The Bahamas enjoys an ideal location at the crossroads of the Americas. It consists of a string of 700 islands and cays, the northernmost island, Grand Bahama, lies only 50 miles from the coast of Florida and the coral archipelago stretches south to the doorstep of the Caribbean Sea. This location offers easy access to the huge consumer markets of North, Central and South America, some 800 million strong.

The capital city of Nassau is on the island of New Providence. Freeport, the second largest city, is situated on Grand Bahama. Islands in the archipelago other than New Providence and Grand Bahama are known as the Family Islands.