To understand where Nassau is, you need to open a map of the Atlantic Ocean. Situated exactly between Florida and Cuba, these islands become a kind of gateway between the Gulf of Mexico and the ocean. The island of New Providence is far from being the largest among the Bahamas, but it is more densely populated than the others. Nassau is considered a commercial, tourist and cultural center. It is the largest city in the entire country. The population of Nassau exceeds 200,000. Nassau is an old city and was founded by the British back in the 17th century. It was originally called Charlestown. But in 1695, it was renamed Nassau, in honor of William III of Orange-Nassau.
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For many years, this island town was a notorious haven for pirates. It was repeatedly attacked by the Spanish and captured by American revolutionaries. In accordance with the Treaty of Paris, the Bahamas was ceded to Britain as a colony until 1973. It was then that the independent state of the Bahamas was formed.
Today, the island has many tourist attractions, including a deep and picturesque harbor for cruise ships. There are many hotels and gambling establishments. About two-thirds of Bahamians live on New Providence. The official language of the country is English, but the currency is called the Bahamian dollar, or BSD. However, its exchange rate is the same as the American dollar. And the USD is quite popular here.
