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Nassau, Bahamas |
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| Country | Commonwealth of the Bahamas |
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| Island | New Providence |
| Rebuilt/Renamed | 1695 |
| Population (2008) | |
| - Total | 260,000 |
| - Metro Density | 2,639.2/sq mi (1,019/km²) |
Nassau is the capital, largest city, and commercial centre of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The city has a population of 260,000 (2008 census), nearly 70 percent of the entire population of the Bahamas (303,611). Lynden Pindling International Airport, the major airport for the Bahamas, is located about 10 miles (16 kilometres) west of Nassau city centre, and has daily flights to major cities in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada and the Caribbean. The city is located on the island of New Providence, which functions much like a federal district. While there is no local government, it is governed directly as an administrative division of the national government.
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Located on New Providence Island, Nassau has an attractive harbor, a colorful blend of old world and colonial architecture and a busy port. The tropical climate and natural beauty of the Bahamas has made Nassau a popular tourist destination, with a reputation for relaxing days and an exciting nightlife.
Summertime temperatures rarely exceed 92 degrees Fahrenheit (33 degrees Celsius) and the winter months have daytime temperatures between 68 and 80 °F (20 and 26 °C), rarely falling below 50 °F (10 °C).
The city's proximity to the United States (180 miles (290 km) east-southeast of Miami, Florida) has also contributed to its popularity as a holiday resort, especially after the banning of American travel to Cuba. The world famous Atlantis resort on nearby Paradise Island accounts for more tourist arrivals to the city than any other hotel property. The mega resort also employs over 6,000 Bahamians, the largest outside of government.
Nassau was formerly known as Charles Town; it was burnt to the ground by the Spanish in 1684, but later rebuilt and renamed Nassau in 1695 in honour of King William III of England (from the Dutch House of Orange-Nassau). By 1713, the sparsely settled Bahamas had become a pirate rendezvous. English pirates chieftains Thomas Barrow and Benjamin Hornigold proclaimed Nassau a pirate republic establishing themselves as governors, and were joined by Charles Vane, Calico Jack Rackham, and Edward Teach, the infamous "Blackbeard" and women pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read. In 1718, the crown sought to regain control and appointed Captain Woodes Rogers General and Governor in chief in and over the Bahama islands. He ousted Blackbeard from his position as Magistrate of the "Privateers Republic", reformed the civil government and successfully expelled the pirates. Rogers cleaned up Nassau and rebuilt the fort, even going as far to use his own money to try to overcome problems. The Bahamas suffered occupation by the Spanish, French and Americans, although each for only short periods of time. In 1703 the Spanish and French allied forces occupied Nassau, In 1776 the Battle of Nassau resulted in occupation by the Americans, In 1778 an overnight invasion saw the Americans leaving with ships, gunpowder and military stores after remaining in Nassau for only two days, In 1782 Spain captured Nassau, for the last time when Don Juan de Cagigal, Governor General of Cuba and the Havana attacked New Providence with 5000 men. Andrew Deveaux set forth to recapture Nassau with only 220 men and 150 muskets to face a force of 600 trained soldiers. Deveaux forced the Spanish to surrender on April 17th 1783, without a single shot fired. When Deveaux took down the Spanish flag it marked the last time that a foreign banner was to fly over the Bahamian capital Nassau as a symbol of dominion. The city of Nassau also played a huge role in the U.S Civil War and in the U.S Prohibition Era.
The city also boasts of Junkanoo, an energetic, colourful street parade of brightly costumed people dancing to the rhythmic accompaniment of cowbells, drums and whistles. The celebration occurs on December 26 and January 1, beginning in the early hours of the morning (1:00 a.m.) and ending around 10 a.m.. They also have junkanoo June which is a month long celebration akin to Mardi Gras. Festivals begin at sundown.
Nassau has an important location for numerous James Bond novels and films. The most notable is Thunderball released in 1965 where most of the film was based in Nassau and the Junkanoo festival also featured in the film with Sean Connery. Nassau was again the location for the 1983 unofficial remake of the film Never Say Never Again, and it was more recently Nassau featured in the 2006 James Bond film Casino Royale. Nassau was also featured in the famous Beatles movie Help!
Nassau has three twinned cities, as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI):1
Albany, New York, United States Detroit, Michigan, United States Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States| Find more about The Bahamas on Wikipedia's sister projects: | |
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