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| Introduction |
Cuba, the unavoidable
location in the New World of the XVth and XVIth
centuries; yesteryear, the land of ports of
call and supplies and, now, forever the ideal
location to renew acquaintances and create new
ones, is located in an ideal geographic spot
– north east of the Caribbean Sea at the
entrance of the Gulf of Mexico between the two
Americas. |
Some
vital statistics
The 110,860 km2 Cuban archipelago is made
up of over 4,000 cays and islets situated
around Cuba, the 1,500-km wide main island
located between Cabo de San Antonio to the
west and Punta de Quemados to the east.
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Climate
Cuba has a moderate subtropical climate.
Although with the rains, it can be said
to have two seasons, there are very few
climate variations. The dry season, which
is referred to as winter, runs from November
to April while the rainy season, which has
all the characteristics of a Cuban summer,
begins in May and ends in October. <--UP--> |
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Flora
and fauna
Cuban flora, which is highly endemic and
consists of 6,370 types of higher plants,
accounts for 4% of the planet’s vegetation.
Its fauna includes 13,000 species none of
which are harmful to humans. There are 900
species of fish, four thousand molluscs
and 400 birds, 52 of which are exclusive
to the island. <--UP--> |
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National
flower
The mariposa: a type of endemic intense
white, mildly scented jasmine that grows
wild in the Cuban countryside.
National bird
The tocororo: an indigenous species with
blue, white and red plumage – the
colours of the Cuban flag. <--UP--> |
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National tree
The royal palm –Roystonea regia-:
a plant that grows abundantly along Cuba’s
countryside. It can reach a height of 30
meters and, with its resistance to the strong
gales, is symbolic of the rigid Cuban nature.
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Orography
More than two-thirds of Cuba is made up
of fertile flatlands dotted with mountain
ranges that give the landscape its distinctive
hills and valleys. The main ranges are the
Sierra de los Órganos, in the western
part of the country; Sierra del Escambray,
in the central region; and Sierra Maestra,
to the east which includes Pico Turquino,
which at 1,974 metres above sea level, is
the highest point in the country. <--UP--> |
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Historical
overview
Christopher Columbus entered Cuba, via
Bariay – which is located in present-day
Holguín province – in October
1492. Spain conquered the territory in
1511 and ruled until 1898. Great Britain
took control of Havana in 1762 and occupied
the Cuban capital until 1763. This occupation
led to the subsequent dismantling of the
trading company Real Compañía
and promoted trade, which generated immediate
economic spin-offs for the country. Cuba’s
history has been marked by an ongoing
series of pro-independence struggles from
the war of 1868 and the war of 1895 organized
by Cuban National Hero José Martí
to the more recent movements that culminated
with the victory of the revolution led
by Fidel Castro, on January 1, 1959. <--UP-->
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Economy
Traditionally, sugar cane and its related industry
have been the mainstay of Cuba’s economy.
Extensive amounts of land have also been set aside
for the cultivation of tobacco, citrus fruits,
coffee, cocoa, henequen and truck crops. The country’s
industries produce vast quantities of nickel,
refractory chromium, manganese and asphaltite.
Fishing is also a major player as are the marked
advances made in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology
industries. Overall, the driving force of the
country’s economy is tourism; the industry
generates the highest income and has recorded
the most dynamic growth. <--UP-->
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