The Bahamas, known officially as The Commonwealth of the Bahamas, is a country surrounded by Cuba, Haiti, Turks and Caicos Island and the US state of Florida. It became a British Colony in 1718 when the British clamped down on piracy. Its Royal Defence Force describes the territory as encompassing 470,000 km2 (180,000 sq mi) of ocean space.
Known for its beautiful tourist sites, The Bahamas became independent in 1973 but with Queen Elizabeth as its queen. With an economy relying solely on tourism, The Bahamas is one of the richest countries in the Americas in terms of gross domestic product.
Below are prominent people who trace their roots to The Bahamas:
