BAHAMAS
Capital: Nassau.
Official Language: English.
Official Name: The Commonwealth of the Bahamas.
Area: 5,358 sq. mi. (13,878 sq. km). Greatest
distances--north-south, 450 mi. (724 km); east-west, 435 mi. (700
km). Coastline--1,580 mi. (2,543 km).
Elevation: Highest--206 ft. (63 m), on Cat Island. Lowest--sea
level.
Population: Estimated 1996 population--281,000; density, 52 persons
per sq. mi. (20 per sq. km); distribution, 67 percent urban, 33
percent rural. 1990 census--255,095. Estimated 2001
population--298,000.
Chief Products: Agriculture--bananas, citrus fruits, cucumbers,
pineapples, tomatoes. Manufacturing--cement, food products,
petroleum products, rum.
National Anthem: "March On, Bahamaland."
Flag: A black triangle represents the Bahamian people. The blue and
gold horizontal stripes stand for the sea and the land. The flag
was adopted in 1973.
Money: Basic unit--Bahamian dollar. See MONEY (Table).
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