Graced with beautiful beaches of pink sand, evocative
windswept panoramas and countless opportunities for diving, snorkelling
and fishing, the islands of the Bahamas are well established as one
of the world's top draws for both intrepid explorers and casual vacationers.
An island chain beginning a mere 55 miles east of Miami, Florida,
the Bahamas offer an array of tourist hotels, all-inclusive resorts,
and even rustic lodges, making staying there a relatively simple
endeavour. Indeed, more than three million travellers each year choose
the islands as their prime destination for outdoor sports, sun worship,
casino gambling and, on some of the slightly more remote spots, eco-tourism.
In total, the Bahamas include around seven hundred islands, no
more than thirty of which are inhabited, as well as smaller cays
(pronounced "keys")
and rocks - an impressive arc stretching from just beyond the Atlantic
coast of Florida to the outlying waters of Cuba, where Great Inagua
lies only sixty miles offshore. Although deeper oceanic troughs
surround some of the islands, most are encircled by shallow, crystalline
water
that reflects a light turquoise hue during the day and glows with
purple luminescence at night. This combination of shallow and deep
water makes diving and snorkelling both challenging and intriguing,
with numerous reefs waiting to be explored just beyond the shores
of the gorgeous, uncrowded beaches. |
