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Cuba: ancient colonial centers and Caribbean beaches

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Cuba (República de Cuba) is a one-party socialist state located on an island in the Caribbean Sea in Central America, between the Tropic of Cancer and the 20th North parallel, between Florida and Yucatan.

THE LARGEST ISLAND OF THE CARIBBEAN

The island of Cuba, with over 105,000 sq km is the largest island in the Greater Antilles. In addition to the main island, the state is made up of numerous islands and archipelagos, among which the largest is the Isla de la Juventud (Isle of Youth) (2,340 sq km). To the north-west of the island of Cuba are the archipelagos of the Colorados, Sabana (or Jardines del Rey) and Camagüey. While along the southern coast of the main island are the archipelagos of the Jardines de la Reina and Canarreos.

Cuba, has a narrow and elongated shape along the parallels, in fact extends from the east (Punta Maisí) to the west (Cabo San Antonio) for 1,200 km. While the average depth of the island is 80-100 km, its coastal development is over 3,500 km. The island is largely flat, with isolated hills that rarely exceed 1,000 meters.

To the west in the province of Pinar del Rio is the Sierra de los Órganos, here the landscape is characterized by limestone rock formations that have the characteristic organ pipe shape covered with vegetation. At the center of the island is the Sierra de Trinidad with heights not exceeding 1,000 meters. Finally, to the south-east along the coast is the Sierra Maestra, where the highest mountain in the country is located, the Pico Real del Turquino (1,974 meters). Rich in water but short are the rivers, the longest being the Río Cauto (250 km).

A POOR ECONOMY

As for the economy, it is mainly based on agricultural products, in particular on sugar cane and tobacco, but also on fruit growing (bananas, pineapples, citrus fruits), coffee, potatoes, corn and rice. Breeding (cattle, pigs, sheep and goats) is also important.

Mining is of some importance, chromite, nickel, cobalt, oil and manganese are extracted there. The industry is linked to the processing of agricultural products, in particular to the processing of sugar and tobacco. Tourism is increasingly important thanks to the beauty of the beaches and the numerous historical attractions of the ancient colonial centers.

Tourist attractions of Cuba: what to see in Cuba.

The climate of Cuba.

  • Area: 110,922 sqkm. (Arable 30,4%, Pastures 26,8%, Forests and Woodlands 23,5%, Uncultivated and Unproductive 19,3%)
  • Population: 11,200,000 (agg. 2019) (European 70%, Mestizos (descendants of European and Amerindian) and Mulattos (descendants of European and African) 17%, African 12%), Asian 1%.
  • State Capital: Havana.
  • Language: Official language is Spanish.
  • Religion: Roman Catholic 33%; Protestant 3%, Santeria.
  • Currency: Cuban Peso (CUP)
  • Time: UTC-5 (Summer (DST) starts March 11; ends November 4, UTC-4)

ACCOMMODATIONS, APARTMENTS, B&B AND HOTELS

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