Arawak Indians inhabited the Bahamas islands when Christopher
Columbus first set foot in the New World on San Salvador in 1492. British settlement of the Bahamas began in 1647; the islands
became a colony in 1783. Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973, The Bahamas have prospered through tourism and
international banking and investment management.
An
archipelago of 700 islands and islets, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas attracts millions of tourists each year.
The
visitors come to enjoy its mild climate, splendid beaches and beautiful forests.