All language subtitles for Undiscovered Vistas Series 1 06of14 Bahamas 1080p HDTV

The Bahamas...

3,000 stunning islands, islets
and cays...

Scattered in the clear waters
of the Atlantic Ocean

and the Caribbean Sea.

From deep and mysterious
blue holes

to towering pine forests...

It is one of North America's
last great wild lands.

>> There's no place like
the Bahamas in the world.

>> A hidden network
of underground caverns.

>> Andros is one massive
labyrinth of cave systems.

It is totally unexplored.

>> A place
where wild ocean waves

collide with calm,
shallow seas.

A lush oasis
rich with wildlife.

>> The Bahamas has such
a variety of ecosystems
and species

that you don't find
anywhere else.

>> The Bahamas
are one of the world's

most spectacular island wonders.

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As early as 900 AD

the original inhabitants
of the Bahamas, the Lucayan

settled on the islands.

They were the first people
of the Americas

to encounter
Christopher Columbus in 1492.

The Bahamas are believed
to be the site

of Columbus's first landfall
in the "New World."

He was fascinated
by the shallow waters

that surround the archipelago

and called the region
" baja mar ."

Spanish for shallow sea.

For centuries
the Bahamas were visited

by settlers, traders,
and even pirates.

To this day
there are stories of treasure

hidden in the islands.

Today's visitors come
to stroll along

beautiful sand beaches

and swim
in some of the clearest waters

on the planet

along the world's third largest
barrier reef.

>> We typically think
of the Bahamas

and we just think about
the beach,

and granted
we have some of the most

phenomenal beaches
in the world,

but we are more than beaches.

>> The Bahamas' 700 islands
are spread across

more than 100,000 square miles

of the Atlantic Ocean's
deep, blue waters

about 150 miles
from Florida's southeast coast.

It is a land of boundless
white sand beaches,

emerald seas,

and rugged limestone lairs
eroded by time

and the savage waves
of the Atlantic.

>> You have caves,
you have blue holes,

you have reefs,
and you have this experience

in 700 different islands.

It is a landscape carved
from limestone.

The archipelago sits atop
three giant limestone platforms

that rise abruptly
from the deep.

They were once the bottom
of a shallow sea.

Sediments collected
on the ancient seabed

over millions of years.

Debris from corals,
shellfish, algae,

and other marine life

produced a vast amount
of calcium carbonate

which is the key ingredient
of limestone.

These massive
limestone platforms

submerged in the Atlantic
create the foundation

of the Bahama Banks.

When sea levels were much lower

hundreds of feet of rock
were exposed to the elements.

Now, on average, only 9-feet
poke above the waves.

The Bahamian islands are like
the tips of an iceberg

less than 40%
of the total landmass

peeks out
of the turquoise waters.

50,000 square miles
of the banks

lie hidden below.

The largest of the platforms,
the Great Bahama Bank

rises more than 14,000-feet
from the deep sea floor.

At the surface, the waters
covering the Bahama Banks

are extremely shallow.

The deepest point
is just 80-feet.

Satellite images
tell this story.

The bright aquamarine waters
of the banks

typically 30-feet deep
stand in stark contrast

to the dark blue open ocean
where the sea floor plunges

more than 13,000-feet
below the surface.

These two bodies of water
come head to head

at the island of Eleuthera

separated by a single strip
of rock

just 30-feet across.

This is Glass Window Bridge

known as
"the narrowest place on earth".

The bridge links the northern
and southern points of Eleuthera

and is one of the only places
on the planet

where the stormy blue waters
of the Atlantic

clash with the still,
turquoise calm

of the Caribbean Sea.

>> You're at that intersection.

You look at it and literally
a few feet to one side

you're in deep water
and a few feet to the other side

you're in shallow water
and you have this contrast

between very dark blues
and very light blues

and it's just a very visually
appealing location.

>> For centuries,
this narrow strip of land

was a natural bridge.

In the 1940s

powerful hurricanes
washed away the land.

Islanders built a paved road
in its place.

The Bahamas border
the Caribbean Hurricane Belt,

a storm-prone area
in the Atlantic Ocean

that reaches
from the Gulf of Mexico

to the Caribbean Sea.

Though most of the storms
don't reach the Bahamas

passing hurricanes
whip up wild winds.

The island of Eleuthera
has no reef

to absorb the impact
of passing storms.

High and powerful waves
that pound the bridge

have washed vehicles
and people out into the ocean.

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Two giant boulders
sit high atop a cliff

just south
of the Glass Window Bridge.

They are a testament
to the raw power of the ocean.

The mighty waves
of the Atlantic

flung these massive rocks
ashore.

Locals say strong winds
gusting off the water

pass through these rocks
with a loud rumble

like the roar of a bull.

Earning these boulders
their names,

The Cow and The Bull.

The rocky shoreline
takes its shape

from every passing wave.

Limestone walls are
sculpted by the sea

to create a network of troughs,
caves and coves.

Warm and shallow pools
nestle in the rock

like nature's private hot tubs.

This is Queen's Bath.

A series of emerald
tidal pools

burrowed in the rugged coast

and ringed
by battered limestone walls.

Heated by the sun,
refreshed by ocean spray,

these soothing pools
offer a cool respite.

Waves whip against
the jagged rock face

and seep through the pores
slowly widening

each crack and ridge.

>> Over the course of years,
this erosion is continuing

as you can see the seawater
smashing into the rocks

and you can see,
we call it honeycomb.

It's caused by seawater actually
crashing into the rock platform

and eroding it slowly.

>> Eventually,
these small openings connect

and larger hollows form.

Water, swept in by ocean waves

collects
in these natural basins

creating the magnificent
tidal pools of Queen's Bath.

Along the rugged shoreline
small caverns called notches

hide beneath
limestone overhangs

worn away by the beating waves
of the Atlantic.

These crevices
are an ideal habitat

for marine creatures

offering protection from waves
and predators.

Molluscs burrow several inches
inside the rock

creating small, deep holes
along the shoreline.

A process geologists call
bio-erosion.

Eventually,
the entire rock surface

is pitted with holes.

For thousands of years
these wild waves have chiseled

the sea caves of the Bahamas

with some help
from burrowing marine creatures.

The slender island
of Eleuthera

stretches more than
110 miles long.

Its caverns and sea caves
reveal the turbulent history

of the settlers of the Bahamas'.

The mid-17th century

was a period
of religious strife in England

and in continental Europe.

The Puritans
were English Protestants

who wanted to 'purify'
the Church of England

from Roman-Catholic practice.

They sought a place

where they could practice
their faith

free from persecution.

But they were forced out
of the British colony of Bermuda

for refusing to swear allegiance
to the Crown.

A group of 70 Puritans
then set out for the Bahamas.

They encountered stormy waters
and shipwrecked

in the northern tip
of the Bahamas.

With food and supplies
lost at sea

the Puritans sought shelter
on an island.

They called it Eleuthera,

derived from the Greek
meaning freedom.

The group known today
as "The Eleutherian Adventurers"

walked inland
and found their new home

and their new place of worship.

They called it Preacher's Cave.

Ringed by lush, green forest,

the grand entrance to the cave
stands 50-feet tall

and once faced punishing
ocean waves

that formed this grotto.

When sea levels
were much higher

Preacher's Cave
was just a notch

along a rocky shoreline.

The ocean eroded weaker sections
of the cliff

to create the cave.

As pressure from waves
built up inside

a blowhole formed
in the roof of the cavern

to release the surging water
through a jet spray.

Today, the tropic sun beams
through this skylight

illuminating the dark corners
of Preacher's Cave,

one of the most important
historical sites in the Bahamas.

Preacher's cave saw
100 years of religious service.

It is believed
the Eleutherian Adventurers

held a yearly service

to commemorate the day
God led them

to the safety of Preacher's Cave
on Eleuthera,

an island they called
"the promised land."

Long before the arrival
of the Puritans,

the original inhabitants
of the Bahamas, the Lucayan

believed that caves
were sacred places.

They saw the many caverns
of the island as gateways

between life on Earth
and the spirit world.

The Lucayan buried their dead
in these caves

to ensure safe passage
to the afterlife.

To this day
centuries-old remains

of the Lucayan

are found
in the remote caverns

of the Bahamas.

Caves are one of the only
ecosystems on the planet

that are not dependent
on the sun.

Without sunlight

there are no plants
inside the cave

and the food chain hinges
on a surprising source,

a continuous supply of guano,
bat droppings.

Hundreds of bats roost inside
these limestone caves.

They are nocturnal
and spend their days

resting in the darkness.

Here, they are sheltered
from hurricanes

and protected from predators.

Bats roost upside down
along the towering cave ceiling,

an ideal position for take-off.

They are the only mammals
on Earth capable of flying.

Unlike birds
bats do not launch themselves

into the air.

Instead they fall into flight.

For bats
hanging upside down

is the equivalent of lying down
for humans.

They are most relaxed
in this position.

Bats dangle upside down
by their hooked feet.

These claws are not connected
to a muscle

instead, the weight
of their upper body

pulls down on tendons
attached to their curved feet

causing them to clasp together
and lock around a cusp of rock.

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There are more than
1,000 bat species in the world

making up almost 25%
of all mammals on the planet.

The caves of the Bahamas
are home

to eleven different species.

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These male Buffy Flower Bats
have collected

for an extravagant
and rarely seen display

of rapid shaking
and vigorous wing beating

designed to attract females.

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Most bats roost in groups

especially those
who require extra protection.

In early summer
large clusters of bats

gather in the safety of a cave
to give birth.

These gatherings are called
maternity roosts.

Bat pregnancies
can last 6-9 weeks

depending on the species.

These Big Brown Bats
huddle together

to stay warm.

This is a priority
for new mothers.

Spending less energy
on maintaining body heat

means saving it
for something more important,

like looking after their young.

Most bats give birth
to just one baby called a pup

each year.

A mother keeps
her young one close,

born blind and with no fur

the pup is completely dependent
on its mother

suckling on milk
for nourishment

for at least four weeks

until it is old enough
to leave the roost

and fly in search of food.

The bats of the Bahamas
feed mostly on insects, fruits

and small vertebrates and fish.

These nocturnal creatures
can find their prey

in complete darkness
using echolocation,

a series of high-pitched sounds
that reverberate off

the surrounding walls
and objects.

Bats send 10-20 of these sounds
each second.

The speeds at which
the echoes travel back

determine how far away
surrounding objects are

including prey.

Bats can eat as many
as 1,200 mosquitoes

in just one hour.

Overnight, they devour
their entire body weight

in insects.

Bats digest food very quickly
producing large volumes of guano

that can pile up
several feet high.

Leaves and plants washed up
by rainwater

fruits dropped by bats,
and guano

coat the floors of the cave

creating a sludge
of organic compost,

an ideal habitat
for bacteria and fungi

that underpin
the entire food chain

of the cave.

Millipedes
and small crustaceans

feed on these microorganisms

while larger insects
such as beetles and spiders

eat the smaller creatures.

Frogs and toads
residing in the nooks

and hollows of the cave
come out of hiding

to feed on insects.

While other creatures
go directly to the source.

A Caribbean hermit crab
slowly makes its way down

to the cave floor
to feast on bat guano.

The crab carefully climbs
down the branch

using its left claw
for balance.

The smaller right claw
is an eating utensil

while a short pair of antennae
enable the crab to smell

and taste the food.

Sharp eyesight and a second,
longer pair of antennae

keep the hermit crab alert
to potential dangers.

A spiraled shell large enough
to conceal its entire body

shields the crab's soft belly
from predators.

The hard left claw
offers additional protection

by blocking the entrance
to the shell.

Hermit crabs are not born
with these protective shelters

they search for shells
abandoned by marine snails

in a competitive housing market.

Hermit crabs are one of the most
common crustaceans

on the planet.

There are more than
500 known species

some are smaller than a coin

others as large
as a coconut.

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Tucked away,
at the base of a rugged cliff

a small opening
overgrown with vines

leads inside a cave

believed to have been
the hide out

of one of the Caribbean's
most powerful pirates.

This is Morgan's Cave.

According to local folklore

this cave was once home
to Henry Morgan,

an infamous 17th century pirate.

>> Morgan's cave was his home

where he said he hid
his treasures there.

Henry Morgan
was actually a privateer

that resided in the Bahamas.

He was hired
by the British government

to protect the islands

and also to seize
any Spanish galleon ship

headed back to Spain
to carry gold.

So he put one
of his headquarters in Andros.

And this was because
at Morgan's Bluff

you were able to see
the ships going past.

So most of the Spanish ships
what they would do

They would cut
across the Bahamas

and head into the Atlantic.

So Morgan was able to
scout out there with his guys

and attack when he needed to.

>> This is Morgan's Bluff.

A rugged cliff line
boldly facing the wild waves

of the Atlantic.

Beaten by seawater
and weathered by erosion

the bluff is pitted with holes
and bound by jagged ridges.

It is the highest point
on Andros,

the largest island
of the Bahamian Archipelago.

>> Andros has a world of
wildlife for you to explore.

>> Andros stretches across
104 miles

of lush vegetation,
towering pine forests

and tangled mangrove swamps.

Its landmass is larger

than all of the other
Bahamian islands combined.

The shallow waters
of the Great Bahama Bank

stretch along the western side.

Along the eastern shore
lies a 6,000-foot abyss

called the Tongue of the Ocean.

This marine trench
separates the islands

of Andros and New Providence.

It is lined by the world's
third largest barrier reef.

Deep below the surface
of the island

lies one of the earth's
final frontiers,

the dark and mysterious caves
known as blue holes.

Andros is home to more
than 200 blue holes.

The highest concentration
in the Western Hemisphere.

>> Andros is one massive
labyrinth of cave systems

and these blue holes
are just portholes

to this cave system.

>> Like the rest of the Bahamas

the limestone landscape
of Andros

has been eroded by water.

More than 300,000 years ago
during the last ice age

sea levels dropped
by as much as 400-feet

leaving the islands unprotected
from the elements.

Rainwater eroded the limestone

forming hundreds of miles
of underground caverns.

Falling rain absorbs
atmospheric carbon dioxide

and forms a weak acid.

With every drop

this acid eats away
at limestone.

While draining through the rock
acidic waters slowly widen pores

and pry cracks open.

>> You have these large
pockets being developed

over thousands of years.

And finally

you had the top of these holes
that were being formed

under the earth collapsing in.

>> As sea levels rose
the caves filled up.

These deep, vertical caverns
descend to depths

of more than 1,000-feet.

The Ocean's salty waters

settle at the bottom
of blue holes

while freshwater collects
on top.

The deepest layer
contains no oxygen at all.

Geologists call
this an anoxic environment.

These underwater caves

are one of the least explored
places on Earth.

Diving through the Bahamas'
intricate labyrinth of caves

is extremely dangerous

even for the most
experienced diver.

In some blue holes

divers swim
through poisonous gas

that causes dizziness,
skin irritation,

and in high concentrations,
even death.

More people have died
cave diving

than climbing Mount Everest.

Down here there is no air,
no light.

This is one
of the harshest environments

on the planet.

Yet these waters
teem with microorganisms

that have adapted
to the extreme conditions.

Studying the life forms
that thrive in this environment

gives scientists a glimpse
into the Earth's past

more than 3 billion years ago
when there was no oxygen

on our planet.

These studies also shed light on
how life might possibly survive

on distant, oxygen-free planets.

The underwater caverns
of the Bahamas

are decorated
with geological ornaments

hanging from the ceiling
and sprouting from the ground.

Millions of years ago
when these caves were dry

rainwater seeping
through the cracks

trickled down
into the hollowed caverns.

The dissolved limestone carried
by the water

met the air inside these caves
and a mineral called calcite

was deposited along the cracks.

As water continued to drip
the calcite grew in size

each drop leaving a tiny amount
of mineral behind.

It takes a century

for just one quarter of an inch
to grow.

But over time
these beautiful formations

called stalactites

suspend from the ceilings
of the caves

like an enchanted
crystal forest.

Quicker drips of water
rolling off the stalactites

deposit calcite on the floor
creating stalagmites.

When a stalagmite
and stalactite join together

they form a column.

These structures take
thousands of years to grow

and can reach heights
of more than 30-feet.

The depths
of these underwater caves

may reveal the secrets
of the past

but the surface
of these blue holes

holds the key to survival
for the residents

of the Bahamas.

These islands are surrounded
by salt water

and receive very little rain.

In the Bahamas
freshwater is hard to come by.

>> You get freshwater
in two ways.

One; you can catch it
in a cistern and hold it there

and then hopefully
you have enough

to survive the year.

But there's also very shallow
fresh water lenses.

>> A thin lens of fresh water
collected during rainfall

floats on top of a dense,
salt-water layer

along the surface
of these blue holes.

On some islands these lenses
are only a few feet deep.

This shallow layer
was the only source of water

sustaining life
on smaller islands

like Eleuthera

until salt water filters
were developed.

>> You go to places like Andros,
which are very large islands,

they can have very thick
freshwater lenses.

They get lenses 50-feet thick.

>> Inland blue holes in Andros

provide as much
as 6 million gallons

of freshwater daily.

The most plentiful are those
at the center of the island

surrounded by the soaring
Caribbean pines.

>> The rock land pine forest
is important as well

because they are like
osmosis pump

each one of those pine trees
keeps the freshwater lens

close to the surface.

The lens is like
a freshwater bubble

that sits
in the big limestone plateau.

And if the trees'
osmosis pressure's

not holding the lens in place,
you remove the trees,

the water just drains away.

The pine forest
by Blue Hole National Park

is the largest one
of those species of pine

left in the world.

>> Caribbean pines flourish
near freshwater

found only
on the northern islands

of the Bahamas.

In Andros
pines grow as tall as 150-feet

providing homes
to a vast array of wildlife.

Caribbean pines require sunlight
and open space to grow

away from coppice vegetation,

a mixture of shrubs that share
the forest with these pines.

During dry seasons

natural fires
set this brush ablaze

removing competition
for the sunlight.

As these shading,
broad-leafed plants burn down

juvenile pines receive
enough light to grow.

Botanists call
these Caribbean pinelands

"Fire climax communities."

Without these wild fires
the pine forests of the Bahamas

would not survive.

>> The reason pines
don't get destroyed during fires

is because
they have a resin in it

and when it becomes overheated
the resin explodes

putting out any fire that
can potentially damage the pine.

>> The pine forest of Andros
is a bird-watcher's paradise.

>> You're surrounded by
these birds and so that's
really intriguing

having that, you know,
being surrounded by wildlife

and hearing this beautiful sound
as you walk through.

>> Yellow-bellied bananaquits
feed on pine needles...

while American kestrels
hunt for insects

and small rodents in the forest.

A red-legged thrush
sits up in the trees

assuming a high vantage point
to find its next meal.

Turkey vultures
are the most common species

in this forest.

>> Now these birds
are normally known as pests

in the Bahamian society
because they're everywhere.

However,
they play a pivotal role

in the ecosystem.

They work
as sanitation workers.

They clean the ecosystem
from pine forest

to the coppice vegetation
to the sides of the roads.

They help remove any debris
that would be a potential hazard

to mankind.

>> From towering pine forests
to lush coppice vegetation

the Bahamas bloom

with more than 1,400 species
of plants.

>> The plants here have had
a tremendous influence

on the people and culture
of the Bahamas.

These islands
were extremely isolated

for long periods of time
starting with the loyalists

in the 1600s,

through the slave
and plantation trade

and then into independence.

And in these islands

you didn't have access
to doctors,

you didn't have access
to pharmacies.

>> People took matters
into their own hands

discovering medicinal uses
for a diversity of plants

that grow in the Bahamas.

A practice locals call
Bahamian bush medicine.

>> Bahamian bush medicine
is a tradition

that was passed on
by our African ancestors.

By boiling leaves and barks
of certain plants

as a tea or tonic.

In that time
there was no clinics,

no hospitals,

so our mothers
had to be the doctors

and our fathers
had to be the doctors.

Going out into the coppice
and bringing in certain plants

and medicinal stuff
to heal ourselves

from certain illnesses

we would catch like colds
and flus,

upset stomachs
and all kinds of other illness.

>> The lush, coppice forests
of the Bahamas

are a living pharmacy
where every plant has a purpose.

The bark and leaves
of a five finger plant

when brewed as a tea

can strengthen
a weakened bladder.

While plants, like Gammalamme
also known as gumbo limbo

are rubbed directly on the skin
to rid the body of toxins

caused by contact
with poisonous shrubs.

Some locals eat the leaves
of the blue flower

also known as rat tail
to treat colds and flu.

>> Once you go to nature,

all your questions
kind of get answered.

>> An amazing diversity
of plant life

carpets the forest floor
creating shaded habitat

for the island's creatures.

Roaming in the brush

is the largest
land crab population

in the Bahamas.

>> Only in Andros
we celebrate land crabs.

They're part of our heritage.

Androsians are known
to the world

and to the Bahamas
as crab catchers.

So it's a delicacy
throughout the country.

>> These land crabs can get
as large as one foot

from claw to claw.

They grow by shedding
their hard shell

and absorbing water

before growing
a new larger shell.

Land crabs migrate
from the forest

toward the sea
to release their eggs

in coastal environments.

Along the shoreline
a dense tangle of roots

lines the emerald waters
of the Caribbean.

These are mangroves.

They act as a refuge
for juvenile fish

and a shield that defends
the shoreline

from tropical storms.

These twisting swamps are vital
to the ecology of the Bahamas.

>> A Bahamas without mangroves

would be
a very different Bahamas.

You'd lose so many species
and our coastline,

which most of the Bahamas
is coastal,

would change dramatically.

>> Mangroves are a buffer zone
between land and water.

Their tangled, woven roots
protect the shoreline

from erosion
and soften the harsh waves

of passing storms.

>> They have really funky
root systems.

Some people will call them
the "walking trees"

because they look like
they have stilts.

>> The roots of most trees
are firmly planted in the ground

or entirely submerged in water.

Mangroves,
grow only in the tropics

in the salty coastal waters
of seas and oceans.

>> So along the coastline
they have to deal with things

like salt stress
and water stress in their soils.

So they have
really cool characteristics,

really interesting root systems
and ways to deal with dispersal

in a watery environment.

>> The roots of mangroves
come up into the air

to absorb oxygen directly
through their skin.

These trees are well adapted
to surviving in saltwater.

The roots have tiny filters
in their cells

designed to soak up water
and reject the salt.

But they invariably
absorb some salt,

and have to get rid of it.

Some mangroves excrete this salt
through their leaves

forming little crystals

that are later rinsed away
by rain.

Others channel salts
into the older leaves

that become yellow
eventually fall off

and decompose

creating a foundation
for the food chain

of this ecosystem.

>> The mangrove leaves
drop into the sea.

It then becomes a food chain
for the larvae,

all the little crustaceans
that live there.

The little baby fish
start to live there.

>> The twisting roots of
mangroves serve as a refuge

for the diverse marine life
of the Bahamas.

Often referred to as nurseries

the calm and shallow waters
of the mangroves

offer juvenile fish
and invertebrates protection

in this tangled labyrinth
of roots.

>> And that's why it's important
to keep them.

You remove the mangroves
and your reef is finished.

>> It is a training ground
for many species

before they graduate to life
on the coral reef.

A group of rare
Bahamian rock iguanas

bask in the tropical sun

on the white sand beaches
of Exuma Island.

(♪♪♪)

>> The way they move
through the sand,

the color of them,
they're just magical creatures.

>> A serrated ridge
that runs along their spine

helps release excess heat

and makes the iguana
appear larger

during disputes over territory.

These rock iguanas
can grow as long as six feet.

Mating season begins
in the spring.

Females produce two to nine eggs
each year.

They use termite mounds
or dig their nests in the sand

to incubate the eggs

a process that takes
about 90 days.

Defensive mothers
guard the burrows

until the eggs hatch.

>> At the beginning of life
they eat small insects,

however, as they grow older
they almost become vegetarians.

>> Adult iguanas feed
on the succulent leaves,

fruits and flowers
of the coastal coppice forest

to hydrate themselves
in this dry Bahamian climate.

They will climb trees
to retrieve food

or simply take a rest
in the shade.

Rock iguanas in the Bahamas
are an endangered species:

They are harvested for food
and for the pet trade

and fall prey to dogs
and feral cats.

These ancient creatures
are now protected in the Bahamas

and it is illegal to harm
or capture a rock iguana.

As the day comes to a close

iguanas retreat into the cracks
and ridges of the limestone

that shapes these beautiful
and diverse islands.

(♪♪♪)

From twisting
mangrove nurseries...

to flooded inland caves...

the Bahamas
offer a diversity of ecosystems

for the wildlife that inhabit
the islands.

The blue holes of Andros
offer entrance

to a mysterious,
underwater world.

>> The entire limestone
plateau of Andros

is one massive labyrinth
of cave systems

and these blue holes
are just portholes

to this cave system.

>> It is a wild land brimming
with lush coppice forests

and towering pines.

>> The Bahamas is a special
place if you're a nature lover

because of so much habitat
both land and sea.

>> A place where jagged
limestone cliffs

meet boundless
white sand beaches.

>> You can find steep cliffs,
fantastic caves,

mangrove ecosystems and species
that are unique to the Bahamas.

>> The islands of the Bahamas
are a stunning natural treasure

rising from the clear,
blue waters

of the Atlantic Ocean.

(♪♪♪)

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