A British colony since 1783, the Bahamas became self-governing in 1964 and achieved full independence in 1973. With only 29 inhabited islands, the Bahamas is comprised of 700 islands and over 2,000 rocks and cays, sprinkled over 100,000 square miles of ocean. The archipelago is an ecological oasis, boasting the clearest water on the planet. The land area is 5,382 square miles with a population of 253,000. Nassau is the capital, and the major industries include tourism, offshore finance, and banking.