<P> In 1864, the Governor of the Bahamas reported that there were 29 islands, 661 cays, and 2,387 rocks in the colony . </P> <P> The closest island to the United States is Bimini, which is also known as the gateway to the Bahamas . The island of Abaco is to the east of Grand Bahama . The southeasternmost island is Inagua . The largest island is Andros Island . Other inhabited islands include Eleuthera, Cat Island, Rum Cay, Long Island, San Salvador Island, Ragged Island, Acklins, Crooked Island, Exuma, Berry Islands and Mayaguana . Nassau, capital city of the Bahamas, lies on the island of New Providence . </P> <P> All the islands are low and flat, with ridges that usually rise no more than 15 to 20 m (49 to 66 ft). The highest point in the country is Mount Alvernia (formerly Como Hill) on Cat Island . It has an elevation of 63 metres (207 ft). </P> <P> To the southeast, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and three more extensive submarine features called Mouchoir Bank, Silver Bank and Navidad Bank, are geographically a continuation of the Bahamas . </P>

What region of the world is the bahamas in