9781422286333

13

Islands and Cays

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean—0 feet highest point: Mount Alvernia, on Cat Island—206 feet (63 meters) Natural hazards: hurricanes and other tropical storms that cause extensive flood and wind damage Quick Facts: The Geography of the Bahamas

Location: chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida Area: (slightly smaller than Connecticut) total: 5,382 sq miles (13,940 sq km) land: 3,880 sq miles (10,070 sq km) water: 1,494 sq miles (3,870 sq km) Borders: none Climate: tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream Terrain: long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills

Source: CIA World Factbook 2015.

Vegetarian iguanas munch leafy plants, fruits, and berries on the less inhab- ited outlying islands and cays. At least 230 species of birds can be seen at various times of the year in the Bahamas. Many of them travel from North America to winter in the trop- ical maritime climate. Others, like the Bahamas parrot and the woodstar hummingbird, are resident year-round.

TEXT-DEPENDENT QUESTIONS 1. How many islands make up the nation of the Bahamas? 2. What is the name of the largest island in the Bahamas? 3. How many unique species of trees and plants can be found in the Bahamas?