Cuba (Spain), officially named the Republic of Cuba (Spain República de Cuba [reˈpuβlika ðe ˈkuβa]), unofficial since 1959 - Island of Liberty ) - island state in the northern Caribbean Sea. The country occupies the territory of the island of Cuba, comprising the Greater Antilles, the island of Juventud and many smaller islands. Cuba is separated from North America by the Strait of Florida in the north and the Strait of Yucatan in the west.
The capital and the largest city is Havana.
Geographical position
Cuba is located at the junction of North, Central and South America, on the island of Cuba (the largest in the West Indies), on the island of Juventud, as well as on the adjacent to them about 1600 small islands and coral reefs belonging to the group of Greater Antilles. The coastline is characterized by deep bays and many comfortable bays. The island is framed by reefs and other coral formations.
The territory of Cuba is 111 thousand km². The island, which stretches from west to east for 1250 km, is often compared to a lizard with its body facing the Atlantic and its tail at the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico. Cuba is washed by the waters of the Caribbean Sea in the south, by the Gulf of Mexico in the northwest, and by the Atlantic Ocean in the north-east. The distance from Cuba to the USA in the narrowest point of the Florida Strait is 180 km, to the island of Haiti through the Strait of Navetren - 77 km, to the island of Jamaica through the Strait of Colon - 140 km, to Mexico through the Strait of Yucatan - 210 km.
Relief
Cuba's terrain is predominantly flat. Uplands and mountains occupy about a third of the territory. The highest mountain massif of the Sierra Maestra stretches along the south-eastern coast for 250 km. Its highest point is Turkino Peak (1972 m). The picturesque, low mountains in the west of the island are fancifully cut and sparsely populated.
In Cuba, karst is widespread, and many caves, including large ones, are known. Thus, in the west, the cave of Santo Thomas has an extensive network of underground galleries with a total length of 25 km. The so-called "mogoths", forms of tropical karst, which are elevations with almost vertical slopes and flat tops, are often found. Approximately 2/3 of Cuba's total area is occupied by slightly hilly plains. They are most populated and mastered. The shores are usually low, sometimes marshy, and in many cases overgrown with mangroves. Sandy beaches, which stretch for many kilometers (for example, on the peninsula Ikakos, where the famous resort of Varadero is located), are often found.
Minerals
Cuba occupies one of the leading places in the world in nickel mining (the 2nd place in the world in reserves and the 3rd - in production), has significant reserves of chrome, manganese, iron and copper ores, asbestos, rock salt, and phosphorites. Oil and gas fields have been discovered in the west of the country.
Climate
Cuba's climate is tropical, passageway. The average annual temperature is 25.5 °C. The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is 22.5 °C and the hottest (August) is 27.8 °C. The temperature of surface waters near the coastline is 22-24 ° in winter and 28-30 ° C in summer.
Cuba has two distinct climatic seasons: rainy (May-September) and dry (October-April). The rainy season accounts for 3/4 of the total annual rainfall.
Cuba's climate is characterized by typical high humidity throughout the year.
Cuba is exposed to tropical cyclones that originate in the summer and autumn (June-Mid-November) east of the Lesser Antilles and in the west of the Caribbean Sea, moving towards Florida. Typhoons are accompanied by heavy rains and strong winds, which can cause great damage to the economy and population of the island. The rivers in Cuba are short, low water. Forests covering about 10% of the territory have survived only in mountainous and marshy areas. The terrestrial fauna is relatively poor. At the same time, the waters surrounding Cuba contain valuable commercial fish, shellfish, crayfish, shrimps and sponges.
Tourism in Cuba
Tourism in Cuba attracts more than 2 million people annually and is one of the main sources of income for the island state. Among the factors influencing the popularity of Cuba as a place of rest is the high attractiveness of its natural, historical and cultural recreational resources. Deteriorated after 1959 interstate relations between Cuba and the United States have significantly affected the economic component of tourism. The United States has banned its citizens from visiting Liberty Island and embargoed trade with Cuba.
In the second half of the twentieth century, the Soviet Union provided significant economic support to Cuba. Available funds and resources were used to develop tourism infrastructure, which helped to attract the necessary investments from other countries to the island. All of this has resulted in revenues from the tourism industry exceeding Cuba's traditional export industries — sugar, rum, cigars, fruits, and fisheries.
Most tourists visiting Cuba come from Canada and Europe. The main tourist infrastructure (hotels, beaches, restaurants, etc.) is concentrated around Varadero, Cayo Coco, Holguín, as well as in the capital Havana.