| 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.
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