Bahrain has two things in common with yesterday’s destination. Bahamas and Bahrain are island countries, and they are both on the exclusive list of countries with no rivers. Bahrain used to be made up of around 30 islands, however, extensive land reclamation projects have increased this total to over 80.
The one claim to fame I knew Bahrain for (other than the Bahrain GP) was that it was the destination of the first commercial Concorde flight in 1976. Bahrain was chosen due to the more obvious New York route being temporarily blocked because of environmental concerns.
In the late 1868s in an almost mafia-style episode, Bahrain became a protectorate of the United Kingdom. It remained under Her Majesties watchful eye until 1971.
Bahrain used to be known for its pearl fisheries which accounted for most of its economy until the 1930s. Divers would put nose clips on before descending to the depths. Apparently, almost the entire male population was involved in the pearling industry.
In the twentieth century, pearls were largely replaced by oil which is now being replaced by financial services and tourism. Bahrain is certainly very open to foreign nationals as immigrants outnumber Bahrain nationals, making up about 55% of the population and is now the second-most densely populated island nation in the world.
Bahrain is connected to Saudi Arabia by the King Fahd Causeway. It’s 25 km long and was completed in 1986. It’s also currently in the process of planning a causeway connecting it to Qatar. This will be 40km long and is being dubbed the “Friendship Bridge”. This will be useful for alcohol-fuelled weekend trips and visiting the world’s largest underwater theme park when it finally opens…
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