The Republic of Cuba is an archipelago in the northern Caribbean that lies at the confluence of the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. To the north are found the United States and the Bahamas, to the west Mexico, to the south the Cayman Islands and Jamaica, and to the southeast Haiti. An archipelago is a landform which consists of a chain or cluster of islands. ... The Caribbean or the West Indies is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. ... Central America and the Caribbean The Caribbean Sea is a body of water adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean, south of the Gulf of Mexico. ... The Gulf of Mexico is a major body of water bordered and nearly landlocked by North America. ... The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one-fifth of its surface. ... National motto    Forward Upward Onward Together Location of Bahamas Official language English Capital Nassau Queen Elizabeth II Governor General Dame Ivy Dumont Prime Minister Perry Christie Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 155th 13,940 km² 28% Population  - Total  - Density Ranked 168th 303,611 22/km² Independence  - Date From the United Kingdom... The United Mexican States or Mexico ( Spanish: Estados Unidos Mexicanos or México; regarding the use of the variant spelling Méjico, see section The name below) is a country located in North America, bordered to the north by the United States of America, to the southeast by Guatemala and Belize, to... National motto: He hath founded it upon the seas Official language English Capital George Town Capitals coordinates 19. ... Jamaica is a country in the Caribbean Sea, located south of Cuba and to the west of Hispaniola, on which Haiti and the Dominican Republic are situated. ... Haiti is a country situated on the western third of the island of Hispaniola and the smaller islands of Gonâve, Tortue (Tortuga), Grande Caye, and Vache in the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba; the Dominican Republic shares Hispaniola with Haiti. ...

(In Detail) (Full size)
National motto: Patria y Libertad (Spanish: Homeland and Freedom)
Official language	Spanish
Capital and Largest City	Havana
President	Fidel Castro
Area  - Total  - % water	Ranked 105th 110,860 km² Negligible
Population  - Total (2002)  - Density General info: Large flag of Cuba Dimensions: 604x302 pixels Source: Image originally derived from the public domain flags of the CIA World Factbook License: Originally public domain, modifications under GFDL Most of the flags have had their colours improved and many have been resized to the proper ratios. ... Cuban coat of arms This image depicts a seal, an emblem, a coat of arms or a crest. ... Flag ratio: 1:2 The flag of Cuba was adopted on May 20, 1902. ... link title The Coat of Arms of Cuba Categories: Cuba | National coats of arms ... Here is a list of state mottos for countries and their subdivisions around the world. ... This article is about the international language known as Spanish. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... An official language is something that is given a unique status in the countries, states, and other territories. ... This article is about the international language known as Spanish. ... In politics a capital (also called capital city or political capital — although the latter phrase has an alternative meaning based on an alternative meaning of capital) is the principal city or town associated with its government. ... This article is about the Cuban city. ... Cuban President Fidel Castro Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (born August 13, 1926) has ruled Cuba since 1959, when, leading the 26th of July Movement, he helped overthrow the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista and turn Cuba into the first socialist state in the Western Hemisphere. ... This article explains the meaning of area as a physical quantity. ... Here is a list of the countries of the world sorted by area. ... To help compare orders of magnitude of different geographical regions, we list here surface areas between 100,000 km² and 1,000,000 km². See also areas of other orders of magnitude. ... In the most common sense of the word, a population is the collection of people—or organisms of a particular species—living in a given geographic area. ... Population density can be used as a measurement of any tangible item. ...	Ranked 69th 11,184,023 101/km² This is a list of sovereign states and other territories by population. ...
Independence  - Declared  - Recognised Independence is autonomous self-government of a country by its residents and indigenous population. ...	Spanish-American War October 10, 1868 May 20, 1902 1959 from US The Spanish-American War took place in 1898, and resulted in the United States of America gaining control over the former colonies of Spain in the Caribbean and Pacific. ... October 10 is the 283rd day of the year (284th in Leap years). ... 1868 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... May 20 is the 140th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (141st in leap years). ... Events January-April January 28 - The Carnegie Institution is founded in Washington, DC with a $10 million gift from Andrew Carnegie. ... 1959 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ...
Currency	Cuban Peso and Cuban Convertible Peso The Cuban peso (ISO 4217 code: CUP) is one of two official currencies in use in Cuba. ... The Cuban convertible peso (ISO 4217 code: CUC) is one of two official currencies in Cuba. ...
Time zone	UTC −4
National anthem	La Bayamesa
Internet TLD	.cu
Calling Code	53
edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Cuba_infobox&action=edit)

-1... UTC also stands for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Coordinated Universal Time or UTC, also sometimes referred to as Zulu time, is an atomic realization of Universal Time or Greenwich mean time, the astronomical basis for civil time. ... The National Anthem is the name of a song by the band Radiohead. ... La Bayamesa (The Bayamo Song) is the national anthem of Cuba. ... A top-level domain (TLD) is the last part of which Internet domain names consist of. ... .cu is the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Cuba. ...

History

Main article: History of Cuba

Cuba and its originally Amerindian population (Taino, Siboney and Guanajatabey) came under Spanish control in the 16th century. The colony's struggle for independence started in 1868 and continued during the 19th century until the Spanish-American War of 1898. The United States occupied the island until its independence was granted in 1902, though limited by the Platt Amendment (revoked in 1934), after which the US continued to have a major influence in Cuban affairs. Pre-Columbian Cuba Cuba was first visited by Europeans when explorer Christopher Columbus landed on the island of Cuba for the first time on October 28, 1492. ... Native Americans (also Indians, Aboriginal Peoples, American Indians, First Nations, Alaskan Natives, or Indigenous Peoples of America) are the indigenous inhabitants of The Americas prior to the European colonization, and their modern descendants. ... The Taíno are the pre-Hispanic Amerindian inhabitants of the Greater Antilles, which includes Cuba, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Puerto Rico, Jamaica and the Bahamas. ... Ciboney (also Siboney) is a word derived from the Caribbean Indian language of the Arawak. ... Guanajatabey (the group that would come to be known as the Arawaks), numbered about 100,000 and had lived on the island since at least 1000 B.C. Hunters, gatherers, and farmers, these native Cubans cultivated cohiba (tobacco), a crop upon which the islands economy would one day depend. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... 1868 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Spanish-American War took place in 1898, and resulted in the United States of America gaining control over the former colonies of Spain in the Caribbean and Pacific. ... 1898 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Events January-April January 28 - The Carnegie Institution is founded in Washington, DC with a $10 million gift from Andrew Carnegie. ... The Platt Amendment, a rider appended to the U.S. Army appropriations bill (March 1901), stipulated the conditions for the withdrawal of United States troops remaining in Cuba since the Spanish-American War, and defined the terms of Cuban-U.S. relations until 1934. ...

Che Guevara, Fidel Castro Ruz, Camilo Cienfuegos, Raúl Castro Ruz and their rebel army were one of many guerilla groups that opposed the dictator Fulgencio Batista. Castro's 'July 26 Movement' subsumed these other groups quickly and took over Cuba's government in 1959, following its victory against Batista's military forces. At the time when Batista was deposed, 75% of Cuba's farmable land was owned by foreign individuals or foreign companies (mostly US companies). The new revolutionary government adopted land reforms and confiscated much of the property of those foreign companies. As a result, relations with the USA rapidly deteriorated. At first, Castro was reluctant to discuss his plans for the future, but eventually he declared himself a communist, explained that he was trying to build socialism in Cuba, and opened diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union. A new government, led by the reborn Communist Party of Cuba, began carrying out the economic reforms that Castro had promised. Among other things, healthcare and education were made freely available to all Cubans for the first time. After some delay, a Constitution of Soviet inspiration was adopted in 1976. Che Guevara Dr. Ernesto Rafael Guevara de la Serna ( June 14, 1928¹ – October 9, 1967), commonly known as Che Guevara, was an Argentine-born Marxist revolutionary and Cuban guerrilla leader. ... Cuban President Fidel Castro Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (born August 13, 1926) has ruled Cuba since 1959, when, leading the 26th of July Movement, he helped overthrow the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista and turn Cuba into the first socialist state in the Western Hemisphere. ... Camilo Cienfuegos Gorriarán ( February 6, 1932 - October 28, 1959) was a Cuban revolutionary born in Havana. ... Fidel Castro and Raúl Castro Raúl Castro waving the Cuban flag Raúl Castro Ruz (born June 3, 1931) is a Cuban politician and revolutionary, the younger brother of Fidel Castro. ... Fulgencio Batista y Zaldívar General Fulgencio Batista y Zaldívar (January 16, 1901–August 6, 1973) was the de facto leader of Cuba from 1933 to 1940 and the countrys official president from 1940 to 1944 and again from 1952 to 1959. ... The 26th of July Movement (Movimiento 26 de Julio) was the revolutionary organisation led by Fidel Castro that in 1959 overthrew the Fulgencio Batista regime in Cuba. ... The color red and particularly the red flag are traditional symbols of Socialism. ... The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) .( Russian: Сою́з Сове́тских Социалисти́ческих Респу́блик (СССР)  listen?; tr. ... The Communist Party of Cuba (Spanish: Partido Comunista de Cuba, PCC) is the ruling party of Cuba. ... Health care or healthcare is one of the worlds largest and fastest growing professions. ... Education encompasses teaching and learning specific skills, and also something less tangible but more profound: the imparting of knowledge, good judgement and wisdom. ... An organizations constitution defines its form, structure, activities, character, and fundamental rules. ...

In April 1980, over 10,000 Cubans stormed the Peruvian embassy in Havana seeking political asylum. In response to this and international pressure, Castro allowed anyone who desired to leave the country to depart through the port of Mariel. Known as the Mariel Boatlift, over 125,000 Cubans migrated to the U.S., mostly aboard vessels that departed from the U.S. Eventually the U.S. stopped the flow of vessels heading south and Cuba ended the exodus.

For several decades, Cuba received a large Soviet subsidy, whereby Cuba provided the Soviet Union with sugar and the Soviets provided Cuba with oil. Part of this oil was consumed by Cuba, while the remainder was sold on the world market for a profit of several billion dollars. In return for this subsidy from the Soviet Union, Cuba supported communist movements throughout Latin America (Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Colombia and Chile, among others) and Africa (Angola, Mozambique and Ethiopia). In Angola alone, Cuba had over 50,000 troops. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 dealt Cuba a giant economic blow and when the Soviets stopped their 6 billion Dollars per year subsidy, the Cuban communist government called for "a special period" of recovery. Despite being denied access to development aid from the IMF and World Bank because Cuba is in arrears to its Paris Club debtors to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars, Cuba's economy has not collapsed, although its per-capita income is still lower than it was in 1989 (but rising steadily). Cuba's economy today is roughly split into three parts: agriculture (tobacco, sugar, citrus), mining (nickel), and tourism. Soviet redirects here. ... A subsidy is generally a monetary grant given by government in support of an activity regarded as being in the public interest. ... This article deals with sugar as food and as an important, widely traded commodity; the word also has other uses; see Sugar (disambiguation) A sugar is a form of carbohydrate; the most commonly used sugar is a white crystalline solid, sucrose; used to alter the flavor and properties (mouthfeel, perservation... Oil is a generic term for organic liquids that are not miscible with water. ... Latin America consists of the countries of South America and some of North America (including Central America and some the islands of the Caribbean) whose inhabitants mostly speak Romance languages, although Native American languages are also spoken. ... Nicaragua is a republic in Central America. ... El Salvador (Spanish for The Savior) is a republic in Central America with a population of approximately 6. ... The Republic of Guatemala is a country in Central America, in the south of the continent of North America, bordering both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. ... The Republic of Colombia is a country in north-western South America. ... The Republic of Chile is a country in South America occupying a long coastal strip between the Andes mountains and the Pacific Ocean. ... Angola is a country in southwestern Africa bordering Namibia, Congo-Kinshasa, and Zambia, and with a west coast along the Atlantic Ocean. ... Mozambique is a country in Southern Africa, bordering South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. ... This article needs cleanup. ... The rise of Gorbachev Although reform stalled between 1964–1982, the generational shift gave new momentum for reform. ... There is a disputed proposal that this article should be merged with foreign aid Development aid (also development assistance, international aid, overseas aid or - especially in the US - foreign aid) is aid given by developed countries to support economic development in developing countries. ... The flag of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is the international organization entrusted with overseeing global financial system‘s current trade account balances of member states. ... The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD, in Romance languages: BIRD), better known as the World Bank, is an international organization whose original mission was to finance the reconstruction of nations devastated by WWII. Now, its mission has expanded to fight poverty by means of financing states. ... The Paris Club is an informal group of financial officials from 19 of the worlds richest countries, which provides financial services such as debt restructuring, debt relief, and debt cancellation to indebted countries and their creditors. ... Farming, ploughing rice paddy, in Indonesia Agriculture is the process of producing food, feed, fiber and other desired products by cultivation of certain plants and the raising of domesticated animals ( livestock). ... Species N. alata N. bigelovil N. debneyi N. excelsior N. exigua N. glauca N. glutinosa N. kawakamii N. knightiana N. longiflora N. sylvestris N. tabacum Ref: ITIS 30562 as of 2002-08-28 Tobacco () is a broad-leafed plant of the nightshade family, indigenous to North and South America, whose... This article deals with sugar as food and as an important, widely traded commodity; the word also has other uses; see Sugar (disambiguation) A sugar is a form of carbohydrate; the most commonly used sugar is a white crystalline solid, sucrose; used to alter the flavor and properties (mouthfeel, perservation... Species & major hybrids Species Citrus maxima - Pomelo Citrus medica - Citron Citrus reticulata - Mandarin & Tangerine Major hybrids Citrus x aurantifolia - Lime Citrus x aurantium - Bitter Orange Citrus x bergamia - Bergamot Citrus x hystrix - Kaffir Lime Citrus x ichangensis - Ichang Lemon Citrus x limon - Lemon Citrus x limonia - Rangpur Citrus x paradisi... The El Chino Mine located near Silver City, New Mexico is an open-pit copper mine Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, usually (but not always) from an ore body, vein, or (coal) seam. ... This article is about the element nickel. ... A tourist boat travels the River Seine in Paris, France Tourism can be defined as the act of travel for the purpose of recreation, and the provision of services for this act. ...

In 1994, Castro declared an open immigration policy and did not stop any individual that desired to leave the country. Departing on small rafts and homemade boats, over 30,000 Cubans took to the sea. In contrast to the Mariel Boatlift, the migrants were interdicted at sea and taken to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Eventually, Castro restricted migration following talks with the U.S. In 1995, an agreement was reached between the U.S. and Cuba. The U.S. would allow 20,000 Cubans per year (chosen by lottery) to immigrate to the U.S. and Cuba would allow the return of migrants interdicted at sea. All Cuban migrants interdicted at sea from this point on were interviewed by INS officials at sea. If there was a possibility they were or would be persecuted upon return, they would be taken to Guantanamo Bay for further interviews.

In 1996, the Clinton Administration enacted the Helms-Burton law. This law states, among other things, that any foreign company that "knowingly traffics in property in Cuba confiscated without compensation from a U.S. person" can be subjected to litigation and that company's leadership can be barred from entry into the United States. Sanctions may be applied to non-U.S. companies trading with Cuba. This legislation was enacted after the shootdown of two civilian planes by the Cuban Air Force. [1]  (http://www.cnn.com/US/9602/cuba_shootdown/26/3pm/) [2] (http://www.cnn.com/US/9602/cuba_shootdown/27/). This extraterritorial U.S. legislation is considered highly controversial, and the US embargo was condemned for the 13th time in 2004 by the General Assembly of the United Nations, by 179 countries. Additionally, US Congress members from both parties have openly criticized the ongoing balance of resources which have been committed to enforcing this embargo. [3] (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi%3Ff=/news/archive/2004/04/29/national1842EDT0787.DTL) Order: 42nd President Term of Office: January 20, 1993–January 20, 2001 Preceded by: George H. W. Bush Succeeded by: George W. Bush Date of birth: August 19, 1946 Place of birth: Hope, Arkansas Date of death: Place of death: First Lady: Hillary Rodham Clinton Political party: Democratic Vice President... The Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (Libertad) Act of 1996 (better known as the Helms-Burton Act) is a United States law which strengthens and continues US sanctions against Cuba. ... The term general assembly can refer to The largest unit of organisation in the polity of a (national) Presbyterian church, containing several synods or presbyteries. ... The United Nations, or UN, is an international organization made up of 191 states established in 1945. ...

Cuba's major trading partners include Spain, Canada, France, Italy, United Kingdom and Japan. The U.S. embargo against Cuba applies to all goods, except the export of medicine and medical products and agricultural commodities to Cuba, which are authorized by law. U.S. agriculture companies are free to trade with Cuba, provided that Cuba pays in cash prior to delivery. Most travel by U.S. citizens to Cuba is banned by law. Nevertheless, some U.S. citizens illegally visit Cuba by traveling through Mexico, Canada or the Bahamas, and are subsequently liable to large fines if prosecuted, although it has been reported that the US authorities are not overly strict with ordinary travellers not involved in any criminal activity. Canada is a sovereign state in northern North America, the northern-most country in the world, and the second largest in total area. ... The Italian Republic or Italy ( Italian: Repubblica Italiana or Italia) is a country in southern Europe. ... Official language Japanese Capital Tokyo Largest City Tokyo Emperor Akihito Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 60th 377,835 km² 0. ... The United States embargo against Cuba (described in Cuba as el bloqueo, Spanish for the blockade) is an economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed on Cuba by the United States on February 7, 1962. ... The United Mexican States or Mexico ( Spanish: Estados Unidos Mexicanos or México; regarding the use of the variant spelling Méjico, see section The name below) is a country located in North America, bordered to the north by the United States of America, to the southeast by Guatemala and Belize, to... Canada is a sovereign state in northern North America, the northern-most country in the world, and the second largest in total area. ... National motto    Forward Upward Onward Together Location of Bahamas Official language English Capital Nassau Queen Elizabeth II Governor General Dame Ivy Dumont Prime Minister Perry Christie Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 155th 13,940 km² 28% Population  - Total  - Density Ranked 168th 303,611 22/km² Independence  - Date From the United Kingdom...

Politics

Main article: Politics of Cuba Cuba is a republic led by President Fidel Castro, who is Chief of State, Head of Government, First Secretary of the CPC, and commander in chief of the armed forces. ...

Cuba is a Communist state, or a parliamentary republic led by a Communist Party with a monopoly of political power (as all opposition parties are considered illegal under the Cuban constitution, which states that "The Communist Party of Cuba (...) is the superior guiding force of society and the state"). Fidel Castro has been the head of state and head of government since 1959, first as prime minister and after the abolition of that office in 1976 as president of the Councils of State and Ministers. He is also the member of the National Assembly of People's Power from the municipality of Santiago de Cuba since 1976, First Secretary of the Cuban Communist Party, and commander in chief of the armed forces. This article is about one-party states ruled by Communist Parties. ... A Communist party is a party which promotes Communism. ... Cuban President Fidel Castro Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (born August 13, 1926) has ruled Cuba since 1959, when, leading the 26th of July Movement, he helped overthrow the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista and turn Cuba into the first socialist state in the Western Hemisphere. ... A head of state or chief of state is the chief public representative of a nation-state, federation or commonwealth, whose role generally includes personifying the continuity and legitimacy of the state and exercising the political powers, functions and duties granted to the head of state in the countrys... The head of government is the leader of the government or cabinet. ... 1959 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... Alternative meaning: Prime Minister (band) A prime minister is the leading member of the cabinet of the top level government in a parliamentary system of government of a country, alternatively A prime minister is an official in a presidential system or semi-presidential system whose duty is to execute the... Santiago de Cuba is the capital city of Santiago de Cuba Province in eastern Cuba. ... The Communist Party of Cuba (Spanish: Partido Comunista de Cuba, PCC) is the ruling party of Cuba. ... Commander-in-Chief (in NATO-lingo often C-in-C or CINC pronounced sink) is the commander of all the military forces within a particular region or of all the military forces of a state. ...

The unicameral Cuban parliament is the National Assembly of People's Power or Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular. Its 609 members are elected to serve five-year terms, without opposition. The candidates, who may or may not be members of the Cuban Communist Party, are nominated by pro-government social and political organizations. The Communist Party is constitutionally recognised as Cuba's only legal political party, but is forbidden by law to nominate candidates. However this is largely a moot point since no known opponents of the government have been elected since the revolution. Unicameralism is the practice of having only one legislative or parliamentary chamber. ... Alternative meanings: Parliamentary system, Parliament (band), Parliament (cigarette). ... The Communist Party of Cuba (Spanish: Partido Comunista de Cuba, PCC) is the ruling party of Cuba. ... Communism - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ...

In 2001 an attempt was made by Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas and others, operating as the Varela Project, to have a national plebiscite using provisions in the Constitution of Cuba which provided for citizen initiative. If accepted by the government and approved by public vote, the amendments would have established such things as freedom of association, freedom of speech, freedom of press, as well as the freedom to start private businesses. The Petition was however refused by the National Assembly, and a subsequent crackdown resulted in the imprisonment of 75 people for terms of up to 28 years on charges of collaborating with and receiving money from the US government. See Human rights in Cuba Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas (born February 29, 1952 in Havana Cuba) is the founder and organizer of Proyecto Varela. External link Proyecto Varela full text in Spanish ... The Varela Project was a citizens initiative undertaken by Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas of the Christian Liberation Movement and others in Cuba. ... A referendum (plural: referendums or referenda) or plebiscite is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. ... Cuba has had several constitutions. ... In political science, the initiative (also known as popular or citizens initiative) provides a means by which a petition signed by a certain minimum number of registered voters can force a public vote on a proposed statute, constitutional amendment, charter amendment, or ordinance. ... Freedom of association is a right granted under the constitution or interpretations thereof of several countries, or under certain international conventions pertaining to civil rights. ... Freedom of speech is the right to freely say what one pleases, as well as the related right to hear what others have stated. ... Freedom of the press (or press freedom) is the guarantee by a government of free public speech often through a state constitution for its citizens, and associations of individuals extended to members of news gathering organizations, and their published reporting. ... A petition is a request to an authority, most commonly a government official or public entity. ... History and background Since Fidel Castro took control of Cuba in 1959, allegations of human rights abuses have been made against the Cuban government. ...

Provinces

Main article: Provinces of Cuba Provinces of Cuba Cuba consists of 14 provinces, plus one special municipality. ...

Cuba is divided into 14 provinces of 169 municipalities, and one special municipality (the Isla de la Juventud). The Isle of Youth (Spanish: Isla de la Juventud) is the largest island of Cuba after Cuba proper. ...

Isla de la Juventud (Isle of Youth) Pinar del Río La Habana (Havana) Ciudad de la Habana (Havana City) Matanzas Cienfuegos Villa Clara Sancti Spíritus	Ciego de Ávila Camagüey Las Tunas Granma Holguín Santiago de Cuba Guantánamo

Map showing the Provinces of Cuba File links The following pages link to this file: Cuba List of subnational entities Provinces of Cuba Categories: GFDL images ... The Isle of Youth (Spanish: Isla de la Juventud) is the largest island of Cuba after Cuba proper. ... Pinar del Río is one of the provinces of Cuba. ... La Habana province, Cuba, is one of the provinces of Cuba. ... Ciudad de la Habana is one of the 14 provinces in Cuba. ... Statistics Capital: Matanzas Area: 11,978km² Inhabitants: 643,400 Population Density: 53 per km² Map Categories: Provinces of Cuba | Stub ... Statistics Capital: Cienfuegos Area: 4,178km² Inhabitants: 386,100 Population Density: 66. ... Villa Clara is one of the provinces of Cuba. ... Sancti Spíritus is one of the provinces of Cuba. ... Ciego de Ávila is one of the provinces of Cuba, and was previously part of Camagüey Province. ... Camagüey is the largest of the provinces of Cuba. ... Statistics Capital: Victoria de Las Tunas Area: 15,990km² Inhabitants: 774,100 Population Density: 48. ... Statistics Capital: Bayamo Area: 8,327km² Inhabitants: 819,500 Population Density: 97. ... Holguín is one of the provinces of Cuba, the second most populous after Ciudad de la Habana. ... Statistics Capital: Santiago de Cuba Area: 6,170km² Inhabitants: 1,016,600 Population Density: 164. ... Guantánamo is the easternmost province of Cuba. ...

Geography

Map of Cuba

Main article: Geography of Cuba Map of Cuba. ... Map of Cuba. ... Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Florida Map of Cuba Geographic coordinates: 21 30 N, 80 00 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 110,860 km² land: 110,860 km² water: 0 km² Area - comparative: slightly smaller than...

The elongated island of Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean and is bounded to the north by the Straits of Florida and the greater North Atlantic Ocean, to the northwest by the Gulf of Mexico, to the west by the Yucatan Channel, to the south by the Caribbean Sea, and to the east by the Windward Passage. The Republic comprises the entire island, including many outlying islands such as the Isle of Youth, previously known as the Isle of Pine, with the exception of Guantanamo Bay, a naval base that has been leased by the United States since 1903. The mainland is the world's 16th largest island. The Caribbean or the West Indies is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. ... Categories: Stub | Straits ... The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one-fifth of its surface. ... The Gulf of Mexico is a major body of water bordered and nearly landlocked by North America. ... The Yucatan Channel is a strait between Mexico and Cuba. ... Central America and the Caribbean The Caribbean Sea is a body of water adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean, south of the Gulf of Mexico. ... The Windward Passage marked in red The Windward Passage is a strait in the Caribbean Sea, between the islands of Cuba and Hispaniola. ... The Isle of Youth (Spanish: Isla de la Juventud) is the largest island of Cuba after Cuba proper. ... Map of Cuba with location of Guantánamo Bay indicated. ... This is a list of islands in the world ordered by area. ...

The island consists mostly of flat to rolling plains, with more rugged hills and mountains primarily in the southeast and the highest point is the Pico Real del Turquino at 2,005 m. The local climate is tropical, though moderated by trade winds. There is a drier season from November to April, and a rainier season from May to October. Pico Real del Turquino is the tallest mountain in Cuba. ... Map of the climate of the Earth The climate (ancient Greek: κλίμα) is the weather averaged over a long period of time. ...

Havana is the largest city and capital; other major cities include Santiago de Cuba and Camagüey. Some of the well-known smaller towns are Baracoa which was the first Spanish settlement on Cuba, as well as Trinidad and Bayamo. This article is about the Cuban city. ... Santiago de Cuba is the capital city of Santiago de Cuba Province in eastern Cuba. ... The mud jars The statue of Ignacio Agramonte on the Plaza de Revolucion Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de la Soledad Rooftops of Camagüey and Maceo street Iglesia San Francisco and Estadio Cándido González in the background Camagüey (founded as Santa María del Puerto del Pr... Baracoa is a city on Cuba. ... Categories: Caribbean geography stubs | Towns in Cuba ...

Economy

Main article: Economy of Cuba Economy - overview: The Cuban Government continues to adhere to socialist principles in organizing its state-controlled economy. ...

The economy of Cuba is based on state ownership with some small scale private enterprise existing at the fringes. Tourism has become one of the largest sources of income for Cuba, and in 1993 the U.S. dollar was made legal tender (the country operated under a dual-currency system); this arrangement was, however, revoked on 25 October 2004. The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States. ... October 25 is the 298th day of the year (299th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 67 days remaining. ...

The Cuban economy was hit hard in the early 1990s following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Comecon economic bloc, with which it had traded predominantly. More recent problems include high oil prices, recessions in key export markets such as sugar and nickel, damage from hurricanes (most recently an estimated 1 billion dollars economic damage from hurricane Charley), depressed tourism, and faltering world economic conditions. In late 2003, and early 2004, both tourism levels and nickel prices increased. One other factor in the recovery of the Cuban economy is the remittances of Cuban-Americans (which constitute almost 3% of the Cuban Economy, by some estimates). Cuba currently trades with almost every nation in the world (including the U.S.). However, Cuba owes billions in Paris Club debt to nations such as France, Japan and Germany. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) .( Russian: Сою́з Сове́тских Социалисти́ческих Респу́блик (СССР)  listen?; tr. ... A Soviet propaganda poster reading COMECON: Unity of Goals, Unity of Action The Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON / Comecon / CMEA / CEMA), 1949 – 1991, was an economic organization of communist states and a kind of Eastern European equivalent to the European Economic Community. ... This article deals with sugar as food and as an important, widely traded commodity; the word also has other uses; see Sugar (disambiguation) A sugar is a form of carbohydrate; the most commonly used sugar is a white crystalline solid, sucrose; used to alter the flavor and properties (mouthfeel, perservation... This article is about the element nickel. ... This article is about weather phenomena. ... This article is about the hurricane of 2004. ... The Paris Club is an informal group of financial officials from 19 of the worlds richest countries, which provides financial services such as debt restructuring, debt relief, and debt cancellation to indebted countries and their creditors. ...

Cuba is notable for its national organic agriculture initiative, undertaken in order to feed a population faced with starvation. In the early 1990s, post-Soviet Union, Cuba lost over 70% of agricultural chemical imports, over 50% of food imports, and an equally significant amount of oil. Its agricultural sector, built on a large-scale, mechanized, chemical-based model, was instantly crippled. By restructuring its agricultural industry, and focusing scientific efforts on organic solutions, Cuba managed to rapidly and successfully convert the country to entirely organic production. Currently, only organic agriculture is permitted by law. Organic farming is a way of farming that avoids the use of synthetic chemicals and genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and usually subscribes to the principles of sustainable agriculture. ...

Culture

Main article: Culture of Cuba As Cuba is a meeting point of both European, African and Amerindian cultures, the culture of Cuba is unique and diverse. ...

• List of Cubans
• Music of Cuba

This is a list of famous Cubans Art Wifredo Lam, painter Cazasoles, painter Pedro Pablo Oliva,painter Amelia Pelaes,painter Ana Flor Castro,painter Alexey Perez,(Permonte),painter Entertainment Albita singer Alicia Alonso prima ballerina Maria Conchita Alonso Cuban born, Venezuelan nationalized actress Rosaura Andreu. ... The Caribbean island of Cuba has been influential in the development of multiple musical styles in the 19th and 20th centuries. ... December 31 is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1958 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1959 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (122nd in leap years). ... July 26 is the 207th day (208th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 158 days remaining. ... Moncada barracks shortly after the attack The Moncada Barracks, near Santiago de Cuba, was the site of an attack by guerillas that sparked the Cuban Revolution. ... July 26 is the 207th day (208th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 158 days remaining. ... 1953 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... 1959 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... October 10 is the 283rd day of the year (284th in Leap years). ... December 25 is the 359th day of the year (360th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 6 days remaining. ...

Religion

Main articles: Santería, Palo Monte, Catholicism Lukumí, Regla de Ocha or Afro-Cuba, most widely known as Santeria, (Santería in Spanish) is a set of related religious systems that superficially seem to fuse Catholic beliefs with traditional Yorùbá beliefs. ... Palo Monte, or Regla de Palo Monte, is one of the main currents in Cuban popular religion. ... This article considers Catholicism in the broadest ecclesiastical sense. ...

The religious landscape of Cuba is strongly marked by syncretisms of various kinds. In the post-revolutionary era religious practice was discouraged,and Cuba,from 1962, was officially an atheist state until 1992 which it amended its constitution to become formally a secular state. While the papal visit to Cuba has strengthened official Catholicism, most Cubans share a motley of faiths that include popular Catholicism, over 50 versions of Protestantism, spiritism, African-derived beliefs. The most important currents of these are Regla de Ocha (known as Santería), which derives from Yoruban religion, Regla de Palo Monte, which derives from Congo-based religions, and the Sociedad Secreta Abakuá, which derives from the secret men's societies in the region of Calabar, in south-eastern Nigeria. Other religious manifestations include freemasonry and pentecostal churches. Syncretism is the attempt to reconcile disparate, even opposing, beliefs and to meld practices of various schools of thought. ... Lucumi, a Yoruba word meaning friends, is a common name for the Yoruba religion, also referred to as Santeria. ... The Yorùbá are the largest ethnic group in Nigeria, comprising approximately 26 percent of that countrys total population, and numbering about close to 100 million individuals throughout the region of West Africa. ... Palo Monte, or Regla de Palo Monte, is one of the main currents in Cuban popular religion. ... Republic of the Congo (light green) Democratic Republic of the Congo (dark green) Congo is a name shared by two neighbouring countries in Africa, usually distinguished either by using their full official names or adding their capitals: The Republic of the Congo is often known as Congo-Brazzaville. It is... Calabar is a city in South Eastern Nigeria; it is the capital of Cross River State. ... American Square & Compasses Freemasonry is a worldwide fraternal organization. ... The Pentecostal movement within Protestant Christianity places special emphasis on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. ...

It is assumed that Santería and popular Catholicism are the most widely followed religious beliefs in Cuba, though these are by no means exclusive, and one can easily be a follower of several religious currents at the same time, as well as being a member of the communist party. Pentacostalism is also growing rapidly, and the Assemblies of God alone claims a membership of over 100,000 people.

Cuba once had a small but vibrant Jewish population, and Havana still has one or two active synagogues.

In Cuba the 6th of January is the "Dia de los Reyes Magos" which in English means "Day of Kings" is celebrated to commemorate the day that the Three wise men came to visit Jesus according to the Gospels. As in most Latin American countries as well as Spain, this day is celebrated in conjunction with, or sometimes instead of Christmas Day. January 6 is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Magi (Μάγοι) were Zoroastrian astrologer-priests from ancient Persia. ... For the genre of Christian-themed music, see gospel music. ...

Important religious festivals include various days dedicated to the saints such as the "Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre" (the Virgin of Cobre, Cuba's patron saint, syncretised with Santería's Ochún) on September 8, and san Lázaro (Lazarus) (syncretised with Babalu Ayé), on December 17 September 8 is the 251st day of the year (252nd in leap years). ... Lazarus raised from the grave by Jesus, painting by the Swedish artist Karl Isakson (c. ... December 17 is the 351st day of the year (352nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

See also

• Communications in Cuba
• Music of Cuba
• Transportation in Cuba
• Military of Cuba
• Foreign relations of Cuba
• Cuba Coalition
• Cinema of Cuba
• Elections in Cuba
• List of places in Cuba
• Women in Cuba
• List of Cuban newspapers
• Demographics of Cuba

Telephones - main lines in use: 767,319 (2004) Telephones - mobile cellular: 1,939 (1995) Telephone system: domestic: 85,3% of lines are digital connected. ... The Caribbean island of Cuba has been influential in the development of multiple musical styles in the 19th and 20th centuries. ... Transportation in Cuba: Railways total: 4,226 km standard gauge: 4,226 km 1. ... National security Under Castro, Cuba became a highly militarized society. ... Cubas once-ambitious foreign policy has been scaled back and redirected as a result of economic hardship and the end of the Cold War. ... Cuba Coalition - Chicago based organization which lobbies for the trade and travel sanctions against Cuba to be lifted. ... This page is meant to explore the themes explored in the cinema of Cuba. ... Elections in Cuba gives information on election and election results in Cuba. ... A list of places in Cuba Cities Camagüey Cienfuegos Guantánamo Havana Holguín Matanzas Pinar del Río Placetas Santa Clara Santiago de Cuba Provinces Camagüey Province Ciego de Ávila Province Cienfuegos Province Ciudad de La Habana Granma Province Guantánamo Province Holguín Province Havana Province... As in many countries, historically women in Cuba are considered inferior, but not nearly as much as before The Cuban Revolution. ... Juventud Rebelde, daily newspaper of Cubas young communists Contrary to popular belief, national newspapers in Cuba are not under the direct control of the government. ... Demographics of Cuba, Data of FAO, year 2005 ; Number of inhabitants in thousands. ...

External links

• Cuba eXPlorer (http://www.cubaxp.com/) — Information about Cuba (mostly related to travel), picture galleries, daily news, forums, a directory of cubans sites and more]
• Site of the Cuban government (http://www.cubagob.cu/)
• STATE DEPARTMENT (http://www.state.gov/p/wha/rt/cuba/commission/2004/c12237.htm)— US State Department views on Cuba
• CUBANET  (http://www.cubanet.org/cubanews.html) — News articles from Cuba's independent journalists and a digest of Cuban news by international newspapers
• Encuentro en la Red (http://www.cubaencuentro.com) — Independent news and cultural site on Cuban matters
• AfroCubaWeb (http://www.afrocubaweb.com)
• No Castro nor his regime (http://nocastro.com) — the website of anti-Castro opposition
• Cuba Photos (http://www.travel-impressions.de/cuba/cuba_mix/waves.htm) Sights, Daily Life, Santeria, Havana, Malecon, CDR (Comite de Defensa de la Revolucion), Old American Cars
• Life in Havana (http://www.cabophoto.com/cub.htm) Pictures of the daily life in Havana
• Free Cuba Foundation (http://www.fiu.edu/~fcf/index.html) — website helping Cuban dissidents
• CANF  (http://www.canf.org/2004/principal-ingles.htm) — Cuban-American National Foundation, the largest political party of Cubans in exile
• Details the Cuban dissident situation (http://www.bosnewslife.com/article/2/1/2/21/2.aspx)
• Movimiento Humanista Evolucionario Cubano (Cuban Evolutionary Humanist Movement) (http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/MHEC)
• Cuba AIDS Project (http://www.cubaaidsproject.com) HIV and AIDS in Cuba
• Spain and the Spaniard (http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/robert_ingersoll/spain_and_spaniard.html) A contemporary opinion of the Cuban uprising
• Wikitravel Guide (http://wikitravel.org/en/article/Cuba) — Wikitravel visiting guide
• Cuba-Pictures.com (http://www.cuba-pictures.com) — a Lonely Planet author's travel photos from all across Cuba
• LaHabana.com (http://www.lahabana.com) — City guide to Havana.
• Kuba-Cuba.com (http://www.kuba-cuba.com) — a Link Guide to Cuba.
• Cuba Study Tour (http://webhost.bridgew.edu/jhayesboh/cuba/cubamaps.html) — A geography professor shares his experience and impressions
• UN HDI (http://hdr.undp.org/statistics/data/country_fact_sheets/cty_fs_CUB.html) — Human Development Index for Cuba from UN
• Cubamusic (http://www.cubamusic.biz) — All about cuban music
• CUBA NUESTRA - Sweden (http://www.cubanuestra.nu/web/folder.asp?folderID=72)
• Google maps (http://www.google.com/maps?ll=21.730957,-79.409180&spn=10.437012,16.215820&t=k&hl=en)
• Some disturbing photos of life in Cuba (http://www.therealcuba.com/)
• Cubaweb (http://www.cubaweb.cu) — Official Cuban Government online directory
• Granma (http://www.granma.cu) — Communist Cuban Party Newspaper