CUBA

LOCATION
Cuba is located in the Caribbean. It is an island nation situated between the North Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Cuba is found just south of
the state of Florida. In size, Cuba is slightly smaller than the state of Pennsylvania.

CLIMATE
Cuba is a tropical island. The months of May through October are the rainy season in Cuba. November through April are normally dry.

POPULATION
As of July 2000, the population of Cuba was estimated to be 11,141,997. The composition of the population is as follows: 51% mulatto, 37% white, 11% black, and 1% Chinese. In total, there are 5,567,549 females and 5,574,448 males.

RELIGION
Prior to Fidel Castro assuming power, Cuba was 85% Roman Catholic. The remaining 15% of the Cuban people were Protestant, Jewish, Jehovah’s Witnesses, or Santeria.

GENERAL
The official name of this country is the Republic or Cuba. The capital is located in the city of Havana. Cuba is a communist state. The Chief of State, Head of Government, and President are positions collectively held by one man.

NATURAL RESOURCES
Cuba’s natural resources include cobalt, nickel, iron ore, copper, manganese, salt, timber, silica, and petroleum.
Cuba’s agricultural products are sugar cane, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice, potatoes, beans, and various livestock.

TRANSPORTATION
Cuba has 4,807 kilometers of railway. The majority of the railway is privately owned and used by the sugar plantations. Out of a total of 60,858 kilometers of highways, only 29,820 kilometers are paved. Cuba is home to 77 airports with paved runways and 93 airports with unpaved runways.
Cuba also has seven ports and harbors for its 15 ships.

CURRENCY
The currency is Cuba is as follows: one Cuban peso equals 100 centavos.
Facts and figures courtesy of CIA World Fact Book.
ADDITIONAL LINKS
To learn more about Cuba, visit: www.unipr.it/~davide/cuba/homel.html. For an in-depth history of the country, visit: www.emayzine.com/lectures/HISTOR~7.htm.