 Geography: The
Republic of
Cuba
is an archipelago with a total land surface of 110 860 km². It is composed of:
The Island of Cuba, with a surface of 104 945 km²; the Isle of Youth, with 2
200 km²; and some 4 200 keys and islets, with 3 715 km².
Cuba is located at the entrance of the
Gulf of Mexico, in the Caribbean Sea. It
limits to the North with
Florida Peninsula (United States of America), 180 Km off its coasts; to the South -140 Km- with
Jamaica; to the East -77 Km- with
Haiti; and to the West -210 Km- with the Yucatan Península (Mexico). Seventy percent (70%) of its territory is flat
land, with three major mountain ranges: Sierra de Los Organos,
in the West; Sierra del Escambray, in the Central
Region; and Sierra Maestra, in
Eastern Cuba, where the country’s highest mountain -Pico Real del Turquino, with 1 974 M (5 933 feet) above sea level- is
located. Cuban coasts extend along 5 746 Km, with plentiful excellent beaches
and rivers.
 Climate:
The archipelago’s climate is moderate, subtropical,
and is influenced by tropical marine conditions. The annual average temperature
is 25.2ºC (77ºF) in summer, and 22ºC (71.6ºF) in Winter.
Relative humidity is 81%. The annual average rainfall is 1 375 mm (1 059 mm
during the rainy season and 316 mm during the dry season).
Territorial Structure:
From the political-administrative point of view, the
country is divided into 14 provinces, 168 municipalities and one
Special Municipality.
From West to East,
the Provinces are: Pinar
del Río, Havana, City of Havana, Matanzas, Villa Clara,
Cienfuegos, Sancti Spiritus,
Camagüey, Ciego de Avila, Las Tunas, Holguín, Granma, Santiago de Cuba and
Guantánamo. The
Special Municipality of the Isle of Youth covers the territory of that
island and is located south of
Havana Province. The capital city of the
Republic of
Cuba
is the City of Havana.
Official Language:
Spanish is the official language.
English is generally used in business circles and international contacts.
Population:
Cuba has an estimated population of 11´180 500; out of it,
75.6% lives in urban areas. The population annual growth rate is 3.6/1000
inhabitants. The population density accounts for 100.9 inhabitants/km². The
male/female ratio is 1001/1000. The economically active population (as of April
2000) was 6,617,600.
Political-Administrative
Structure:
Cuba is a socialist state. The supreme body of the State
is the National Assembly of the People’s Power, which, as a parliament, holds
constituent and legislative powers in the
Republic of
Cuba.
The supreme executive and administrative body of the Government of the
Republic of
Cuba
is the Council of Ministers. There is only one Party in the country: The
Communist Party of Cuba. (Cuban Political & Electoral System.)
 Educational System:
Education, like teaching materials, is free at all
teaching levels. Illiteracy has been wiped out. There are over 250,000 teachers
and professors, accounting for one teacher/42 inhabitants. There are 12, 215
elementary and secondary schools, with a schooling rate of 98.2 in the age
group 6-14 years. There are 58 universities, with a total of 106,800 students
registered. Today’s number of active university graduates amounts to
634,000.Every province has its own universities or university schools,
secondary education institutes, specialised
institutions, technical schools, etc. There are some 3 million students
registered in the National Education System. The educational level of the
working force ranges from
9 to
10 years of study. Seven (7) out of 100 workers hold a university degree; 13
out of 100 employees are mid-level technicians. Around 3 professionals and
technicians/1000 inhabitants are working in connection with Sciences.
 Health System:
Cuba’s health system covers the entire country, and
medical services are free for all Cubans. Cuba shows the lowest infant
mortality rate in Latin America and one of the lowest in the world, being it
7.2/1000 live births. Life expectancy at birth is 74.8 years. As an average,
Cuba has one-doctor/172 inhabitants and one-dentist/1,125
inhabitants. The system is endowed with 718 service units (hospitals and
clinics) across the country, with a total of 82,000 beds. Thirty nine percent
(39%) of the country’s total budget goes to education and health sectors.
National
Symblos
 The
Flag: In 1850 what was to become the definitive national symbol was
hoisted for the first time. Encapturing simplicity
and perfect harmony, it combines three colours, red,
white and teal, to form the Cuban flag: three teal stripes - the states in
which the island was divided at that time - two white stripes - the force of
the idealistic independence fighter - , a red triangle - representing equality,
fraternity and liberty, and at the same time, the blood which had to be spillt during the battles for independence - and a white
star, alone - as a symbol of the absolute liberty between other nations - these
are what characterise its beautiful design.
 Coat
of Arms: The National coat of arms represents our island. It is shaped
like a pointed leather shield, and divided into three sections. In its
horizontal upper part, there is a golden key between two mountains, and a sun
rising over the sea - which symbolises the position
of Cuba in the
Gulf, between the two Americas,
amidst the emergence of a new state. The teal and white strips, down the left
hand side, represent the situation of the island, in terms of its division into
states, in the colonial period. Down the right hand side, a Cuban country scene
is dominated by a royal palm tree - the symbol of the ubreakable
character of the Cuban people.
Anthem:
"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 oprobio sumidos,
Del clarín escuchad el sonido
A las armas, valientes, corred".
National
Anthem  
The National Anthem was created in Bayamo,
out of the fracas of the battle for independence. Pedro Figueredo,
having composed the melody in 1867, wrote the words to this battle hymn, with
the sentiments of an independence fighter, when the insurgent troops took the
city in 1868.
Other symbols
 La Palma : Real (The Royal Palm). Although
it's present all over the Caribbean, it's everywhere at
the Cuban country side. It's a source of wood and materials for rural
construction, the same for hats, oil and other elements for the tabaco industry. Because of its erect figure, bearing any
difficult storm, it's the most respected, symbolizing the strong character of
the Cuban people.
 The National Flower:La Mariposa
Blanca (The White Butterfly), an endemic jasmine used by Cuban women during the
independece war to transmit messages among the rebel
forces. It's a symbol of purity, fight and independence. It grows in humid
places, like river shores and lagoons. It could also be cultivated in gardens
and back yards.
 The National Bird: El Tocororo (Priotelus temnurus). An endemic
bird similar to a Quetzal, reproduces in its feathers
the colors of the National Flag: red, teal and white. It's a symbol of freedom,
because inside a cage it dies.
|
