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20 Fascinating Facts About The Bahamas

A popular tourist destination, the islands of The Bahamas are a tropical hot spot that has been ranked over the years as the best vacation destination in the world. Its beauty and amazing weather are something that always sets it apart in a way that makes the place even more attractive and serene in a calming sort of way. The Bahamas also has so many islands and all 700  of them are what makes this paradise an archipelago special. If you ever have a plan to visit a beautiful beach with an attractive tropical climate, this should be it. So what are some of the most fascinating facts about the Bahamas?

1. It is referred to as “the most beautiful place from space”

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NASA astronaut, known as Scott Kelly, famously referred to the Bahamas as “the most beautiful place from space,” and with one glimpse at the place, you get to understand why it is the most beautiful place. It is home to some of the most beautiful white sand beaches and here is where you can easily have an opportunity to experience beach hopping. Simply put, the Bahamas is the perfect destination for a beach vacation.

2. This is where you will find the swimming pigs of Exuma

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The Bahamas is also popularly known for its famous swimming pigs. If this is something you have always looked forward to, swimming with pigs in the Caribbean, then this is definitely something you’d want to try. To get there, you may need to take a boat out to an island known as Pig Island and on getting closer, you will see some pigs swimming out towards your boat to say hi. The tour is also very family friendly but couples too can get to enjoy the experience while getting to know the pigs while at it. The island is mostly uninhabited, apart from the pigs and their caretakers.

3. The Bahamas is the playground of the world’s rich and famous.

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The Caribbean generally speaking is an amazing destination. The Bahamas however, is high up on the list of the most popular destination for the rich and famous, where wealthy travelers from all over the world often find themselves making their way out to the Bahamas. Moreover, the island offers rich opportunities to purchase private islands and that’s why celebrities like Oprah, Michael Jordan, and many others have stakes in it too.

4. The Bahamas throughout history was a popular destination for pirates

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Between the 1600s and 1700s, pirates had a booming economy in the Caribbean, and especially in the Bahamas. It was known as the ‘Golden Era,’ or the ‘Golden Age.’ During this time, pirates would typically target merchant ships traveling through the harbor and robbing them and some of their bounties included gold, salt, and many other goods. These gains attracted even more pirates and became their popular destination. One of the most famous pirates at the time was the Blackbeard. The era of the Pirate Republic in the Bahamas soon became chaotic and this continued until 1718 when a captain general and governor-in-chief by the name of Woodes Rogers was appointed.

Read more: /blog/history/10-renowned-pirates-in-history/

5. The Bahamas is popular and a fantastic destination for scuba diving and snorkeling

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If you are looking for the perfect destination for scuba diving and snorkeling, The Bahamas should be it. There are so many diving spots here, including the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park and even the Andros Blue Holes. There are many popular destinations that you can always prefer for snorkeling. The Henry Ford Wreck in the Biminis for instance and the reefs found in the Abacos are such perfect examples.

6. The Bahamas was the first landing of Christopher Columbus

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Christopher Columbus is a spectacular one and it is said that he mostly focused his journey through the Caribbean region. The Bahamas to be specific, is said to have been one of the first places where his crew landed and of course, as the story goes, he ‘discovered’ this new world beginning in San Salvador and Samana Cay in the Bahamas. It is believed that when he got there, the Lucayan Taino people (the natives), were already present and over the course of several years later, the Taino people disappeared from the islands. It is not exactly clear what happened.

Read more: /blog/madrid/top-10-facts-about-christopher-columbus/

7. They have a special kind of cocktail popularly known as The Bahama Mama cocktail

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This special tropical cocktail is made of coconut rum, grenadine, orange juice, and pineapple juice as its main ingredients.  It is well known all over the world and a must-try when visiting the Bahamas. It has always been a recommendation for when one visits the Bahamas. With a good spot at the beach or the swimming pool, you get to relax and this tropical drink completes the good feel and feeling that indeed you’re vacationing.

8. There are over 700 islands in The Bahamas

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With over seven hundred islands, I bet deciding which one to visit and which one to leave can be a bit of a tricky scenario. The good news is, there is always a method to any kind of madness out there. Given the fact that many of these islands are uninhabited, it’s pretty simple to narrow down things. The best islands have been said to be New Providence Island, Paradise Island, The Exumas, The Abacos, Andros, Bimini, The Berry Islands, the Southern Bahamian Islands, Eleuthera, and Harbour Island. Additionally, most travelers usually fly into New Providence hence making it the most common destination for tourists. With that said, Paradise Island is perfect for families with children and hence family friendly. In essence, The Bahamas has a lot to offer both for individuals and families.

9. The Bahamas has some of the most delicious conch dishes and seafood

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When in The Bahamas, you definitely get to give your taste buds an adventure of a lifetime. With varied fresh seafood that is quite varied, you cannot go wrong. Given how also they get their inspiration from Europe, Africa, and South America, you are sure to have a treat of a lifetime once you try them out. From reviews of the ones you have been there before, after trying their conch salad, johnny cakes, baked crab, rock lobster, fried fish, and many more delicious foods, you are bound to return for a couple of recipes to be trying out back home.

10. The Bahamas is the perfect place for sport fishing and bonefishing

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The Bahamas is the perfect place to begin if you have never tried sport fishing or bonefishing before. It is even more enjoyable and adventurous if you are an experienced and seasoned diver. The Bahamas is filled with marine life which will absolutely make any fishing expedition much more exciting. It is no surprise that it has the reputation for having the best sport fishing in the world. Actually, it is Ernest Hemingway’s love for the Biminis that put the island of The Biminis on the map. Andros Island is perfect for bonefishing and is known for having the third-largest reef in the world. In other words, The Bahamas is perfect for anything to do with fish sports.

11. It is only in the Bahamas that you will find pink sand beaches.

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All through the whole world, The Bahamas is the only place where you will find pink sand beaches. Harbour Island, which is located to the northeast of Eleuthera, is one of the best places to find them. Locals usually refer to the island as ‘Briland’ and a single glance at the quaint Dunmore Town, littered with pastel-coloured cottages will make you fall in love even more. The pink sand beaches also give it a kind of outlook that cannot really be ignored and sets it apart to be the most beautiful beach you can come across.

12. They have the biggest  festival known as the Junkanoo festival

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Junkanoo festival is a typical and real Caribbean party usually held on Christmas and New Year’s Day. It is a very big event in the Bahamas and usually, the celebration can be described as the Bahamian version of Carnival. It provides the best opportunity for one to experience a Caribbean carnival with lots of costumes, music, live bands, traditional instruments and basically a lot of excitement.

13. The Bahamas has been featured in so many James Bond movies

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Over the years so many famous movies have been filmed in the Bahamas and this doesn’t really come as a surprise given how stunning it is. In one of the Bond movies, the Exuma Cay is perfect for diving and snorkeling, and even the name of the movie, ‘Thunderball,’ comes from the fact that these particular activities were a major standout feature in the movie. Particularly during the underwater fight scene.

14. It has a unique dialect and accent

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The islanders speak Creole dialect which can be a bit hard for foreigners to understand but it has African influences hence making it easy to learn more about this local Creole. However, that is not to say communication would be a nightmare if you were to find your way to the Bahamas. English is widely spoken here so whether or not you’re familiar with the local dialect, communication isn’t something you should worry about.

15. The Bahamas has a deep history of colonial conflict and slavery

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The Caribbean history is filled with colonial conflict and slavery and The Bahamas isn’t really an exception. There is the Pompey Museum of Slavery and Emancipation in Nassau, the Bimini Museum, the Man-O-War Heritage Museum in Abaco, The Dolphin House in Alice Town, the Albert Lowe Museum in Abaco, The Bahamas Historical Society Museum in Nassau, Long Island Library and Museum among so many others. All of these museums found here, shed light on the kind of history The Bahamas has had over the years, especially with regards to oppression.

16. There are also so many forts to explore in The Bahamas

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While in The Bahamas, there are a number of forts you can spend your time exploring including Fort Charlotte, which is the largest fort on the island of New Providence. The fort was built between 1788 and 1789 by Lord Dunmore and it was named after Queen Saharia Charlotte, wife to King George the Third. It features amazing views, dungeons, underground passages, and 42 cannons, which is why it never lacks spectators. Another popular fort is Fort Montague, made of local limestone and whose history goes all the way back to 1725. Its present form is as it was in 1741-1742 when it was being used by the British to keep the Spanish invaders away. The Blackbeard’s Tower is a fort believed to have been used by Blackbeard as a lookout point in the 1700s. It is a major historical landmark in the Bahamas.

17. The Bahamas is one of the best places in the world to cave dive.

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Thousands of years ago, the water around the Bahamas was 100 feet lower than they are today. However, with the rising sea levels, some caves that were made of limestone largely got submerged. Naturally, they are now found underneath the waters found in The Bahamas and thanks to this, it has come to be recognized as one of the best places in the world to cave dive.

18. The Bahamas has 14 Olympic medals to show off

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Not just known for its beautiful islands, when it comes to sports championships, The Bahamas can proudly boast of 14 Olympic medals. This is thanks to athletes like the sprinter, Pauline Davis, Tonique Williams and Shaunae Miller. All the medals won were secured in athletics and sailing and given how a 14-medal figure equates to a rate of 33.9 per million residents, this is not an achievement to take for granted.

19. There are also many great shopping opportunities in The Bahamas.

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Unlike many islands in the region, you can easily find some great shopping opportunities in The Bahamas. If you’re looking for souvenirs or high-end items, worry not. This paradise will provide as you are likely to find a shop or even a local market offering something affordable enough to suit your budget. For instance, Nassau and Paradise Island are both perfect for jewelry shopping as well as finding major fashion brands like Gucci and Louis Vuitton.

20. You can also find some of the most historic lighthouses in The Bahamas

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While checking out the Caribbean, you will find a few notable lighthouses that have a certain intrigue to them. For example, one such lighthouse is the Elbow Reef Lighthouse, popularly known as the Hope Town Lighthouse in Elnow Cay is one of the most popular and frequently visited. The 89-foot height adds to its appeal and curiosity. It was built in the 1860s and there are so many spectacular views that are available from the top hence making the 101 steps totally worth it. The other lighthouse, known as The Hog Island Lighthouse is the oldest and best-known lighthouse in the Bahamas. It was built in 1817.

The Bahamas is a paradise on earth. The beautiful islands and beaches found here never disappoint, especially for a first-time traveler.