--- title: The Bahamas — English Wikipedia · full text with trees · page 2 description: Wikipedia's «The Bahamas», whole, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics, CC BY-SA 4.0. It begins: The Bahamas, officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an archipelagic country in the Caribbean located within the Lucayan Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/The_Bahamas/page/2/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [wikipedia](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/) / [en](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/) / The Bahamas # The Bahamas · page 2 From Wikipedia, [«The Bahamas»](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bahamas), revision of the 2026-09-01 dump, [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). The trees and pragmatics of these pages, Mova's parse of that text, are CC BY-SA 4.0 too. [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/The_Bahamas/) **2** [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/The_Bahamas/page/3/) [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/The_Bahamas/page/4/) During the [American Civil War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War) of the 1860s, the islands briefly prospered as a focus for [blockade runners](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blockade_runners) aiding the [Confederate States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confederate_States).[\[49\]](../../page/4/#ref-49 "note 49")[\[50\]](../../page/4/#ref-50 "note 50")[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Early 20th century The early decades of the 20th century were ones of hardship for many Bahamians, characterised by a stagnant economy and widespread poverty.[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") Many eked out a living via subsistence agriculture or fishing.[\[23\]](../../page/4/#ref-23 "note 23")[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") In August 1940 the [Duke of Windsor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_VIII) (formerly King Edward VIII) was appointed [Governor of the Bahamas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governor_of_the_Bahamas).[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") He arrived in the colony with his wife, [Wallis, Duchess of Windsor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallis,_Duchess_of_Windsor).[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") Although disheartened at the condition of Government House, they "tried to make the best of a bad situation".[\[51\]](../../page/4/#ref-51 "note 51")[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") He did not enjoy the position, and referred to the islands as "a third-class British colony".[\[52\]](../../page/4/#ref-52 "note 52")[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") He opened the small local parliament on 29 October 1940.[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") The couple visited the "Out Islands" that November, on [Axel Wenner-Gren](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axel_Wenner-Gren)'s yacht, which caused controversy;[\[53\]](../../page/4/#ref-53 "note 53") the [British Foreign Office](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Foreign_Office) strenuously objected because they had been advised by United States intelligence that Wenner-Gren was a close friend of the [Luftwaffe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luftwaffe) commander [Hermann Göring](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermann_Göring) of Nazi Germany.[\[53\]](../../page/4/#ref-53 "note 53")[\[54\]](../../page/4/#ref-54 "note 54")[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") The Duke was praised at the time for his efforts to combat poverty on the islands.[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") A 1991 biography by Philip Ziegler, however, described him as contemptuous of the Bahamians and other non-European peoples of the Empire.[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") He was praised for his resolution of civil unrest over low wages in [Nassau](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nassau,_Bahamas) in June 1942, when there was a "full-scale riot".[\[55\]](../../page/4/#ref-55 "note 55")[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") Ziegler said that the Duke blamed the trouble on "mischief makers – [communists](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communists)" and "men of Central European [Jewish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish) descent, who had secured jobs as a pretext for obtaining a deferment of draft".[\[56\]](../../page/4/#ref-56 "note 56")[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") The Duke resigned from the post on 16 March 1945.[\[57\]](../../page/4/#ref-57 "note 57")[\[58\]](../../page/4/#ref-58 "note 58")[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Post-Second World War See also: [Monarchy of the Bahamas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_the_Bahamas)* Modern political development began after the [Second World War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_World_War). The first political parties were formed in the 1950s, split broadly along ethnic lines, with the [United Bahamian Party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Bahamian_Party) (UBP) representing the English-descended Bahamians (known informally as the "Bay Street Boys")\[59\] and the [Progressive Liberal Party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_Liberal_Party) (PLP) representing the Black-Bahamian majority.\[23\] A new constitution granting the Bahamas internal autonomy went into effect on 7 January 1964, with Chief Minister [Sir Roland Symonette](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Roland_Symonette) of the UBP becoming the first premier.[\[60\]](../../page/4/#ref-60 "note 60")[\[61\]](../../page/4/#ref-61 "note 61")[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1967 [Sir Lynden Pindling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Lynden_Pindling) of the PLP became the first black premier of the Bahamian colony; in 1968 the title of the position was changed to prime minister.[106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1968 Pindling announced that the Bahamas would seek full independence.[\[62\]](../../page/4/#ref-62 "note 62")[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") A new constitution giving the Bahamas increased control over its own affairs was adopted in 1968.[\[63\]](../../page/4/#ref-63 "note 63")[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1971, the UBP merged with a disaffected faction of the PLP to form a new party, the [Free National Movement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_National_Movement) (FNM), a centre-right party which aimed to counter the growing power of Pindling's PLP.[\[64\]](../../page/4/#ref-64 "note 64")[109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") [Her Majesty's Government](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Her_Majesty%27s_Government) gave the Bahamas its independence by an [Order in Council](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_in_Council) dated 20 June 1973.[\[65\]](../../page/4/#ref-65 "note 65")[110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") The Order came into force on 10 July 1973, on which date [Charles, Prince of Wales](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles,_Prince_of_Wales), delivered the official documents to Pindling, the prime minister.[\[66\]](../../page/4/#ref-66 "note 66")[111](../../111/ "tree and pragmatics") July 10 is now celebrated as [Independence Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_holidays_in_the_Bahamas).[\[67\]](../../page/4/#ref-67 "note 67")[112](../../112/ "tree and pragmatics") It joined the [Commonwealth of Nations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_of_Nations) on the same day.[\[68\]](../../page/4/#ref-68 "note 68")[113](../../113/ "tree and pragmatics") [Sir Milo Butler](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Milo_Butler) was appointed the first [governor-general of the Bahamas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governor-general_of_the_Bahamas) (the official representative of [Queen Elizabeth II](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Elizabeth_II)) shortly after independence.[\[69\]](../../page/4/#ref-69 "note 69")[114](../../114/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Post-independence Shortly after independence, the Bahamas joined the [International Monetary Fund](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Monetary_Fund) and the [World Bank](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Bank) on 22 August 1973,[\[70\]](../../page/4/#ref-70 "note 70") and later the [United Nations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations) on 18 September 1973.[\[71\]](../../page/4/#ref-71 "note 71")[115](../../115/ "tree and pragmatics") Politically, the first two decades were dominated by Pindling's PLP, who went on to win a string of electoral victories.[116](../../116/ "tree and pragmatics") Allegations of corruption, links with drug cartels and financial malfeasance within the Bahamian government failed to dent Pindling's popularity.[117](../../117/ "tree and pragmatics") Meanwhile, the economy underwent a dramatic growth period fuelled by the twin pillars of tourism and [offshore finance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Offshore_finance), significantly raising the [standard of living](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_of_living) on the islands.[118](../../118/ "tree and pragmatics") The Bahamas' booming economy led to it becoming a beacon for immigrants, most notably from [Haiti](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haiti).[\[23\]](../../page/4/#ref-23 "note 23")[119](../../119/ "tree and pragmatics") [In 1992](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992_Bahamian_general_election), Pindling was unseated by [Hubert Ingraham](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubert_Ingraham) of the FNM.[\[60\]](../../page/4/#ref-60 "note 60")[120](../../120/ "tree and pragmatics") Ingraham went on to win the [1997 Bahamian general election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_Bahamian_general_election), before being defeated [in 2002](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_Bahamian_general_election), when the PLP returned to power under [Perry Christie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perry_Christie).[\[60\]](../../page/4/#ref-60 "note 60")[121](../../121/ "tree and pragmatics") Ingraham returned to power from 2007 to 2012, followed by Christie again from 2012 to 2017.[122](../../122/ "tree and pragmatics") With economic growth faltering, Bahamians re-elected the FNM in 2017, with [Hubert Minnis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubert_Minnis) becoming the fourth prime minister.[\[23\]](../../page/4/#ref-23 "note 23")[123](../../123/ "tree and pragmatics") In September 2019, [Hurricane Dorian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Dorian) struck the [Abaco Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abaco_Islands) and [Grand Bahama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Bahama) at [Category 5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saffir–Simpson_scale#Category_5) intensity, devastating the northwestern Bahamas.[124](../../124/ "tree and pragmatics") The storm inflicted at least [US$](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US$)7 billion in damages and killed more than 50 people,[\[72\]](../../page/4/#ref-72 "note 72")[\[73\]](../../page/4/#ref-73 "note 73") with 1,300 people missing after two weeks.[\[74\]](../../page/4/#ref-74 "note 74")[125](../../125/ "tree and pragmatics") The [COVID-19 pandemic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Bahamas) reached the Bahamas on 15 March 2020.[\[75\]](../../page/4/#ref-75 "note 75")[126](../../126/ "tree and pragmatics") At the [2021 general election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Bahamian_general_election) the governing [Free National Movement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_National_Movement) (FNM) lost to the opposition [Progressive Liberal Party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_Liberal_Party) (PLP) as the economy struggled to recover from its deepest crash since at least 1971.[\[76\]](../../page/4/#ref-76 "note 76")[\[77\]](../../page/4/#ref-77 "note 77")[\[78\]](../../page/4/#ref-78 "note 78")[127](../../127/ "tree and pragmatics") On 17 September 2021 the chairman of the PLP, [Phillip Davis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Davis_%28Bahamian_politician%29), was sworn in as the new prime minister, succeeding [Hubert Minnis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubert_Minnis).[\[79\]](../../page/4/#ref-79 "note 79")[128](../../128/ "tree and pragmatics") ## Geography Main article: [Geography of the Bahamas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_the_Bahamas), [List of islands of the Bahamas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_islands_of_the_Bahamas) The Bahamas consists of a [chain of islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_islands_of_the_Bahamas) spread out over some 500 mi in the Atlantic Ocean, located to the east of [Florida](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida) in the United States, north of Cuba and [Hispaniola](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispaniola) and west of the British Overseas Territory of the [Turks and Caicos Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turks_and_Caicos_Islands) (with which it forms the [Lucayan archipelago](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucayan_archipelago)).[129](../../129/ "tree and pragmatics") It lies between latitudes [20°](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_parallel_north) and [28°N](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/28th_parallel_north), and longitudes [72°](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/72nd_meridian_west) and [80°W](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/80°W) and straddles the [Tropic of Cancer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropic_of_Cancer).[\[10\]](../../page/4/#ref-10 "note 10")[130](../../130/ "tree and pragmatics") There are some 700 islands and 2,400 cays in total (of which 30 are inhabited) with a total land area of 10010 km2.[\[10\]](../../page/4/#ref-10 "note 10")[\[23\]](../../page/4/#ref-23 "note 23")[131](../../131/ "tree and pragmatics") [Nassau](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nassau,_Bahamas), the capital city of the Bahamas, lies on the island of [New Providence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Providence); the other main inhabited islands are [Grand Bahama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Bahama), [Eleuthera](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleuthera), [Cat Island](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_Island,_The_Bahamas), [Rum Cay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rum_Cay), [Long Island](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Island,_Bahamas), [San Salvador Island](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Salvador_Island), [Ragged Island](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ragged_Island,_Bahamas), [Acklins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acklins), [Crooked Island](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crooked_Island,_Bahamas), [Exuma](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exuma), [Berry Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berry_Islands), [Mayaguana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayaguana), the [Bimini](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bimini) islands, [Great Abaco](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Abaco) and [Great Inagua](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Inagua).[132](../../132/ "tree and pragmatics") The largest island is [Andros](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andros,_Bahamas).[\[23\]](../../page/4/#ref-23 "note 23")[133](../../133/ "tree and pragmatics") All the islands are low and flat, with ridges that usually rise no more than 15 to 20 m. The highest point in the country is [Mount Alvernia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Alvernia) (formerly Como Hill) on Cat Island at 64 m.[\[10\]](../../page/4/#ref-10 "note 10")[134](../../134/ "tree and pragmatics") The country contains three terrestrial ecoregions: [Bahamian dry forests](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahamian_dry_forests), [Bahamian pine mosaic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahamian_pine_mosaic), and [Bahamian mangroves](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahamian_mangroves).[\[80\]](../../page/4/#ref-80 "note 80")[135](../../135/ "tree and pragmatics") It had a 2019 [Forest Landscape Integrity Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_Landscape_Integrity_Index) mean score of 7.35/10, ranking it 44th globally out of 172 countries.[\[81\]](../../page/4/#ref-81 "note 81")[136](../../136/ "tree and pragmatics") In the Bahamas [forest cover](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_cover) is around 51 per cent of the total land area, equivalent to 509,860 hectares (ha) of forest in 2020, which was unchanged from 1990.[137](../../137/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2020, naturally regenerating forest covered 509,860 hectares (ha) and planted forest covered 0 hectares (ha).[138](../../138/ "tree and pragmatics") Of the naturally regenerating forest 0 per cent was reported to be [primary forest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_forest) (consisting of native tree species with no clearly visible indications of human activity) and around 0 per cent of the forest area was found within protected areas.[139](../../139/ "tree and pragmatics") For the year 2015, 80 percent of the forest area was reported to be under [public ownership](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_ownership) while 20 percent was under [private ownership](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_ownership).[\[82\]](../../page/4/#ref-82 "note 82")[\[83\]](../../page/4/#ref-83 "note 83")[140](../../140/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Climate See also: [Geography of the Bahamas § Climate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_the_Bahamas#Climate) According to the [Köppen climate classification](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Köppen_climate_classification), the climate of the Bahamas is mostly [tropical savannah climate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_savannah_climate) or Aw, with a hot and wet season and a warm and dry season.[141](../../141/ "tree and pragmatics") The low latitude, warm tropical [Gulf Stream](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_Stream), and low [elevation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elevation) give the Bahamas a warm and winterless climate.[\[84\]](../../page/4/#ref-84 "note 84")[142](../../142/ "tree and pragmatics") The wet season of the archipelago runs from May to October.[\[85\]](../../page/4/#ref-85 "note 85")[143](../../143/ "tree and pragmatics") There is only a 7 C-change difference between the warmest month and coolest month in most of the Bahama islands.[144](../../144/ "tree and pragmatics") Every few decades low temperatures can fall below 10 °C for a few hours when a severe cold outbreak comes down from the North American mainland, however there has never been a frost or freeze recorded in the Bahamian Islands.[145](../../145/ "tree and pragmatics") There is only one report in recorded history of snow being spotted anywhere in the Bahamas.[146](../../146/ "tree and pragmatics") This occurred in Freeport on 19 January 1977, when snow mixed with rain was visible in the air for a short time.[\[86\]](../../page/4/#ref-86 "note 86")[147](../../147/ "tree and pragmatics") The Bahamas are often sunny and dry for long periods, and average more than 3,000 hours or 340 days of sunlight annually.[148](../../148/ "tree and pragmatics") Much of the natural vegetation is tropical scrub and cactus and succulents are common in landscapes.[\[87\]](../../page/4/#ref-87 "note 87")[149](../../149/ "tree and pragmatics") Tropical storms and hurricanes occasionally impact the Bahamas.[150](../../150/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1992, [Hurricane Andrew](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Andrew) passed over the northern portions of the islands, and [Hurricane Floyd](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Floyd) passed near the eastern portions of the islands in 1999.[151](../../151/ "tree and pragmatics") [Hurricane Dorian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Dorian) of 2019 passed over the archipelago at destructive Category 5 strength with sustained winds of 185 mph and wind gusts up to 220 mph, becoming the strongest tropical cyclone on record to impact the northwestern islands of Grand Bahama and Great Abaco.[\[88\]](../../page/4/#ref-88 "note 88")[152](../../152/ "tree and pragmatics") [Climate change](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change) is causing temperature increases in the Bahamas.[153](../../153/ "tree and pragmatics") The average temperature has increased by approximately 0.5 °C since 1960, and the rate of warming is more rapid in warmer seasons.[\[89\]](../../page/4/#ref-89 "note 89")[154](../../154/ "tree and pragmatics") Global temperature rise of 2 °C above preindustrial levels can increase the likelihood of extreme [hurricane](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane) rainfall by four to five times in the Bahamas.[\[90\]](../../page/4/#ref-90 "note 90")[\[91\]](../../page/4/#ref-91 "note 91")[155](../../155/ "tree and pragmatics") The Bahamas is expected to be highly affected by [sea level rise](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_level_rise) because at least 80 per cent of the total land is below 10 meters elevation.[\[92\]](../../page/4/#ref-92 "note 92")[156](../../156/ "tree and pragmatics") Climate change could also affect the seasonality of outbreaks and transmission of disease in the Bahamas.[\[93\]](../../page/4/#ref-93 "note 93")[157](../../157/ "tree and pragmatics") Although the country's [greenhouse gas emissions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_gas_emissions) are comparatively small (2.94 million tonnes of green house gases emitted in 2023),[\[94\]](../../page/4/#ref-94 "note 94") The Bahamas is reliant on imported [fossil fuels](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossil_fuel) for energy generation.[\[95\]](../../page/4/#ref-95 "note 95")[158](../../158/ "tree and pragmatics") The government plans to increase [solar energy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_energy) capacity to 30 per cent of the country's total energy production by 2033.[\[96\]](../../page/4/#ref-96 "note 96")[159](../../159/ "tree and pragmatics") The Bahamas has pledged to reduce its emissions by 30 per cent by 2030, if international support is received.[\[97\]](../../page/4/#ref-97 "note 97")[160](../../160/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Geology Main article: [Bahama Banks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahama_Banks) It is generally believed that the Bahamas were formed approximately 200 million years ago, when Pangaea started to break apart.[161](../../161/ "tree and pragmatics") In current times, it endures as an archipelago containing over 700 islands and cays, fringed around different [coral reefs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef).[162](../../162/ "tree and pragmatics") The [limestone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limestone) that comprises the Banks has been accumulating since at least the [Cretaceous](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cretaceous) period, and perhaps as early as the [Jurassic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jurassic); today the total thickness under the Great Bahama Bank is over 4.5 kilometres (2.8 miles).[\[98\]](../../page/4/#ref-98 "note 98")[163](../../163/ "tree and pragmatics") As the limestone was deposited in shallow water, the only way to explain this massive column is to estimate that the entire platform has [subsided](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subsidence) under its own weight at a rate of roughly 3.6 centimetres (2 inches) per 1,000 years.[\[98\]](../../page/4/#ref-98 "note 98")[164](../../164/ "tree and pragmatics") The Bahamas is part of the [Lucayan Archipelago](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucayan_Archipelago), which continues into the Turks and Caicos Islands, the [Mouchoir Bank](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mouchoir_Bank), the [Silver Bank](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Bank), and the [Navidad Bank](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navidad_Bank).[\[99\]](../../page/4/#ref-99 "note 99")[165](../../165/ "tree and pragmatics") The Bahamas Platform, which includes the Bahamas, Southern Florida, Northern Cuba, the Turks and Caicos, and the [Blake Plateau](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blake_Plateau), formed about 150 [Ma](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megaannum), not long after the formation of the North Atlantic.[166](../../166/ "tree and pragmatics") The 6.4 km thick [limestones](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limestone), which predominate in the Bahamas, date back to the [Cretaceous](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cretaceous).[167](../../167/ "tree and pragmatics") These limestones would have been deposited in shallow seas, assumed to be a stretched and thinned portion of the [North American continental crust](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Plate).[168](../../168/ "tree and pragmatics") Sediments were forming at about the same rate as the crust below was sinking due to the added weight.[169](../../169/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus, the entire area consisted of a large marine plain with some islands.[170](../../170/ "tree and pragmatics") Then, at about 80 Ma, the area became flooded by the [Gulf Stream](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_Stream).[171](../../171/ "tree and pragmatics") This resulted in the drowning of the Blake Plateau, the separation of the Bahamas from Cuba and Florida, the separation of the southeastern Bahamas into separate banks, the creation of the [Cay Sal Bank](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cay_Sal_Bank), plus the [Little and Great Bahama Banks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahama_Banks).[172](../../172/ "tree and pragmatics") Sedimentation from the "carbonate factory" of each bank, or [atoll](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atoll), continues today at the rate of about 20 mm per [kyr](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyr).[173](../../173/ "tree and pragmatics") [Coral reefs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef) form the "retaining walls" of these atolls, within which [oolites](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oolite) and [pellets](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pellets_%28petrology%29) form.[\[100\]](../../page/4/#ref-100 "note 100")[174](../../174/ "tree and pragmatics") Coral growth was greater through the [Tertiary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tertiary_%28geology%29), until the start of the [ice ages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_ages), and hence those deposits are more abundant below a depth of 36 m. In fact, an ancient extinct reef exists half a kilometre seaward of the present one, 30 m below sea level.[175](../../175/ "tree and pragmatics") Oolites form when oceanic water penetrate the shallow banks, increasing the temperature about 3 C-change and the salinity by 0.5 per cent.[176](../../176/ "tree and pragmatics") [Cemented](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cementation_%28geology%29) [ooids](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ooid) are referred to as grapestone.[177](../../177/ "tree and pragmatics") Additionally, giant [stromatolites](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stromatolite) are found off the [Exuma Cays](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exuma_Cays).[\[100\]](../../page/4/#ref-100 "note 100")[178](../../178/ "tree and pragmatics") [Sea level changes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_level_change) resulted in a drop in sea level, causing wind blown oolite to form [sand dunes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sand_dune) with distinct [cross-bedding](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-bedding).[179](../../179/ "tree and pragmatics") Overlapping dunes form oolitic ridges, which become rapidly [lithified](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithified) through the action of rainwater, called [eolianite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eolianite).[180](../../180/ "tree and pragmatics") Most islands have ridges ranging from 30 to 45 m, though Cat Island has a ridge 60 m in height.[181](../../181/ "tree and pragmatics") The land between ridges is conducive to the formation of lakes and swamps.[\[100\]](../../page/4/#ref-100 "note 100")[182](../../182/ "tree and pragmatics") [Solution weathering](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solution_weathering) of the limestone results in a "Bahamian [Karst](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karst)" topography.[183](../../183/ "tree and pragmatics") This includes [potholes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pothole_%28geology%29), [blue holes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_hole) such as [Dean's Blue Hole](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean%27s_Blue_Hole), [sinkholes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinkhole), [beachrock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beachrock) such as the [Bimini Road](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bimini_Road) ("pavements of Atlantis"), [limestone crust](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caliche), caves due to the lack of rivers, and [sea caves](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_caves).[184](../../184/ "tree and pragmatics") Several blue holes are aligned along the South Andros [Fault](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fault_%28geology%29) line.[185](../../185/ "tree and pragmatics") [Tidal flats](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_flat) and [tidal creeks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_creek) are common, but the more impressive drainage patterns are formed by troughs and canyons such as [Great Bahama Canyon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Bahama_Canyon) with the evidence of [turbidity currents](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbidity_current) and [turbidite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbidite) deposition.[\[100\]](../../page/4/#ref-100 "note 100")[186](../../186/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/The_Bahamas/) **2** [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/The_Bahamas/page/3/) [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/The_Bahamas/page/4/) - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/The_Bahamas/) - next →: [page 3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/The_Bahamas/page/3/) - ↑ back to [English Wikipedia](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/)