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Cuban facts & Information about Cuba

Cuba - General data

Name: Republic of Cuba
Capital City: Havana
Official language: Spanish
Population (2005): 11.2 million inhabitants. Havana has 2.2 million inhabitants
Ethnic composition: 65% whites, 24.9% mestizos (mixed), 10.1% blacks
Area: 109 886 km2
Length: 1 200 km
Currency: Cuban Peso (MN) and Convertible Cuban Peso (CUC)
Climate: Subtropical. Average summer temperature: 25°C (77°F). Average winter temperature: 22°C (72°F). Average relative humidity: 81%
Flag: It was hoisted for the first time in 1859 in Cardenas City
National anthem: The patriot Perucho Figueredo composed the music and wrote the lyrics in 1867
National flower: Butterfly Jasmine
National bird: Tocororo (Priotelus temnurus)
National tree: Royal Palm

Cuban holidays

January 1, Liberation Day, together with December 31 & January 2
May 1, Labour Day
July 26, National Rebelliousness Day, together with July 25 & 27
October 10, Anniversary of the beginning of the 10 Years War in 1868
December 25, Christmas Day

First-hand information & Facts about Cuba

» Cuban currency facts & CUC exchange rates

» Visiting Cuban cities

» Visiting Cuban nature

Cuban symbols

Cuban flag

Coat of arms

Royal palm tree

Tocororo bird

Butterfly jasmine

Cuban history

Christopher Columbus discovered Cuba on October 27th, 1492. The conquest and colonization periods led to the extermination of the aboriginal inhabitants and then the Spanish colonists imported black people from Africa and enslaved them. The resulting mixture defined Cuba’s population and culture.

For four centuries Cuba was the main gateway to the vast Spain’s American empire, and cities such as Havana, Matanzas, Trinidad, Sancti Spiritus, Camagüey, Bayamo, Baracoa and Santiago de Cuba stand as sentinels to the bygone colonial glory. The Spanish constructed protective fortresses of solid stone to keep pirates and their European enemies out, and these outposts still guard Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, whose charm is truly captivating.

On October 10th, 1868, began the Cuban struggle for its independence from Spain, a colonial rule which lasted for four centuries. The United States intervened at the end of the Independent War and established a pseudo republic in 1902. On January 1st, 1959 the Revolution commanded by Fidel Castro triumphed and brought essential transformations in the life of the country.

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