Interesting Facts On Saudi Arabia

This post is specially made for the people of Saudi Arabia and interested people of the world who wants to know more important facts about country Saudi Arabia. So, stay in touch for more general knowledge.

• Islam is the country's official religion.
• The government employs the Sharia (Islamic law) as a guiding principle of rule.
• Saudi Islam is greatly influenced by the 18th Century traditions and doctrines know as Wahabism by the Westerners and non-Saudis.
• The Saudi curriculum heavily emphasizes the study of Islam, as this is their official and only religion. No other faith, in any form is tolerated to be practiced inside the Kingdom.
• The government extended public education to girls in 1960, despite opposition from some conservative religious leaders.
• Saudi men wear a white cotton robe known as a thob and a colorful kerchief called a ghoutra on their heads.
• The women wear a black outer robe called an abaya, and their heads are covered by black veils.
• Only men are allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia, Saudi women are not permitted to drive or to travel abroad without a male relative's approval.
• Women traditionally use veils to cover their hair in public and a mask (called a burka or batula) to cover their faces.
• Igal, two intertwined black cords formed into rings is worn by most Saudi men on their head.
• Alcohol, in any variation or form is strictly prohibited inside the Kingdom.
• There is no single movie house, theater or any form of liberal entertainment in all parts of the country.
• Saudi singers are among the most popular in the Arab world.
• Oil was first discovered in Saudi Arabia in 1938.
• One-quarter of the world's petroleum reserves are believed to lie under the country.
• The major oil fields are in the eastern part of the country and offshore in the Persian Gulf.
• Recovered crude oil is mostly exported since the internal demand for petroleum is relatively low.
• It is the largest exporter of petroleum in the world-in 2002 Saudi Arabia exported about 6 million barrels per day-and has the power to influence world oil prices.
• In 2004 Saudi Arabia produced 8.8 million barrels of oil per day, equivalent to 5.9 billion cups.
• Saudi Arabia began producing natural gas liquids in 1962
• Saudi fishers caught 66,590 metric tons of fish in 2004.
• The region's only railway line connects Riyadh with the Persian Gulf port of Ad Damm%u0101m, by way of Al Huf%u016Bf.The United States is the country's largest trading partner, followed by Japan, the United Kingdom, and Germany.
• Saudi Arabia probably has the most developed banking sector in the Middle East. The unit of currency is the Saudi riyal (SR), consisting of 100 halalah (3.70 Saudi riyals equal U.S.$1; 2005 average).
• The form of government is Monarchy and the King is both the head of the State and Government.
• Unlike all other countries, Saudi Arabia has no Constitution; the state is governed according to Sharia (Islamic law).
• The laws of Saudi Arabia are based on the Sharia, which is derived from the Qur'an and the Sunna.
• The Ministry of Justice is charged with operating the country's Sharia courts, and the minister of justice is the country's chief judge.
• In Saudi Arabia, punishments for serious crimes can include amputation and death by beheading, hanging, or, in rare cases, stoning.
• Saudi Arabia is divided into 13 provinces, or emirates.
• Saudi Arabia was a name given by Abdul Aziz ibn Saud to his captured territory on 1932 after unifying the conquered territories.
• In 1945 Saudi Arabia joined the United Nations (UN) and the newly founded Arab League, an association with the goal of promoting the interests of Arabic-speaking nations
• As crown prince Abdullah had been the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia ever since Fahd was severely weakened by a stroke in late 1995.
• Osama Bin Laden was actually a Saudi. He was the son of a Saudi wealthy businessman.
• Riyadh is the capital and the country has a total area of 2,240,000 sq km.
• The world's largest oil field Ghawar is in Saudi Arabia located near Ad Dammam at the Persian Gulf.
• Women and men should not be seen together inside the elevator or else you'll be grounds for automatic interrogations from the mutaweens.
• The most common food here is the kabsa, a combination of rice flavored with raisins, nuts and some spices.
• Diesel is much cheaper than water, you can buy 1 liter of bottled water for about $1 while a liter of diesel will just cost you amazingly 50 cents only.
• Gold is sold here as if you are selling fancy jewelries. There are no security guards in any jewelry shop.
• Men are strictly forbidden to enter in any beauty parlor.
• No man is allowed to speak or chat with any female in public except in hospitals.
• Crime rate is very low here because if this strong imposition of Sharia Law.
• Five times daily, Muslims closed everything and stop anything they are doing.
• All commercial establishments and public place halt their activities during these instances where they do "salah". Salah is the Arabic word for prayer so Salah times prayer times.
• Baldness is common here because water is very hot during the summer and extreme cold during the winter.
• The week starts in Saturdays and ends in Wednesdays. Unlike other countries, Thursdays and Fridays is the official weekends here.
• They used Hijira Calendar not Gregorian calendar. In their calendar, their present year is 1429 unlike the rest of the world which is 2008. They lag by more than five hundred years.
• Women when travelling in their cars should not be seated parallel to the driver or in the front seat especially if the driver is not her husband.
• Body parts showing legs, arms, or the entire face of a woman is colored by black ink. These are not allowed to be shown in public also.
• Kaliwali is the Arabic translation of the expression "I don't care".
• Saudi Arabia has the world's most number of beautiful and luxurious cars and vehicles.
• Since there is no value added taxes on goods and merchandises, the price of consumer electronics devices is very very attractive.
• People here don't care about the spelling of their English Words.
• Pork is strictly forbidden here that's why no one is selling it either.

Interesting Facts On Kuwait

This post is specially made for the people of Kuwait and interested people of the world who wants to know more important facts about country Kuwait. So, stay in touch for more general knowledge.

• Kuwait is officially known as the ‘State of Kuwait’.
• The official language of Kuwait is Arabic, but English is also widely spoken and understood.
• The main ethnic groups in Kuwait include Kuwaiti, other Arab, South Asian and Iranian.
• Majority of the people in Kuwait follow Islam, followed by Christian, Hindu and Parsi religion.
• The currency of Kuwait is Kuwaiti Dinar.
• The capital of Kuwait is Kuwait City.
• Kuwait follows the system of ‘Constitutional Monarchy’, with a Parliamentary System of government.
• Kuwait became an independent country, after the end of British Protectorate, on 19th June 1961.
• Apart from having world's fifth largest proven oil reserves, Kuwait is the fourth richest country in the world in terms of per capita income.
• Kuwait's oil fields were discovered and exploited in the 1930s.
• Petroleum and petroleum products make up around 95 percent of export revenues, and 80 percent of government income, in Kuwait.
• In 1990, Kuwait was invaded and annexed by neighboring Iraq. The occupation lasted seven month and ended after direct military intervention by United States-led forces.
• The island of Failaka in Kuwait was an ancient trading post.
• Kuwait came under the leadership of the Al Sabah family in 1750s, with semi-autonomy from the Ottomans.
• Kuwait entered the Special Treaty of Friendship with Britain in 1899, to prevent the occurrence of Ottoman direct rule.
• The borders between Kuwait, Iraq and Saudi Arabia were agreed in the 1920s and 1930s.
• Kuwait became a member of the Arab League in 1961 and that of United Nations in 1963.
• Kuwait was the first Arab country in the Gulf to have an elected parliament.
• Full political rights were granted to women in Kuwait, in 2005.
• Kuwaiti men usually wear the national dress of long white dishdashes and white headcloths, while women wear yashmaks.
• Kuwaiti food is primarily based on the staple product of rice.
• Kuwait is one of the smallest countries in the world.
• In 1773 Kuwait was hit by the plague or pestilence and most of the Kuwaitis died.
• In 1913 the first Kuwaiti hospital was opened.
• The first girls school was opened in 1937 and was called the 'Middle School'.
• The first Bank opened in Kuwait in 1942.
• The first postage stamp was issued in 1947 on the occasion of the 26th year of Sheikh Ahmed Al-Jaber's rule of Kuwait.
• The first sports club was established in 1949.
• The first secondary school for boys was opened in 1953 and called 'Shuwaikh School'.
• The first official newspaper 'Kuwait Today' was issued on the 11th of December, 1954.
• The first secondary school for girls was opened in 1959 and called 'Murgab'.
• The first news broadcast on the radio was on June 1957.
• In 1961, the Indian rupia was replaced by the Kuwaiti dinar, the first official currency.
• In 1969, the Central Bank was opened.
• The first Kuwaiti female teacher was Mariam Abd Al-Malik.

Interesting Facts On Palestine

This post is specially made for the people of Palestine and interested people of the world who wants to know more important facts about country Palestine. So, stay in touch for more general knowledge.

• The word “Palestine” originates from the word “Phillistia”, given by the Greek writers to the land of the Phillistines.
• Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine.
• Palestine covers an area of 6,020 square kilometers.
• Muslims make up a majority of Palestinians though there is a large population of Christians as well.
• The official language is Arabic, the script of which is written from the right to the left.
• Population of Palestinian territories is about 4 million; West Bank is 2.5 million and Gaza Strip is 1.5 million.
• Bethlehem celebrates Christmas 3 times a year: Once on December 25 - per western tradition, then on 6 January as per the Greek Orthodox Church and then on 18 January, as per the Armenians.
• The currency of Palestine is the pound just like the previous currency used in the time of the British Mandate of Palestine between 1927 and 1948. A Palestinian Pound, with the mill being its smaller denomination, is issued by the currency Board of Palestine.
• Palestinian culture does not accept Lesbianism and Homosexuality.
• The current Palestinian government works along the rules and regulations laid down in the Constitution of Palestine which came into existence in 1968.
• Dead Sea, the lowest natural point of elevation on Earth, is in Palestine.
• British archaeologist Dorothy Garrod was the first to fully examine the Old Stone Age in Palestine. The study shows that at that time, Palestine was culturally linked to Europe, and the recovered human remains showed that the inhabitants belonged to the same group as the Neanderthal inhabitants of Europe.
• When the Palestine Problem was created by Britain in 1917, more than 90% of the population of Palestine were Arabs. And that there were at that time no more than 56,000 Jews in Palestine.
• The Arabs of Palestine at that time owned 97.5% of the land, while Jews (native Palestinians and recent immigrants together) owned only 2.5% of the land.
• When British passed the Palestine Problem to the United Nations in 1947, Zionists owned no more than 6% of the total land area of Palestine.

Interesting Facts On Iraq

This post is specially made for the people of Iraq and interested people of the world who wants to know more important facts about country Iraq. So, stay in touch for more general knowledge.

• The official name of Iraq is the ‘Republic of Iraq’.
• The official languages of Iraq are Arabic and Kurdish, but Turkoman, Assyrian and Armenian are also widely spoken there.
• Majority of the population in Iraq comprises of Shiite and Sunni Muslims, followed by Christians.
• Arabs, Kurdish, Turkomans and Assyrians comprise of the main ethnic groups of Iraq.
• The currency of Iraq is Iraqi Dinar.
• The capital of Iraq is Baghdad.
• Iraq follows the system of ‘Parliamentary Republic’.
• Baghdad, the capital city of Iraq, dates back to the time of the ancient Mesopotamia.
• The region between Tigris and Euphrates rivers is known to be the ‘cradle of civilization’ and the ‘birthplace of writing’.
• The highest point in Iraq is formed by Haji Ibrahim (3600 m).
• It is believed that Sumer, situated in Southern Mesopotamia, was one of the first civilizations of the world.
• Eridu (Abu Shahrain), a Sumerian settlement, is believed to be inhabited since 5000 BC, making it one of the earliest cities of the world.
• Abraham, believed to be the father of Jewish and Arab people, is said to have been born in Ur, in Sumer.
• Satellite images of northern Iraq and Syria show evidence of major roads used over four thousand years ago.
• The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, situated in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar II in Iraq, were one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
• Alexander the Great died in Babylon.
• Jabir Ibn Haiyan, said to be the founder of chemistry, was a doctor and alchemist in Iraq, during Middle Ages.
• Iraq came under the direct rule of the Ottoman Empire in 1831 and the rule lasted till 1919, the end of First World War.
• The end of First World War saw Britain taking control of Iraq, under a League of Nations mandate.
• Iraq gained independence from British in 1932 and became a republic in 1958.
• Noah’s ark is believed to have been built in Iraq.
• Saddam Hussein took over as the President of Iraq in 1979.
• In 1980, Iraq declared war on Iran, which lasted for eight years.
• Iraq annexed Kuwait in August 1990. After the country’s refusal to obey a UN resolution to leave the country, an international military campaign, Operation Desert Storm, forced Iraqi troops out of Kuwait.
• US and British armies invaded Iraq in March 2003, mainly on the premise of existence of ‘Weapons of Mass Destruction’ in the country.
• Elections were held in Iraq in February 2005, which were won by a group dominated by Shi'a Muslim candidates.
• Belshazzar, the King of Babylon saw the "writing on the wall" in Iraq.
• Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, carried the Jews captive into Iraq.
• Presently, Kurdistan is the only legally defined region within Iraq, with its own government and quasi-official militia, the Peshmerga.
• Iraq is divided into eighteen governorates (or provinces), which are further subdivided into districts (or qadhas).

Interesting Facts On Iran

This post is specially made for the people of Iran and interested people of the world who wants to know more important facts about country Iran. So, stay in touch for more general knowledge.

• The official name of the country is ‘Islamic Republic of Iran’.
• The currency of Iran is Iranian Rial.
• Iran has about 66 million people equal to the population of California + Texas and Tennessee. It’s number 18 on the list of countries in the world by population between Turkey and France. Two-thirds of all Iranians are under the age of 25.
• Iran is # 18 in size of countries between Libya and Mongolia and equal to the size of Alaska. Or equal to Texas + New Mexico + Oklahoma + Kansas + Colorado.
• Iran‘s neighbors are Afghanistan 936 km, Armenia 35 km, Azerbaijan-proper 432 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 179 km, Iraq 1,458 km, Pakistan 909 km, Turkey 499 km, Turkmenistan 992 km. (1.62Km = 1 mile).
• Iran was formerly known as Persia.
• Iran‘s history dates back to 4000BC.
• Iran is second in the world in natural gas AND oil reserves. It is OPEC’s second largest oil exporter.
• Iran‘s second largest export commodity is carpets.
• Iran is made up of Persians (51%), Azeris (24%), Gilaki and Mazandarani (8%), Kurds (7%), Arabs (3%), Baluchi (2%), Lurs (2%), Turkmens (2%), Laks, Qashqai, Armenians, Persian Jews, Georgians, Assyrians, Circassians, Tats, Mandaeans, Gypsies, Brahuis, Hazara, Kazakhs and others (1%).
• Almost nine in 10 Iranians belong to the Twelver Shi’a branch of Islam. Eight percent are Sunni.
• Iran suffers from air pollution, deforestation, overgrazing, oil pollution in the Persian Gulf, drought, soil degradation and water pollution from raw sewage.
• Three of four Iranians over 15 can read and write.
• Unemployment in Iran is about 12%.
• Iran‘s top export partners are – China 15%, Japan 14.3%, Turkey 7.4%, South Korea 7.3%, Italy 6.4%.
• Iran‘s top import partners are – China 14.2%, Germany 9.6%, UAE 9.1%, South Korea 6.3%, Russia 5.7%, Italy 5%.
• There is one telephone for every three Iranians and one mobile phone for every two. One in three Iranians are online.
• Iran has 331 airports. Six are international.
• Iran is on the soon-to-be ex-president’s ‘dirt’ list – the axis of evil.
• There are at three Iranian English Dailies - Tehran Times, Iran Daily and Iran News.
• The word Iran means the ‘Land of the Aryan’s.
• The largest desert in Iran is Dasht - e - Kavir.
• Iran ranks seventh among countries in the world as regards number of World Heritage Sites recognized by UNESCO.
• It snows in Tehran like it does in Denver.
• Iran has crocodiles. It’s tigers were hunted to extinc¬tion 50 years ago. But still has the only Asi¬atic cheetah.
• Persian (Farsi) is still spo¬ken in Tajikestan and Afghanistan. It was the offi¬cial court lan¬guage of India for 200 years.
• Famous biblical people buried in Iran: Queen Esther, Daniel, Cyrus The Great, Dar¬ius The Great, St. Thaddeus.
• Alexander’s wife, Roxanne, was an Iranian. “Roshanak” in Farsi.
• Iran’s constitution and Parliament were created on Aug 5th, 1906.
• Iran is the only country to have purchased F-14 Tomcats from US.

Interesting Facts On Afghanistan

This post is specially made for the people of Afghanistan and interested people of the world who wants to know more important facts about country Afghanistan. So, stay in touch for more general knowledge.

• The official name of Afghanistan is Islamic State of Afghanistan.
• The official currency of Afghanistan is Afghani.
• The New Year in Afghanistan, called Nawroz, is celebrated on 21 March which is the first day of spring.
• The largest city in Afghanistan is Kabul, the capital.
• Afghanistan is a landlocked country sharing borders with Iran, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and China.
• Poetry is a big part of Afghans' culture and it has been for centuries. In the city of Herat, women, men and children gather on Thursday night to share verses from old and new poetry.
• The people of Afghanistan are called Afghans and not Afghanis which is the currency. A common mistake that happens among people.
• The official language of Afghanistan is Dari and Pashto. They speak several other languages as well such as Persian, Uzbek and Turkmen to name a few.
• Afghanistan's main source of income comes from agriculture. They produce large amounts of crops that are enough to provide for the people and export as well. They plant vegetables, fruits, rice and nuts.
• Afghanistan is also rich in natural resources with the main ones being natural gas and oil.
• Afghanistan's national game is called Buzkashi, or in other words, goat-grabbing. It's a sport where the players in two teams try to catch a goat while riding on a horse. It has been played for centuries and it even got sponsors for it nowadays.
• Afghanistan celebrates its independence on August 19th from Britain. Afghanistan wasn't actually part of the British Colony. However, they went into war three times until Afghanistan declared its independence in 1919.
• Afghanistan is a Muslim state; almost 99% of the population is Muslim. The remaining 1% of the population comprises Sikhs, Hindus, and Jews.
• The government of Afghanistan is divided into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. It is an Islamic republic.
• The geographic coordinates of Afghanistan are 29 39N, 60 75E. It is the 41st largest country in the world and is the 42nd most populous country in the world.
• The modern state of Afghanistan was founded by Ahmad Shah Durrani in 1747.
• The highest mountain range of Afghanistan is Hindu Kush, which rises above 18,000 feet.
• Gudiparan Bazi or Kite Flying is another popular sport in Afghanistan.
• Opium is the fastest and largest growing crop in Afghanistan.
• The highest point in the country is formed by Nowshak, which is situated at 7,485 m (24,557 ft) above sea level.
• The endorheic Sistan Basin in Afghanistan is regarded as one of the driest regions in the world.
• In Afghanistan, the meal is incomplete without ‘naan,’ which is a flat, unleavened bread.
• Very few people in Afghanistan (around 1.5% of the population) have internet access.
• Like Americans, Afghans drive on the right hand side of the road.
• Afghanistan has very hot summers and very cold winters.

Interesting Facts On Malta

This post is specially made for the people of Malta and interested people of the world who wants to know more important facts about country Malta. So, stay in touch for more general knowledge.

• Malta is situated in the Mediterranean Sea between Europe and North Africa.
• The earliest evidence of human habitation in Malta was found in the Ghar Dalem Cave.
• Malta's capital city, Valletta, is named after Jean Parisot de la Valette, a Grand Master of the Knights of St John.
• Napoleon took over the island of Malta in 1798. The French brought an end to the Inquisition which had been introduced by the Knights in 1561.
• Low hills with terraced fields all across the islands. There are no mountains or rivers. Coastline consists mainly of harbours, bays, cliffs, sandy and rocky beaches.
• The flag of Malta is a simple red and white flag with the George Cross in the top left hand corner.
• In 2008, the Euro became the Malta currency , following the island's accession in the E.U. in 2004.
• Even though the Maltese Islands are tiny, major worldwide newspapers are still sold on the islands. The most common international newspapers that you'll find are British, French and Italian newspapers.
• There are many Maltese radio stations that you can choose to listen to while on vacation in Malta. All of them have their own websites, with some offering the opportunity for you to listen to the station online.
• The two main symbols that are synonymous with Malta and its people are the Maltese Cross and the Maltese boat. The Maltese cross was used by the Knights of Malta.
• The beautiful and elegant Pharaoh Hound Dog is Malta's National Dog. In Maltese, the breed is called Kelb tal-Fenek.
• Maltese and English are the official languages. Italian is also widely spoken.
• The main ethnic groups in Maltainclude Maltese, along with British and others (including Sicilian, French, Spanish and Italian).
• Malta follows the system of ‘Parliamentary Republic’.
• Malta gained independence from the United Kingdom, on 21st September 1964. It became a republic on 13th December 1974.
• Malta was earlier known as Melita, meaning the island of honey, by ancient Greeks and Romans.
• The Temple at Ggantija traces back its foundation to a time period much before the Egyptian pyramids.
• A submerged archway and underwater structures have been discovered off the coast of Malta.
• Malta was awarded with the George Cross, by King George VI (UK), in the year 1942.
• The first trade union in Malta was formed by Maltese teachers in the year 1919. It was known as ‘Malta Union of Teachers’.
• Malta is a member of the Commonwealth Nations and European Union.
• Tourism, electronics, ship building and repair form the major industries in Malta.
• Malta's Grand Harbor boasts of being one of the best natural deep-water harbors in the world.
• Malta's Grand Harbor boasts of being one of the best natural deep-water harbors in the world.

Interesting Facts On Bulgaria

This post is specially made for the people of Bulgaria and interested people of the world who wants to know more important facts about country Bulgaria. So, stay in touch for more general knowledge.

• The official name of Bulgaria is the ‘Republic of Bulgaria’.
• The official language of Bulgariais Bulgarian. Turkish and Roma are also spoken there.
• Majority of the population in Bulgaria comprises of. Bulgarian Orthodox, followed by Muslims, Jews, Roman Catholics and Protestants.
• The currency of Bulgariais Lev.
• The capital of Bulgariais Sofia, which is also its largest city.
• Bulgaria follows the system of Parliamentary Democracy, under a Unitary Constitutional Republic.
• Bulgaria became a member of European Union in January 2007 and has been a part of NATO since 2004.
• After World War II, Bulgaria became a communist state and part of the Eastern Bloc.
• In 1990, the Communist party of Bulgaria gave up its monopoly on power, making way for democracy and free-market capitalism.
• Mount Musala (2,925 m), a part of Rila Mountains, is the highest peak in Bulgaria.
• Iskar is the longest river in Bulgaria, while Varna Lake its largest coastal lake.
• Raiskoto Praskalo Waterfall, known as the Heaven Spray, is the highest waterfall in Bulgaria.
• The hottest mineral water spring in Bulgaria is in the town of Sapareva Banya.
• There are around four thousand mapped caves in Bulgaria.
• The name Bulgaria has been kept after Bulgar people, who arrived here in the late seventh century.
• Bulgaria was earlier a member of COMECON, the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance and the Warsaw Treaty Organization.
• Bulgaria introduced the Cyrillic alphabet in the European Union, when it became a member in January 2007.
• Bulgarian Air Force developed the first air-dropped bomb in military history, during the First Balkan War.
• On 1^st March, every year, Bulgarians give each other 'martenitsas' - small figures made of white and red threads. These figures are believed to be a symbol of the awakening - of spring, health and happiness.
• When Bulgarians waggle their heads Indian-style, it means yes and when they nod, it means no.
• Lactobacillus Bulgaricus is a bacterium that can be found only in Bulgarian air.
• There is only one volcano in Bulgaria - Kozhukh, which has been extinct since long.
• In the mid fourteenth century, Bulgaria came under Ottoman rule, which lasted till the Russo-Turkish War. In 1878, Bulgaria was re-established as a constitutional monarchy.
• Bulgaria is one of the oldest European countries.
• It used to be land of the Thracians, and a particular hero called Spartacus was born there.
• Bulgaria ranks 3rd in Europe (after Greece and Italy) for its number of archaeological treasures.
• Bulgaria has the oldest orthodox slavic church in the world.
• The first wrestler in the world with 1500 wins and only 2 losses is the Bulgarian Dan Kolov.
• The world's first digital watch was invented by Peter Petrov (of Bulgaria).
• The oldest gold treasure in the world was found in Bulgaria (in 294 graves were found 3000 gold objects dating back more than 6000 years).
• The only nations in the world that use the bagpipe as an instrument are Scotland, Ireland and Bulgaria.

Interesting Facts On Bahamas

This post is specially made for the people of Bahamas and interested people of the world who wants to know more important facts about
country Bahamas. So, stay in touch for more general knowledge.

• Bahamas is a North American country, which comprises of an archipelago of 700 islands.
• Bahamas spreading over an astounding area of 13,878 km2.
• The official name of the country is the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. It is an archipelago, consisting of more than 700 islands.
• The capital city of Bahamas is Nassau. The two other big cities of the country are Nassau and Freeport.
• The name of the country comes from the Spanish word ‘bajamar’, meaning ‘shallow water’. The official language spoken in the country is English and the currency, the Bahamas-Dollar is at par with the US-Dollar.
• Bahamas was a British colony until 1973 and is now an independent nation. The Duke of Windsor was the Royal Governor of The Bahamas during from 1940 to 1945.
• There is no income tax or corporate tax levied in Bahamas. Around 50 percent of the national GDP is generated by tourism. It is one of the wealthiest countries in the Caribbean. After tourism, financial services constitute the second-most important sector of the Bahamian economy.
• Eighty percent of Bahamian natives are of African descent. Two-thirds of the population lives in the New Providence Island (the location of Nassau).
• The largest immigrant community in the Bahamas is that of the Haitians. 30,000-50,000 of the residents are concentrated in the New Province, Abaco and Eleuthera islands, including the legal and illegal residents.
• School attendance in Bahamas is compulsory between the ages of 5 to16. Out of the 210 primary schools run in the country, 158 are operated by the government. The remaining 52 schools are operated by private owners. Higher education is also offered by many non-Bahamian colleges in the country.
• The Bahamas is enrolled as an independent member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The political and legal traditions of Bahamas closely follow the British ones, owing to their commonwealth membership.
• The country has a parliamentary form of democracy and regular elections are held. The Bahamian senate consists of 16 members, who are appointed by the Governor-General. The Governor-General also appoints the Chief Justice on the advice of the Prime Minister. The Privy Council of the United Kingdom serves as the highest appellate court.
• The local government districts in Bahamas elect local councils for town planning, business licenses, traffic issues and maintenance of government buildings. Lower level town councils are also accorded minor responsibilities in some large districts.
• Another interesting fact about the country is that the Bahamas women's 4x100 relay team won a silver medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
• The Bahamas House of Assembly first officially convened in 1729.
• The Bahamas Islands became the free and sovereign Commonwealth of The Bahamas on 10th July 1973 ending 325 years of British rule (but remains part of the Commonwealth).
• The Bahamas does not have an army.
• There are no rivers in The Bahamas.
• The Bahamas has the world's third longest barrier reef.
• The Lucayan National Park on Grand Bahama Island is the site of the world's longest known underwater cave and cavern system.
• Andros (2,300 square miles) is the fifth largest island in the Caribbean, but only has a population of 8,000 people.
• Mount Alvernia on Cat Island at 206 ft (63 meters) is the highest point in The Bahamas.
• The world's first land-and-sea park was established in the Exuma Cays in 1958.
• Inagua is a birdwatcher's paradise with the world's largest breeding colony of West Indian flamingos (over 60,000).
• According to the World Health Organization, only 3% of women and 19% of men in The Bahamas are smokers.
• Some unusual island names are Ragged Island, Crooked Island, Rum Cay, Conception Island, Exuma, Big Farmer's Cay and Great Sayle Cay.
• The Nassau Public Library (an octagonal building) was originally a jail.
• Feature films using Bahamian locations include The Outsider, Silence of the Lambs, Cocoon I & II, Flipper, Thunderball, Splash, Never Say Never Again, Zeus and Roxanne, Jaws the Revenge and Speed 2.
• The Bahamas has the clearest waters in the world with visibility of over 200 feet (61 meters). It has been scientifically proven that a specific alga, which requires light to live, is found deeper in The Bahamas than anywhere else on earth.
• Christianity is the main religion: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Church of God, Methodist, etc.