The Bahamas

The Bahamas was the site of Christopher Columbus's first landfall in the Americas on October 12, 1492, when he encountered the island he called San Salvador. The indigenous Lucayan people were exterminated within decades of European contact, and the islands later became a base for pirates — most famously Blackbeard — before developing as a British colony. Nassau's colonial heritage is visible in its architecture and its role as a financial centre.

Tourism dominates the Bahamian economy absolutely, accounting for roughly 60% of GDP. The islands' extraordinary combination of clear, shallow turquoise water, white-sand beaches, and proximity to the United States — Nassau is just 290 kilometres from Miami — makes them among the most visited destinations in the Caribbean. Nassau and Paradise Island are home to major casino and resort complexes. The country is also a significant offshore financial centre, with tax advantages that have attracted international banking, shipping registrations, and wealth management.