Rumpelstiltskin reviewed Bahamas '94 : The Complete Guide with the Best Beaches, Resorts, Casinos, Shopping and Cruises on
Bahamians like to tell the story -- whether real or apocryphal -- that American astronauts returning from orbit declared that they could recognize only two sights from space: the Great Wall of China and the waters of the Bahamas. It wouldn't be surprising, for the sea is the prevailing feature of this country of more than 700 islands, approximately 75% of the country lies underwater, and its shores are rimmed by some of the world's great barrier reefs. The sea is geography, attraction, livelihood, and inspiration all in one. Talk to a painter, diver, boatbuilder, fisherman, or chef, and they'll all likely agree: without the sea, the Bahamas would lose its raison d'être. The nation's existence is based largely on tourism. Even though you can reach the Bahamas in less than an hour's flight from the Florida coast, the country's natural beauty and exotic appeal make it seem more like a far-flung outpost. The water ranges from pale aqua to deep sapphire, the spectrum changing hourly as the relentless Bahamian sun sweeps across the island sky.
