Natural factors such as terrain, rivers and sunlight influence the construction of settlements at both regional and local levels. This gives settlements certain characteristics of distribution, scale, hierarchy and morphology. How does natural resources affect people’s lives?
Full Answer
Why is the Bahamas so successful?
The economic success of the Bahamas can be attributed to some factors such as the proper utilization of the country's natural resources and the economic policies implemented by the government. Several of the most critical natural resources in the Bahamas include the beautiful scenery and the arable land.
What are the main economic activities in the Bahamas?
When first settled, the Bahamas island chain relied principally on agriculture and fishing as its primary economic activities. As populations grew, however, the lack of natural resources on the islands began to become apparent.
Why are the Bahamas so dependent on tourism?
The Bahamas. The islands, lacking natural resources other than their agreeable climate and picturesque beaches, have become heavily dependent on the income generated by the extensive tourist facilities and the financial sector that have been developed, often as a result of the injection of foreign capital.
How do natural resources affect the development of a country?
The Developing Country Scenario ▣ It is important to note that in a developing economy, natural resources can provide a number of opportunities, in order to enhance the economic development. ▣ In an agrarian economy, for instance, natural resources, such as land, soil, forests, animals, fisheries, etc., may be extremely important.
What natural resources does the Bahamas have?
Fish, beautiful beaches, and forests are some of the Bahamas natural resources. The Bahamas is a 5,358 square mile island nation that is situated within the Atlantic Ocean.
How does the climate affect the Bahamas?
Climate Change is already affecting The Bahamas. We are experiencing much hotter and longer summers and our cooler months, which seems each year to take longer to arrive are not as cool as 15 and 20 years ago.
What are some environmental issues in the Bahamas?
In addition, water pollution, land degradation, destruction of wetlands and introduction of invasive species are all issues of growing concern for The Bahamas.
What physical features of the Bahamas affect its climate?
The low latitude, warm tropical Gulf Stream, and low elevation give the Bahamas a warm and winterless climate.
What natural disasters happen in the Bahamas?
The location of the Bahamas archipelago in the Atlantic hurricane belt means that the islands are subject to regular hydro-meteorological disasters including hurricanes, storms and cyclones which occur most frequently in the months of September, October, August and November.
What is the environment like in Bahamas?
The climate of The Bahamas is sub-tropical with fairly high mean temperatures and moderate rainfall. Mean annual rainfall varies from about 58 in (1470 mm) to about 34 in (865 mm). Mean daily temperatures fluctuate between 63°F and 90F (17°C and 32°C) with May to October considered the summer months.
Why is Bahamas vulnerable to climate change?
The reliance of the country's economy on tourism, an industry supported and reliant on the natural environment, marine resources and coastal infrastructure, makes the country highly vulnerable to climate change and associated natural hazards.
Are the Bahamas polluted?
As a result, Bahamians are at great risk to contamination. Water quality in the Bahamas is not up to standard, due to critical sanitary problems in the country. The main sources of the water contamination are from septic tanks, soakaways and pit latrines.
What is crime like in the Bahamas?
Violent crime, such as burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assaults, occur in both tourist and non-tourist areas. Be vigilant when staying at short-term vacation rental properties where private security companies do not have a presence.
What is the Bahamas best known for?
20 amazing things The Bahamas are known forPristine white sand beaches and turquoise waters. ... The swimming pigs of Exuma. ... The playground of the world's rich and famous. ... History of pirates. ... Fantastic scuba diving and snorkeling. ... The first landing of Christopher Columbus. ... The Bahama Mama cocktail.More items...•
Who settled the Bahamas?
300 to 400 ADLucayan/Christopher Columbus From around 900-1500 AD the Lucayan people settled here. They enjoyed a peaceful way of life and had developed viable political, social and religious systems.
How much of the Bahamas is underwater?
Geography of the BahamasContinentNorth America• Total13,878 km2 (5,358 sq mi)• Land72.12%• Water27.88%Coastline3,542 km (2,201 mi)8 more rows
Why is Bahamas vulnerable to climate change?
The reliance of the country's economy on tourism, an industry supported and reliant on the natural environment, marine resources and coastal infrastructure, makes the country highly vulnerable to climate change and associated natural hazards.
What is the average climate in the Bahamas?
The average temperature in the Bahamas range from 80 to 85°F / 27 to 32°C in the summer and 70 to 78°F / 21 to 27°C in winter. Evenings can be cool due to the onshore breeze. The wet season runs from June to November; the two wettest months are October and June.
How soon will the Bahamas be affected by sea level rise?
Low-lying islands will lose more land from rising sea levels than originally thought. In the Bahamas, projections for sea level rise impacts by 2050 using older topographical maps reveal at-risk land along the northern coast of the Grand Bahama island and the western coast of the Great Abaco island.
Does it ever snow in the Bahamas?
In case you're wondering: yes, it has snowed in the Bahamas (in 1977 only); in the Caribbean (most recently in March 2016 on the island of Guadeloupe), and in the Sahara Desert (most recently in December 2016).
What are the natural resources of the Bahamas?
The natural resources of the Bahamas include salt, aragonite, timber and arable land. Aragonite is one of two naturally occurring crystalline forms of calcium carbonate and is present due to the coral on the islands.
What was the main economic activity of the Bahamas?
When first settled, the Bahamas island chain relied principally on agriculture and fishing as its primary economic activities. As populations grew, however, the lack of natural resources on the islands began to become apparent.
Is the Bahamas a biodiversity resource?
Its biological diversity is a very strong resource, al beit one that requires careful protection to allow endangered species in the area to thrive, according to The Bahamas Investor. As of 2011, the government had established nearly 1,100 square miles of land and sea as protected areas for wildlife and plants. ADVERTISEMENT.
Overview
Local extractive industry lobby groups have implored the government to develop the country’s natural resources to diversify the economy and promote greater wealth distribution. A Natural Resources Committee has identified the potential contribution of 25 different resources to be reviewed before the end of 2021.
Opportunities
Commercial activities to extract and/or utilize aragonite, limestone, salt, sand, forestry, sun, wind, and oil are all promising sub-sectors.
What is the significance of the Bahamas?
Their strategic location has given the history of The Bahamas a unique and often striking character. It was there that Christopher Columbus made his original landfall in the Americas.
What is the topography of the Bahamas?
Extensive areas of flatland, generally a few feet in elevation, are the dominant topographic features of the major islands; the Bimini group (9 square miles [23 square km]), for example, has a maximum elevation of only 20 feet (6 metres). A number of islands fronting the Atlantic have a range or series of ranges of hills on the northeastern side that parallel the longer axes of the islands. These ranges are formed of sand washed ashore and blown inland by the trade winds. The newer hills adjacent to the seashore are normally sand dunes. Solidity increases toward the interior, where the particles become cemented to form Bahama limestone. Eleuthera and Long Island (230 square miles [596 square km]) have the greatest number of hills exceeding 100 feet (30 metres). The highest point in The Bahamas, Mount Alvernia, at 206 feet (63 metres), is on Cat Island (150 square miles [388 square km]). Beneath the soil, the islands are composed of limestone rock and skeletal remains of coral fossils and other marine organisms. There are no rivers, but several islands—particularly New Providence, San Salvador (63 square miles [163 square km]), and Great Inagua—have large lakes. There is abundant fresh water on Andros Island.
What are the major islands in the Bahamas?
They include Grand Bahama, which contains the major settlements of Freeport and West End; Andros (2,300 square miles [6,000 square km]), the largest island of The Bahamas; Abaco, or Great Abaco, (372 square miles [963 square km]); and Eleuthera (187 square miles [484 square km]), the site of one of the early attempts at colonization.
How many square miles is Grand Bahama?
It stretches more than 500 miles (800 km) southeast-northwest between Grand Bahama Island, which has an area of 530 square miles (1,373 square km) and lies about 60 miles (100 km) off the southeastern coast of the U.S. state of Florida, and Great Inagua Island, some 50 miles (80 km) from the eastern tip of Cuba.
What is the capital of the Bahamas?
The capital, Nassau, is located on small but important New Providence Island. The Bahamas Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
What is the highest point in the Bahamas?
The highest point in The Bahamas, Mount Alvernia, at 206 feet (63 metres), is on Cat Island (150 square miles [388 square km]). Beneath the soil, the islands are composed of limestone rock and skeletal remains of coral fossils and other marine organisms.
What was the fate of the peaceful original inhabitants?
The subsequent fate of the peaceful original inhabitants remains one of the more tragic episodes in the development of the entire region, while the early attempts at European-dominated settlement were marked by intense national rivalries, interspersed with long periods of lawlessness and piracy.
What is the economy of the Bahamas?
The Bahamas has a predominantly market economy that is heavily dependent on tourism and international financial services. The gross national product (GNP) per capita is one of the highest in the region.
What is the national currency of the Bahamas?
The national bank is the Central Bank of The Bahamas, established in 1974. The national currency is the Bahamian dollar; U.S. currency is also accepted throughout the islands.
Where is the cruise ship docked in Bahamas?
Cruise ship docked at the port of Nassau, Bahamas.
Is the Bahamas a market economy?
In spite of the concentration of the population in urban centres (especially Nassau and Freeport) that are devoted to tourism, the traditional pattern of small farming and fishing prevails in some villages, notably in the southeastern islands. The Bahamas has a predominantly market economy that is heavily dependent on tourism ...
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How do natural resources affect economic development?
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Why is it important for the common people to be aware of the value of natural resources?
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What Are Natural Resources?
Natural resources are those material and substances, which occur naturally in the environment. They are those resources that are readily and naturally available on our planet, and can be used in their natural, undisturbed form. Some of the common examples of natural resources include land, water, coal, wood, sunlight, and oil.
Why is it important to use non-renewable resources wisely?
It is, hence, important to use the non-renewable resources wisely so that we do not run out of them. Non-renewable resources include coal, natural gas, petroleum, uranium, etc. The renewable resources are those natural resources, which can be naturally restored.
Why are natural resources randomly distributed?
Because these resources are randomly distributed, they are available in abundance in some places, whereas they are found in scarcity in some others.
What is the developed country scenario?
▣ Contrary to the developing countries, natural resources may not occupy a prominent place in the process of economic development of the developed countries. ▣ Developed countries are technologically advanced, and hence, even if there is a scarcity of some natural resource, say cultivable land, ...
How does the availability of abundant natural resources, whether renewable or non-renewable, in a particular region,?
Several economists of the world have observed that the availability of abundant natural resources, whether renewable or non-renewable, in a particular region, accelerates the economic development therein. However, it should be noted that the use and exploitation of the natural resources depends on the attitude of the people of a particular region, and hence, the above observation has also been seen to be reversed in some cases.
