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How do The Bahamas differ geographically from the Greater Antilles and Lesser Antilles?

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Flag of The Bahamas — The Bahamas The flag of The Bahamas was officially hoisted on July 10, 1973, the date of the nation's independence from the United Kingdom.

The Bahamas are geographically distinct from the Greater Antilles and Lesser Antilles primarily because they are not part of the Antilles island group, which comprises the remainder of the West Indies.1

While the Antilles are located within the Caribbean Sea, The Bahamas occupy an irregular submarine tableland rising out of the Atlantic Ocean to the north of Cuba and Hispaniola. Topographically, The Bahamas are characterized by extensive flatlands with very low elevations; the highest point in the entire archipelago, Mount Alvernia on Cat Island, reaches only 206 feet (63 meters). In contrast, the Greater Antilles are known for more varied and mountainous terrain. Furthermore, unlike many other island regions, The Bahamas are composed of limestone rock and coral fossils and lack rivers entirely, though some islands contain large lakes.231