“I have never seen anything more beautiful in my life!” (c) Christopher Columbus

Cuba is the largest island in the West Indies and one of the largest islands in the world. A long, narrow island resembling a crocodile is located in the western Caribbean Sea on the border of the Gulf of Mexico. The Cuban archipelago lies in the western part of the Caribbean Sea. By its history, culture, language, and customs, Cuba is a part of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Geography of Cuba

The area is 110992 square meters. km.

The highest point is Turkino Peak, 1974 m.

The longest river is the Kauto, 370 km long.

The island is 1200 km long and 210 km wide at its widest point. The Cuban archipelago covers an area of 110992 km2 and has more than 300 natural beaches covered with white sand and surrounded by crystal clear waters. The most famous beach in Cuba is Varadero. Cuba’s landscapes are very diverse. There are valleys, mountains, and hills. The country’s main mountain ranges are the Cordillera de Guaniguánico in the west, the Escambray in the center, and the Sierra Maestra in the east. The highest mountain in the country, Turquino Peak (1974 m above sea level), is located in the Sierra Maestra Mountains. The rest of the island is a fertile plain.

Weather and climate

Subtropical with a pleasant temperature of 25-28 degrees all year round. The water temperature is 23-25 degrees. The rainy season is not pronounced in May and November.

Time

It is 7 hours behind the Kyiv time.

Population of Cuba

The population is over 11.1 million people. The population density is 101 inhabitants per km2. 75% of the island’s population lives in cities and 25% in rural areas. Cuban cities are a mixture of architectural styles. The most populous provinces are Havana, with 2.2 million people, Santiago de Cuba and Holguín, with half a million people each.

Cubans make up 95%. For their part, they are divided into creoles (descendants of Spaniards and other European settlers; approximately 65%), mulattoes, and blacks. It is believed that by the end of the nineteenth century, about a million black slaves were brought to Cuba from Africa.

There is a fairly large Chinese colony on the island, which arose as a result of the Spanish stimulation of immigration after the end of the slave trade. Descendants of Japanese immigrants live on the island of Pinos. In the eastern regions of Cuba, there are immigrants from Haiti.

In the province of Oriente, there is an indigenous Indian population that has mixed with Cubans, but has retained elements of its original culture.

National symbols of Cuba

Mariposa “snow-white butterfly”, a type of white ginger characterized by a very delicate flavor. The national bird is the tocororo, the Cuban trogan, a local bird whose plumage combines the colors of the Cuban flag. The national tree is the Royal Palm. These palms grow everywhere on the island.

National holidays

January 1 is Liberation Day;
May 1 is International Workers’ Day;
July 26 is the Day of the National Uprising;
October 10 – The war for independence begins.

During these four days, all state institutions in the country are canceled.

National flag

The national Cuban flag first flew in the city of Cardenas, Matanzas province, when in 1850 a group of rebels took up arms against the Spanish colonial authorities.
The three blue stripes represent the three parts into which the island was divided at the time. The two white ones remind us of the purity of the intentions of the fighters for independence. The equilateral triangle represents the revolutionaries’ ideals of freedom, equality, and fraternity. The red color of the triangle is a warning of the blood that must be shed until independence is achieved. The white star is a symbol of complete freedom.

State emblem

The upper field depicts a golden key, which refers to Cuba’s geographical position between the two Americas, and the rising sun, which symbolizes the birth of a new state. The three blue stripes and two white stripes on the left field reflect the political and administrative division of Cuba during the colonial period, and the royal palm tree on the right field symbolizes the unwavering character of the Cubans.

The anthem of Cuba

In 1867, Pedro Figueredo, a lawyer from the city of Bayamo, wrote its melody, and a year later, when the Ten Years’ War had already begun, he wrote the lyrics of this anthem, which was originally called the Bayamo Anthem and later became the National Anthem. It was first performed publicly in the city of Bayamo on October 20, 1868.

Official language

Spanish. Many of them speak English, Russian and French.

Religion

Cuba is a country where there are different faiths. Christianity (Catholicism) and the so-called “Santeria” are syncretic cults based on African pagan beliefs that have mixed with the cult of some Christian saints.
In Cuba, the church is separated from the state, and the Cuban Constitution guarantees the population freedom of religion. The most common religion is Catholic. Catholic churches exist throughout the country. Even after the victory of the revolution, masses are celebrated daily and solemn services are held on national or local religious holidays. In recent years, Protestant churches have begun to appear. Especially in the provinces. Since the first black slave set foot on the island, various beliefs of African origin have taken root there. Over time, they formed three main movements that are still popular today. These are Regla de Ocha or Santeria, Las Reglas de Palo and La Sociedad Secreta Abacua. The historical process also resulted in a mixture of Catholic dogma and African cults. For example, the Blessed Virgin Mary of Cobre is considered by Catholics to be the patron saint of Cuba. In Santeria, she is named Ochun.

Cuba’s economy

It is a centralized system that relies primarily on sugar production and tourism. The tourism industry is developing rapidly. Canadian, Spanish, and European corporations are investing huge amounts of money in Cuba. In addition to sugar, Cuba produces tobacco, coffee, rum, honey, cocoa, and grows citrus fruits. Cuba is a world leader in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. Important sectors of the Cuban economy include the production of construction materials, fishing, and the extraction of nickel (the country has the largest discovered reserves of nickel in the world), copper, magnesium, and chromium. Another important source of the country’s income is the money Cubans send to Cuban emigrants, who mostly live in Florida, to relatives who stayed in Cuba.

Flora and fauna

Thanks to its flat climate and fertile soils, Cuba is home to more than 3,000 species of tropical fruit plants and flowers. In some of the more humid mountainous areas, mahogany, guayac, campesina, and zestwood forests are found. Among the valuable species, the royal palm is the most common. Cuba is home to approximately 200 species of birds and a wide variety of insects. The rodents of the clawed hutia (genus Capromys) and the insectivorous Cuban jawed snake (Solenodon cubanus) are found here. The island is home to several species of bats, and the American manatee (Trichechus manatus) lives off the coast and in the rivers. Deer have been introduced as a hunting game. Reptiles include alligators, iguanas, and other lizards, as well as several species of nonvenomous snakes. Blind fish and shrimps live in the lakes of karst caves.

Communication

Cuba has a single mobile operator, the state-owned ETECSA under the Cubacel trademark. Initially, only foreigners, employees of foreign firms, or Cubans holding key positions in the state apparatus could have cell phones. At the same time, ordinary Cubans wishing to acquire a cell phone circumvented the ban by registering phones in the names of foreign citizens[14]. On April 14, 2008, Cuban citizens were allowed to freely purchase mobile phones, which led to the massive spread of mobile communications.
In Cuba, GSM 900 is the standard, and in some parts of Havana and the Varadero resort, GSM 850 is used.

Monetary unit

The monetary unit is the Cuban peso (CUP), equal to 100 centavos. There are banknotes of 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 pesos, as well as coins of 1 and 3 pesos. There are coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, and 20 cents.
Tourists should pay only in foreign currency, mostly euros or US dollars, so it is advisable to bring more small bills.
Upon delivery, you may be given the so-called Cuban convertible peso (CUC). This type of peso is equal to a dollar: 1:1. This is a new Cuban banknote that has nothing to do with the “wooden” Cuban peso. These banknotes are accepted everywhere and are exchanged on a par with US dollars. Most ATMs dispense only convertible pesos, while you can get both dollars and convertible pesos from a bank. To avoid getting into trouble, the convertible peso should say “convertible” on it. As a rule, they are given in small bills of 1, 5, 10 pesos. The exchange rate of the old Cuban peso to the dollar is approximately 1:25. The convertible Cuban metal change coin is used on a par with American cents. Often, they give back to both. Convertible pesos are not exchanged outside of Cuba, so try to spend or exchange them before departure. Currency can be exchanged both at the hotel and at exchange offices that operate around the clock.

History of Cuba

The written history of Cuba begins on October 28, 1492, when Christopher Columbus’ caravels approached the island. Before that, Cuba was inhabited by three Indian tribes. The Guanatabeys were gatherers who lived in caves, the Ciboneys were hunters and fishermen. The Taíno Indians were engaged in agriculture. They moved to Cuba from the territory of modern Venezuela and were the most developed and largest group on the island.

Cuban lifestyle

This is one of the pleasures that tourists can expect. Cubans love nightlife. At night, you can dance and listen to dream music. Music plays a very important role in Cuban life. You will encounter a huge variety of musical styles, from traditional salsa to charanga and African rumba rhythms.

Entertainment.

Cuba’s entertainment is beaches and sun, diverse flora and fauna, beautiful coral reefs and refreshing ocean… Along the coastline there are a number of hotels immersed in exotic vegetation, gourmet restaurants with local and European cuisine, night bars, cafes. Sea activities are extremely popular. Diving enthusiasts are attracted to sunken ships (about 5000 shipwrecks have occurred off these shores). Fishing and hunting, yacht trips. Tourists who want to get to know Cuba from the inside can watch cockfights, chop sugar cane… There is another Cuba, the underground one. There are huge karst caves in all provinces of the country, so there is plenty to do for caving enthusiasts.