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Geography |
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Placed
strategically between the Gulf of Mexico
and the Atlantic Ocean, the biggest island
of the Antilles (whose shape resembles
a crocodile) is only 170 km south of Key
West, US southernmost point. Together
with Jamaica, Hispaniola (Haiti and Dominican
Republic) and Puerto Rico forms the Great
Antilles; its size is comparable to that
of all the Antilles island together. The
main island is 1250 km long and 31 to
191 km wide; there is also the Isla de
la Joventud and more than 4000 Cayos,
small coral islands.
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Cuba
has around 12 million inhabitants,
2,5 of which in la Habana and 500.000
in Santiago. The island can be divided
in4 main zones: el Occidente, which
includes the provinces of Pinar
del Rio, Havana e Matanzas, with
shallow coral reef on the north
coast, a plateau in the centre,
and muddy lands in the south. The
Central region, from S.ta Clara
to Ciego de Avila, is a hilly region,
surrounded by plain and muddy lands. |
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The Camaguey region is very similar to
savannah, while the Oriente provinces
(Santiago and Guantanamo) is the most
beautiful, with the Sierra Maestra mounts
group, rivers and marvelous bays. The
Isla de la Joventud, also called Pines
Island, is extensively cultivated with
grapefruits. There are no major lakes
and ont its largest river, the Cauto,
383 km long, is not possible to navigate,
even on small boats. |
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Electricity |
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Electricity
voltage is 110 Volts, 60Hz, with US type plugs.
In some hotels in the super-touristic areas there
are europen sockets with 220 Volts electricity.
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The Cuban population is a melting-pot of races;
Spanish, Africans and Asians. After all the
Indios were killed by the hard work conditions
and by illnesses brought by the Spanish, land
owners started to import slaves from Africa
and workers from China. Then migration from
Europe started (Germans and French) and other
populations from the Antilles (Haiti and Jamaica)
have formed the current Cuban population. All
racial segregation were cancelled after the
revolution; nowadays mixed marriages are common
and there is no sign of racial tensions on the
island.
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The Socialist
Republic of Cuba elects members of the Asemblea
Nacional del Poder Popular every 5 years; there
is only one candidate for heach zone, so the election
looks more as a referendum. The Asemblea elects
the 31 members of the Consejo de Estado; the president
of the Consejo is also Head of State and Prime
Minister and chooses the Ministers. The Cabinet
is subject to the Asemblea's approval. |
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From 1976, Cuba is divided in 14 provinces
and 169 districts, to ensure homogeneity
in terms of people density and land extension.
The provinces are: Pinar del Río,
Havana, City of Havana, Matanzas, Villa
Clara, Cienfuegos, Sancti Spiritus, Ciego
de Avila, Camgüey, Las Tunas, Holguín,
Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánmo
and Isla de la Joventud. |
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Tourism is the main economic resource of the
island; relevant plantation are cane-sugar,
tobacco and coffee. The most important industry
is mining, especially nickel, and rum distillation.
Cuba has made great progress in the field of
pharmaceutical and biotech. Even if economy
was state controlled - employment was guaranteed
- with low productivity until the end of the
90s, since 1988 joint-ventures with foreign
investors have started and more freedom to entrepreneurship
has been allowed. Today's Habana is packed with
micro-companies which were simply unconceivable
till 5 years ago: from Casas Particulares -
Cuban Bed & Breakfast - to ice-cream parlour,
pizza slices sellers and Paladares - small restaurants.
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A tourist can export whatever quantity of rum
for his proper use; you can also export 50 Cuban
cigars, showing the receipt. Check your country
regulation for import of alcoholic beverages
and tobacco products before leaving for Cuba.
CaseCuba.com is not responsible
for the informations hereby provided nor for
any incnvenience that may arise from their misunderstanding
or incorrectness.
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The flag
The national flag was conceived by General
Narciso Lopez in 1849; the colors chosen,
even if used by other nations, represent
the aim of freedom of all mankind. The
white star represents the union of Cubans,
inside a red triangle representing the
ideals of freedom, equality and brotherhood.
The white stripes represent purity and
virtues, the blue-ones - three, like the
number of departments at the time the
flag was designed - represent the high
and royal aspirations of the patriots.
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A second version about the origin of the flag
says that the white star represents Texas, the
US state where Lopez came from, the red triangle
was the massonic triangle while the stripes
represented the annexion attempt to the US.
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| The
republican shield
The first shield was created in 1849, by
Miguel Tuerbe Tolòn, to be used as
official seals for documents an dispatches
issued by Narciso Lopez, temporary governor
of Cuba between 1850 and 1851; the current
shield portrays a key representing the key
position of the island in the gulf of Mexico,
the union of Cubans, the sun representing
freedom, the colours of the flag and a typical
Cuban landscape. |
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| The
national anthem - La Bayamensa
The hymn of Bayamo was composed by Pedro
Figueredo in 1868, after the conquest of
the city of Bayamo by the independist forces.
It is strongly tied to the Independence
process of Cuba; the name Bayamesa (for
the conquest of Bayamo) is a clear reference
to the Marseilleuse, France's anthem. |
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Al
combate corred bayameses,
que la Patria os contempla orgullosa.
No temáis una muerte gloriosa,
que morir por la Patria ¡es vivir!
En cadenas, vivir es vivir,
en afrenta y orpobio sumido.
Del clarín escuchad el sonido
¡a las armas valientes corred! |
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