1891 Perron map NASSAU, THE BAHAMAS (#181)

Description

Perron17_182
1891 Perron map NASSAU, THE BAHAMAS (#181)
Nice small map titled
Nassau
,
from wood engraving  with fine detail and clear impression, nice hand coloring. Overall size approx.  16 x 15 cm, image size approx. 11 x 7 cm. From
La Nouvelle Géographie universelle, la terre et les hommes
, 19 vol. (1875-94), great work of Elisee Reclus. Cartographer is Charles Perron.
Nassau
originally called Charles Town
capital of The Bahamas, a port on the northeastern coast of New Providence  Island, and one of the world's chief pleasure resorts. The climate is temperate  and the sandy beaches and scenery are beautiful. Although the city proper is  comparatively small, suburbs and residential districts stretch far along the  coast and into the interior.
It was established as Charles Towne in the mid-17th century and took its present  name in the 1690s from a family name of King William III of England, but it was  not laid out until 1729. Notable buildings include three old forts; Government  House (1803–06), a pink-and-white mansion overlooking the city; the Anglican  Christ Church Cathedral (1837); the octagonal Nassau Public Library (1797); and  the government buildings around Parliament Square in the city centre.
Offshore, at the eastern end of the harbour, are marine gardens; glass-bottomed  boats are available for underwater sightseeing. Nassau's spectacular natural  vegetation includes scarlet poinciana trees, poinsettias, and purple  bougainvillea. The Ardastra Gardens and Zoo, west of the city, contain flamingos  and many rare tropical plants. Paradise Island, a luxury tourist resort with  high-rise hotels and casinos, was developed in the 1960s and is connected with  Nassau by two bridges, one a toll bridge. It shelters Nassau's excellent natural  harbour, which can accommodate cruise ships of all sizes.
Nassau is a tourist and international-banking centre. Domestic exports include  crawfish (spiny lobster), other seafood, fruit and vegetables, rum, and crude  salt. The College of the Bahamas was established in 1974. Nassau is reached by  international sea or air routes and has local service to other islands. Pop.  (2002) 179,300.