The Bahamas are a coral archipelago of around 700 islands and more than 2,000 rocks and cays in the West Atlantic south-east of the coast of Florida, USA, and northeast of Cuba.
Formerly a British colony the Bahamas became an independent country within the Commonwealth in 1973. About 30 islands are inhabited, the most important of which are New Providence, in the middle of the group, where the capital Nassau is situated.
The Bahamas is one of the richest countries in the Americas, with an economy based on tourism and finance. The climate is cooler than other countries in the Caribbean region but still pleasantly mild in winter. The yellow elder was chosen as the national flower of the Bahamas because it is native to the Bahama Islands, and it blooms throughout the year. The official language of the Bahamas is English.
The Bahamas is a constitutional parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, represented by the Bahamian governor-general who acts on the advice of the Prime Minister.