Cuba
, the biggest island in the Caribbean, is
located at the entrance to the Gulf of México.
Cuba's nearest neighbors are: to the East,
Haití (77 kilometers), to the West,
the Yucatan Peninsula (210 kilometers),
to the North, Florida Peninsula (180 kilometers)
and to the South, Jamaica (140 kilometers).
The Bahamas are very near, toward the Northwest
of the eastern end of Cuba
Cuba is an archipelago consisting of the main island, the Isle of Youth and about 4,195 keys and islets.
Its elongated and narrow shape allows circulation of trade winds from the Atlantic, which cool its tropical, humid climate. Only one fourth of the land is mountainous being its main systems: The Guaniguanico mountain range at the West region; the Sierra del Escambray to the South center of the country; and to the East the Sierra Maestra with its Pico Real del Turquino, climbing to 1,974 meters above sea level, the Island's highest point. The remaining territory, plain and fertile, includes immense extensions of sugar plantations (the island's main export line), tobacco (highly appreciated worldwide) and other agricultural products.
The biggest river is the Cauto, east of the country, with an extension of 250 km of which only 112 are navigable by small crafts. Subsoil is rich in nickel and nature shows a variety of plants and flowers as well as a marvellous diversity of animals. This Caribbean island has more than 280 charming beaches, virgin keys, caverns and caves for exploration, as well as forests and swamps . Overall surface of the archipelago is 110,992 square kilometers.
The country has an important range of mineral resources: nickel and cobalt are found at the Mayari-Nicaro and the Moa-Baracoa regions; kaolin, quartz and marble quality and assortment: red, pink, black, grey, green, white) are found on the Isle of Youth. the Matanzas province. Among the main timber-yielding species are Pinus caribea, Cuban mahogany , cedar, red mangrove and Santa Maria tree. More than 85% of forests offer new wood and timber-yielding trees are relatively large.
Fishing reserves are mostly crustaceans as shrimps
and lobsters. Coral reefs are very well preserved and have an extension of 45 000 square km around the archipelago. Some of the small islands with beautiful and unpolluted beaches and landscapes are moderately exploited for tourism.
Cuba is currently divided into 14 provinces
and 169 municipalities, one of them with
special characteristics and status. Form
west to east the provinces are named as
follows: Pinar del Río, Havana, City
of Havana, Matanzas, Villa Clara, Cienfuegos,
Sancti Spiritus, Ciego de Avila, Camgüey,
Las Tunas, Holguín, Granma, Santiago
de Cuba y Guantánmo. The special
municipality known as the Isle of Youth
is located on the South coast of the Havana
Provinces.
Habana
Pinar del Río
Cienfuegos
Varadero
Sancti Spíritus
Ciego de Ávila
Camaguey
Las Tunas
Holguín
Santiago de Cuba
Guantánamo
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