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Geography >> Central America >> Cuba History and Timeline


Capital: Havana

Population: 11,333,483

The Geography of Cuba

Borders: Cuba is an island country located in the Caribbean. It has maritime (water) borders with several countries including the United States, The Bahamas, Jamaica, Haiti, and Honduras.

Country of Cuba Map
Total Size: 110,860 square km

Size Comparison: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Geographical Coordinates: 21 30 N, 80 00 W

World Region or Continent: Central America

General Terrain: mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in the southeast

Geographical Low Point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

Geographical High Point: Pico Turquino 2,005 m


Major Cities: HAVANA (capital) 2.14 million (2009), Santiago de Cuba, Camaguey, Holguin

Major Landforms: Cuba is the 17th largest island in the world. Sierra Maestra mountain range, Sierra Cristal Mountains, Escambray Mountains, Pico Turquino Mountain, and Zapata Swamp.

Major Bodies of Water: Laguna de Leche, Zaza Reservoir, Rio Cuato River, Rio Almendares, Rio Yurimi, Caribbean Sea, Windward Passage, Yucatan Channel, Atlantic Ocean.

Famous Places: Morro Castle, El Capitolio, La Cabana, Havana Cathedral, Old Havana, Jardines del Rey, Zapata Peninsula, Trinidad, Santiago de Cuba, Baracoa

Economy of Cuba


Agricultural Products: sugar, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice, potatoes, beans; livestock


Major Exports: sugar, nickel, tobacco, fish, medical products, citrus, coffee

Major Imports: petroleum, food, machinery and equipment, chemicals


National GDP: $114,100,000,000

Government of Cuba

Type of Government: Communist state


Divisions: Cuba is divided into 15 provinces and one municipality (the island Isla de la Juventud). See the map below for the locations and names of the provinces. The largest of the provinces by population are Havana, Santiago de Cuba, and Holguin.
  1. Pinar del Rio
  2. Artemisa
  3. Havana
  4. Mayabeque
  5. Matanzas
  6. Cienfuegos
  7. Villa Clara
  8. Sancti Spiritus
  9. Ciego de Avila
  10. Camaguey
  11. Las Tunas
  12. Granma
  13. Holguin
  14. Santiago de Cuba
  15. Guantanamo
  16. Isla de la Juventud
National Anthem or Song: La Bayamesa (The Bayamo Song)

National Symbols:
Country of Cuba Flag
Description of flag: The flag of Cuba was adopted on June 25, 1848. It has five blue and white stripes with a red triangle on the left (hoist) side. In the middle of the red triangle is a white star with five points. The three blue stripes represent the three divisions of Cuba, the white stripes represent the purity of the revolution, the red stands for the blood shed to free the country, and the star represents independence.


Other Holidays: Triumph of the Revolution (January 1), Good Friday, Labour Day (May 1), Assault of the Moncada garrison Day (July 25), Independence Day (October 10), Christmas (December 25)

The People of Cuba

Languages Spoken: Spanish

Nationality: Cuban(s)


Origin of the name Cuba: The name "Cuba" comes from the language of the original Taino people who lived on the island before Europeans arrived. It likely means "where fertile land is abundant."

Alicia Alonso
Famous People:

Geography >> Central America >> Cuba History and Timeline

** Source for population (2019 est.) is United Nations. GDP (2011 est.) is CIA World Factbook.

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