The Bahamas Researched via: Student Name: Tyanni Niles Date: June 8, 2010

Where is Bahamas located? The Bahamas is in the North Atlantic Ocean on the eastern edge of the Caribbean, southeast of Florida.

Flag, Motto, Anthem: The motto is “Forward, Upward, Onward, Together”. The national anthem of the Bahamas is called: March On Bahamaland Lift up your head to the rising sun, Bahamaland, March on to glory, your bright banners waving high, See how the world marks the manner of your bearing ; Pledge to excel thro' love and unity. Pressing onward, march together, to a common loftier goal ; Steady sunward tho' the weather hide the wide and treacherous shoal. Lift up your head to the rising sun, Bahamaland, 'til the road you've trod lead unto your God, March on Bahamaland.

History: From tribal Indians to pirates, from explorers to slave traders, the Bahamas are steeped in centuries of rich and fascinating history. In fact, a stromatolite limestone reef on the eastern shore of Exuma is considered the oldest evidence of life on earth! The Siboney Indians, the first known residents of the Bahamas, survived here about 7,000 years ago on conch and fishing. Sometime after the Siboneys disappeared, the Arawak Indians, also called Lucayans, migrated to the islands from the Amazon region of South America. The Lucayans were prosperous and plentiful, with an estimated population of around 40,000 by the late 15th century. Most historians believe they developed an advanced political and social structure and lived in well-organized cities. But shortly after Christopher Columbus arrived in 1492, they were rapidly exterminated by the Spanish, and as a result, little is known about them.

Economy: GDPpurchasing power parity - $5 billion (2001 est.)GDP - real growth rate3.5% (2001)GDP - per capitapurchasing power parity - $16,800 (2000 est.)GDP - composition by sectoragriculture: 3% industry: 7% services: 90% (1999 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices)1.5% (2001 est.)Labor force156,000 (1999)Labor force - by occupationtourism 40%, other services 50%, industry 5%, agriculture 5% (1995 est.)Unemployment rate6.9% (2001 est.)Budgetrevenues: $918.5 million expenditures: $956.5 million, including capital expenditures of $106.7 million (FY99/00)Industriestourism, banking, cement, oil refining and transshipment, salt, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral-welded steel pipe

Famous people/role model: A famous person of the Bahamas is Rick Fox.

What do you like the most about Bahamas? The thing I like most about the Bahamas are its beaches and many of the other sites located there.