Calm
waters and cooling tradewinds have rightfully earned The Bahamas an international
reputation for sailing, with regattas
and races held year-round. The islands are actually the birthplace of the
Gulf Stream, a phenomenon that also accounts for their astonishing variety
and abundance of marine life. Legendary gamefish draw sport fisherman in
search of the "big one," and more than 50 international fishing
records have been set in these waters. The great writer / fisherman Ernest
Hemingway considered the Bahamian island of Bimini a
home. The same conditions that make these islands so amenable to sailors and
fisherman draw visitors to the vast and diverse
underwater parks. With more than 5% of the planet's reef mass, The Bahamas
offer inexhaustible pleasures and challenges to snorkelers and divers.
The natural beauty of the water extends to the thousands of miles of shoreline,
which has some of the world's most stunningly beautiful and unsullied beaches.
From the pink sands of Harbour Island and Eleuthera
to the deserted strands of the Exumas and San
Salvador, there is a lifetime of beaches to experience. Further inland
are gardens and National Parks with rare and endangered species, such as
the exotic Abaco Parrot and the Bahamian Iguana. Although
The Bahamas are as diverse and numerous as the days of the year, the reassuring
unifier is the charm and hospitality of its people. The Bahamas Ministry
of Tourism offers a People-to-People programme;
an opportunity for visitors to experience a genuine and informal taste
of Bahamian hospitality and culture. Volunteers holding interests similar
to yours give you a taste of Bahamian life and potentially a lifelong friendship. Bahamians
will be more than happy to introduce
you to the richness of their history, folklore, culture
and cuisine. Over a succulent dish of cracked
conch and guava duff, you'll hear tales about the nefarious pirate Blackbeard
and the mysterious blue holes of Andros. They'll
tell you about the original Eleutheran Adventurers, the playful the Junkanoo troupes. You
can start exploring the Islands of the Bahamas
by using the clickable map. Please sign our
guest book and let us know what you think, share some stories of the Bahamas,
or leave a hot tip. You can also read the tales of other readers on our
Bahamas Browser's Page. Finally, we hope that this presentation convinces
you to leave that computer screen behind and come visit us in person.
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