The Bahamas The Bahamas extends 760 miles from the coast of Florida on the north-west almost to Haiti on the south-east. The group of islands consists of hundreds of islands and 2000 cays. Thirty of the islands are inhabited. The Bahamas achieved independence from Britain July 10, 1973, and is now a fully self-governing member of the Commonwealth and a member of the United Nations, the Caribbean Community and the Organisation of American States.