Geography & environment — Bahamas
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Geography & environment at a glance
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources. Key figure for Bahamas: The Caribbean
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Location & size
- Geographic Location
The Caribbean
- Geographic Coordinates
24 15 N, 76 00 W
- Total Area
5,359 Square Miles 13,880 Square Kilometers
- Land Area
3,865 Square Miles 10,010 Square Kilometers
- Water Area
1,494 Square Miles 3,870 Square Kilometers
- Coastline
2,201 Miles 3,542 Kilometers
Physical geography
- Terrain
Long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills
- Highest Point
63 Meters
- Highest Point Location
Mount Alvernia, on Cat Island 63 m
- Lowest Point Location
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
- Natural Resources
Salt, aragonite, timber, arable land
- Irrigated Land
4 Square Miles 10 Square Kilometers
Climate & time
- Time Zone
UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)
- Daylight saving time
+1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November
Climate
- Climate
There are no significant seasonal changes requiring winter clothing or central heating in the Bahamas. The rainy season is from May to October with an average in Nassau of six inches per month. From November through April, the average rainfall is two inches per month. The hurricane season extends from June through November, the greatest risk being in August, September, and October. In the winter, temperatures rarely fall below 60°F, and usually reach 77°F by mid-afternoon. During the summer, temperatures fluctuate between 85–90°F in the daytime and 75°F or less in the evening. Although humidity can reach about 80% (relative humidity for September is 82%), prevailing easterly winds lessen personal discomfort. Temperatures vary from a low of 76.7°F in January to a high of 89.1°F in August. Humidity causes mildew on leather and textile products, but homes equipped with central air‑conditioning or dehumidifiers neutralize the harmful effects. Rainfall often occurs in the form of fairly intense showers, frequently accompanied by strong, gusty winds. These storms are usually short and are followed by clear skies. Weather conditions can change rapidly. Statistically, a hurricane can be expected to occur in some part of the Bahamas every nine years.
- Terrain
Long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills
- Location
Chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba
- Total Area
5,359 Square Miles 13,880 Square Kilometers
Environment
- Environment - Current Issues
Coral reef decay; solid waste disposal
- Environment - International Agreements
Party To: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements