Bahamas: Geography
29 islands against a backdrop of blue
The Bahamas consist of a collection of around 700 cays and atolls, of which 29 are considered proper inhabited islands, the largest being Andros. Nassau is the capital of the Bahamas and its largest city (pop. 260,000); home to around 80% of the nation’s 330,000 inhabitants. It is located on the island of New Providence. Grand Bahama, the closest major island to the U.S., is where the second largest city in the country, Freeport (pop. 27,000) is located. Other islands of note are Great Abaco, Great Inagua (the second largest island in the country), Eleuthera, Cat Island, San Salvador Island, Acklins, Crooked Island, and Mayaguana. The Bahamas have a humid subtropical climate, which is moderated by the Gulf Stream and experiences cool breezes year round.
