17 interesting facts about the Bahamas

17 interesting facts about the Bahamas

From record-breaking freediving to mysterious swimming pigs, we share the most interesting facts about the Bahamas that we gathered during our short but sweet visit

We didn't spend nearly enough time in the Bahamas, but with 700 islands to explore, it's fair to say no one does.

We spent our short time on the island of Eleuthera swimming, snorkeling and sunbathing - with a Bahama Mama or two thrown in for good measure.

This group of Caribbean islands is perhaps best known as a tax haven, but there are countless interesting facts about the Bahamas that illustrate its rich history and natural beauty. Below we share the best of them.

Interesting facts about the Bahamas

1. Die Bahamas bestehen aus 700 tropischen Inseln und über 2.000 Felsformationen. Nur etwa 30 seiner Inseln sind bewohnt. (Quelle: Britannica)
2. Andros Island auf den Bahamas verfügt über das 225 km lange Andros Barrier Reef – eines der längsten der Welt. (Quelle: Lonely Planet)
3. Auf den Bahamas landete Christoph Kolumbus ursprünglich in Amerika: in San Salvador im Jahr 1492. (Quelle: CIA World Factbook)
4. Die Bahamas kamen 1718 unter britische Herrschaft. Sie wurden 1973 ein unabhängiges Land innerhalb des Commonwealth. (Quelle: Britannica)

5. The Bahamas is one of 16 Commonwealth Realms; Countries that retain Queen Elizabeth II as their monarch. The others are Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, St. Lucia, the Solomon Islands, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Tuvalu and of course the United Kingdom. (Source: Royal.uk)

alt="interesting facts about the Bahamas: swimming pigs">BlueOrange Studio/ShutterstockThe famous swimming pigs of the Bahamas

1. Die unbewohnte Insel Big Major Cay im Exuma-Distrikt der Bahamas ist die Heimat einer kleinen Kolonie nicht heimischer „Schwimmschweine“. Es wird angenommen, dass sie von Seeleuten zurückgelassen wurden, die zurückkehren und sie kochen wollten, oder dass sie von einem nahe gelegenen Schiffswrack herübergeschwommen sind. Tragischerweise hat die Überfütterung durch Touristen zum Tod mehrerer Schweine geführt. (Quelle: Bahamas, Lonely Planet)

2. The highest peak in the Bahamas is Mount Alvernia on Cat Island. The not quite high peak rises 63 m (206 ft) above sea level. (Source: Bahamas)

3. Dean's Blue Hole in the Bahamas is the second deepest (known) sinkhole in the ocean. With a depth of 202 m, it is the second largest after Dragon Hole in the South China Sea, which has a depth of 300 m. Freedivers come to Dean’s Blue Hole to attempt world records. (Source: BBC)

alt="Dean's Blue Hole in the Bahamas">SNF/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0Dean's Blue Hole in the Bahamas

1. Mehrere Prominente haben ganze Inseln auf den Bahamas gekauft, darunter Shakira, Johnny Depp, Eddie Murphy und der Illusionist David Copperfield. (Quelle: Hollywood Reporter, Menschen)

2. The Bahamas is home to one of the longest underwater cave systems in the world. Lucayan National Park on Grand Bahama Island protects the cave system along with preserved remains of the Lucayan Indians, the islands' original inhabitants. (Source: Bahamas National Trust)

3. Astronaut Chris Hadfield called the Bahamas the most beautiful place on Earth as seen from space. “The Bahamas is beautiful,” he said. “The deep trench in the sea floor called the Tongue of the Ocean that runs between the islands has the most beautiful deep indigo color.” (Source: The Telegraph)

alt="the ocean tongue in the Bahamas">Fair useThe tongue of the ocean seen from space

1. Die Bahamas sind das sechstteuerste Land der Welt zum Leben, gemessen am Preis von 50 Alltagsgegenständen, von Essen und Trinken bis hin zu Transport und Unterkunft. Nur die Schweiz, Norwegen, Island, Japan und Dänemark sind teurer. (Quelle: Numbeo)

2. The Bahamas are known for their great year-round climate. The average temperature varies between 21°C in winter and 27°C in summer. Extremes rarely fall below 16°C or rise above 32°C. (Source: Britannica)

3. One of the most interesting facts about the Bahamas is that ship owners often register their vessels there for tax purposes. This dubious practice results in the country having the third highest number of registered ships in the world. Cruise ships in the Caribbean often fly the flag of the Bahamas – also known as the “flag of convenience.” (Source: The Government of the Bahamas)

alt="Things to know about the Bahamas: Cruise ship">John Wollwerth/ShutterstockRaising the flag for the Bahamas

1. Auf den Bahamas gibt es immer noch die Todesstrafe. Obwohl das Land in der Praxis als abolitionistisch angesehen wird, sagte Generalstaatsanwalt Carl Bethel im Jahr 2019, dass die Todesstrafe ein Teil des bahamaischen Rechts bleiben wird: „Als oberster Justizbeamter der Nation kann ich bestätigen, dass die Position der Bahamas zur Todesstrafe dies nicht getan hat geändert und wird sich wahrscheinlich in absehbarer Zeit nicht ändern.“ (Quelle: BBC)

2. Cricket is the national sport of the Bahamas. However, there has been a long-standing movement to convert it into... sloop sails. (Source: The Tribune)

3. The Bahamas has been used as a filming location in numerous films, including Thunderball and Into the Blue. Scenes from Jaws: The Revenge were filmed on New Providence Island's western beach, now known as Jaws Beach. (Source: The Guardian)

If you're planning on visiting the Bahamas (and you really should), you'll want to pack a full-face snorkel mask. We use and recommend Aria QR+ from Ocean Reef.

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Mission statement: Atlas & Boots

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