The Bahamas

The Commonwealth of the Bahamas since 1973 when the islands gained their independence from the UK. Previously its official name had been the Commonwealth of the Bahama Islands (1969–73). The name is said to mean 'Shallow Sea' from the Spanish baja mar although there is some doubt about this; it is probably derived from a much older Lucayan word. Inhabited originally by the Lucayans, one of the Bahama islands (possibly San Salvador Island, Cat Island, or Samana Cay) was where Christopher Columbus^† first 'discovered' the New World on 12 October 1492. The Spanish did not try to settle, English migrants from Bermuda being the first Europeans to establish a colony in 1649. In 1717 the islands became a British crown colony and remained so until 1973.

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blue chart bahamas