamas are recognized as the place where Christopher Columbus first set foot on the New World. When Europeans came here, the islands were inhabited by the indigenous Lucayan, who were the real owners of the island, couldn't resist the influx of Europeans and were destroyed. Colonialists later brought African slaves to work in the sugarcane fields. Today, 85 percent of the country's population consists of the descendants of those black slaves.

Parliament Building, Nassau

tourism is the country's main source of income.

The islands are treasure chests filled with spectacular beauties, attracting around 6 million tourists annually. About 70 percent of the tourists are from the US; Americans enjoy an overwhelming majority among the visiting tourists. Of course, this is largely due to the geographic proximity of the US. In particular, the Bahamas are very close for Americans who live in the southern states, even closer than many US states. American tourists are followed by Canadian and then European tourists. In the past, agriculture was the main economic activity on the islands with pineapple and sugarcane the main agricultural products grown in the country. Moreover, sponge diving was an important business as well. After 1949, tourism started to flourish. The former tourism minister, who served for 25 years, played a major role in improving tourism.

The rainy season in the Bahamas is quite different from Turkey's summers and occurs between May and September.

While there are snakes on the islands, none are poisonous. Moreover, the Bahamas do not have large predators.

Nassau

The country has beautiful beaches. The total length of its coastlines is 3,542 kilometers. Its sand, which is very fine, attracts attention. The color of the ocean is also great, changing from turquoise to dark blue. This transition from one color to another is worth seeing. Visitors to the Bahamas are met with sun, perfect sand and a stunning ocean view. The country is sunny all year round.

Fort Charlotte

You can also see Fort Charlotte, a castle built by the British in 1787 to defend the island against attacks from the sea. It is one of the largest castles in the capital city.

During our tour, we reach the end point toward the easternmost part of the island, New Providence, where the capital city of Nassau is located. Here, the ocean presents itself in full glory. We try to make progress on the rocks, but they are quite slippery. We could fall down at any moment. I must note that the scenery is magnificent; it is a real treat to watch the ocean.

This place is a favorite setting for many Hollywood films. The fourth movie in the "Jaws" series -- “Jaws: The Revenge” -- was shot in the beautiful bays of New Providence in 1987. Many years have passed since then, but tourists still visit the bays where the film was shot.

"Dean's Blue Hole," located in a bay on Long Island, is the world's deepest known salt water blue hole with an entrance below sea level, attracting many tourists. Looking at it from a distance, one can guess the degree of its depth -- a total of 202 meters -- from the dark blue color that sets it apart from its surrounding. The water suddenly becomes deeper as one gets closer to the blue hole. Here you will find an underwater cave with an interesting formation.

The Bahamas have numerous beautiful spots, urging me to take photos trying to capture the gorgeous images. But I am not alone in this quest, many tourists take ample photos.

We learn that there will be a wedding ceremony on a beach and see the bride, groom and guests next to the ocean. Such beach weddings are quite common in the Bahamas and are particularly popular among Americans, Canadians and Europeans. The couple getting married is from the state of Virginia in the US. Their marriage is solemnized in quite an unusual wedding ceremony. Many companies organize such wedding ceremonies as the country is close to the US and is especially popular among Americans. We wish them good luck and happiness in life.