The Bahamas

The Bahamas is an Atlantic island nation comprising more than 700 islands and cays, only around 30 of which are inhabited. Independent since 1973 as the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, the islands carry a long British colonial history still visible in Nassau's architecture and governance. The low-lying, reef-fringed archipelago sits southeast of Florida and northeast of Cuba, and is widely known for exceptionally clear, turquoise waters that make snorkeling and diving defining activities. Nassau on New Providence island serves as the economic and cultural hub of the country.