The National Territory of Cuba - Essay Example

Cuba Cuba Cuba, the largest of the Caribbean islands is located between the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, 90 miles south of Florida and90 miles east from Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula (Sheehan & Jermyn 7). The national territory of Cuba includes the island of Cuba (nearly 95 percent of the total territory), the Isle of Youth, and around 1.600 small islands, the majority of them uninhabited. Cuba has a population of 11.3 million people, seventy five percent of whom live in the urban areas. The largest city in Cuba is the capital, Havana, with more than 2 million habitants. Cuban rich cultural heritage, warmth and humor as well as beautiful, sunny beaches attract to Cuba millions of tourists from all over the world. Population Cuba is an ethnically diverse society, with a population of mainly Spanish and African origins, the latter being descendants of slaves brought into Cuba from 16th to 19th century. (The Multimedia History Company). There is also a group of Asians who account for 1% of the society. The demographic profile of Cuba was influenced by frequent immigration and emigration waves. As a result of a series of post-revolutionary initiatives, most notably access to free education, in 20th century large waves of Cubans were moving from the countryside to the cities. Thus, the urban population accounts for 75% of the society (Gorry & Stanley 77). Cuba is characterized by one of the lowest birth rates in the Western Hemisphere, with a fertility rate of 1.43 children per woman (United Nations). It is an officially atheist state, but many faiths reflect cultural diversity of the country. The dominant religion is Catholicism, brought to Cuba by Spanish conquerors. Cubans also practice different kinds of syncretism, Protestantism, there are small communities of Muslims and Jews. Geography Cuba is the world’s seven largest island (Sheehan & Jermyn 7). While the island consists mostly of plains and flatlands, a quarter of the total land mass is covered with mountains. There are four main mountainous areas: Sierra Maestra, located in the southeast, with the highest peak of Cuba Pico Turquino, the Baracos Highlands in the northeast, the Santa Clara Hills and the Escambray Mountains in the central part and, finally, the Havana and Matanzas Highlands near the capital. Cuba has a semitropical and temperate climate, with the wet season from May to October and the dry season from November to April (Sheehan & Jermyn 9). Average temperatures range from 23 to 28 degrees. Rainfall is moderate with seventy five percent of the annual precipitation in the wet season. However, there are some years characterized by extreme drought or heavy rain, which severely affects life in Cuba. The island is also affected with frequent fierce tropical hurricanes, which hit Cuba approximately every two years in the wet season. As there are nearly 600 rivers in Cuba, the land is well-irrigated, which benefits agriculture, The two longest rivers are the Cauto, in the east, and the Zaza, in the central part of the island. Tourists willingly visit the Laguna de la Leche (Milky Lagoon) , the largest Cuban lake. As the floor of the lagoon is formed by calcium carbonate deposits, which are disturbed by tidal movements of the nearby sea, the lake has an unusual, milky appearance (Sheehan & Jermyn 10). Due to its isolation from other land masses and islands, Cuba has developed unique flora and fauna. Some of unusually small species can be found in the island, including the banana frog, the smallest mammal, the tiniest scorpion, and the bee hummingbird, the smallest bird in the world. Cuba is home to 400 species of birds and 180 species of butterflies. As 22% of the island is covered by woods and forests, there is a wide variety of trees and flowers. Cuban wood was used by Spanish colonists to build their fleet oh ships, which transported goods across the Atlantic. Today, such kinds of wood as mahogany, ebony, teak, and oak have a great commercial value and are widely exported overseas. 900 different species of fish that live in Cuban waters attract many tourists who are fond of fishing. Cuba is home to numerous prestigious international and local fishing tournaments, which involve the Hemingway Marlin Fishing Tournament. In this tournament participants need to catch a marlin, one of the fastest-swimming fish in the world. Tourists can also admire the colorful fish life and impressive coral reefs underwater. UNESCO has classified several areas of Cuban waters as biosphere reserves (Sheehan & Jermyn 13). History The earliest inhabitants of Cuba were Casimiroid peoples, who first settled the island between 4000 B.C. and 400 B.C. Casimiroid, who later developed into the Ciboney culture, lived in caves, gained a living from fishing and never invented pottery (Saunders 84). Around the third century A.D., the Taino people arrived to the island, developing a successful agricultural village life. In 1511, Cuba was conquered by the Spanish Diego de Velazquez in a vicious battle. Taino Indians together with slaves brought from Africa were forced to work on sugar and tobacco plantations. In the 16th century, due to the development of the harbor in Havana and the construction of Moro Castle at the harbor entrance, Cuba gained new importance as an international port (Sheehan & Jermyn 19). The island’s economy was booming due to the In 1898, following the U.S. forces’ victory over the Spanish fleet in Santiago de Cuba, American forces occupied the island. In 1902, the government was taken over by Cuba’s first president, Thomas Estrada Palma. However, the United States reserved the right to intervene in Cuban affairs until 1934 (Saunders 85) as well as to buy or lease land for naval bases (Sheehan & Jermyn 24). Due to frequent uprisings against governmental leaders who did not provide Cuban with adequate welfare services, from 1906 to 1910 American troops returned to Cuba. As the economic situation in the country worsened during the Great Depression in the 1930s, there was a coup against the President Gerardo Machado. An army sergeant Fulgencio Batista, supported by the U.S. troops, became the next leader of Cuba. While he made several improvements to Cuba infrastructure, the political life of the country was characterized by a large-scale corruption. As a result, Cuba became the country of contrast, with the poverty underpinning the private wealth of few politicians and their followers (Sheehan & Jermyn 25). In 1953, Fidel Castro made an attempt of overthrowing the government of Barista. His plan failed, and Castro was sent to prison. After his release, in 1956 he organized another rebellion with the help of Argentinean revolutionary Che Guevara. During the two following years, the rebels conducted a successful guerrilla campaign, gaining the support of Cubans. As a result, the army deserted Batista, who had to leave Cuba. In the beginning of 1959 the rebel forces have occupied Havana. Under the government of Fidel Castro, relations between Cuba and United States deteriorated, to be formally broken in 1961. The United States supported the invasion of Cuban exiles opposed to Castro to invade the island. However, the operation, called Operation Pluto, failed, and the invaders were captured. In face of the hostility of the United States, Cuba asked the Soviet Union for military assistance, which further worsened the Cuba-U.S. relations (Sheehan & Jermyn 29). Today, the U.S. government still has the trade embargo on Cuba and restricts cash remittances from the United States to Cuba. The Communist Party, which remains the only legitimate one, is the most important political institution in the country (Sheehan & Jermyn 32). Arts & Music After the revolution, several governmental organizations created theatre and dance groups, opened museums, and established art schools as well as a national film industry. Furthermore, over 250 casas de cultura (cultural centres) were created in order to provide the population with access to free cultural events and opportunities (Gorry and Stanley 41). Cuban music has been influenced by many different cultural and ethnical backgrounds. Some of the most popular music Cuban styles include son, samba, and nova. Son, popularized by Buena Vista Social Club, involves African percussion traditions and Spanish lyrical forms. Salsa, which emerged from the Latin New York scene in 1960s, is very popular among Cubans; many foreigners come to the island every year to learn to dance salsa in numerous Cuban dance schools. Finally trova, inspired by social protest and politics in 1960s, is a movement of singer-songwriters who write poetic songs that examine and criticize Cuban society (Gory and Stanley 42). Main attractions Cultural and heritage of Cuba as well as its beautiful landscapes attract millions of tourists from all over the world every year. Cuban cities offer the visitors spectacular architecture and art, charming accommodation, and jamming atmosphere. The most important cities involve Havana, the capital, Trinidad, a Unesco World Heritage, and Holguin, known as “the city of parks” (Gory and Stanley 6). Visitors interested in history will definitely visit La Comandancia de la Plata, Fidel Castro’s ancient guerrilla in the mountains, Che’s Havana headquarters at the picturesque Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabana, and Presidio Modelo on mellow Isla de la Juventud, where Fidel Castro was held with other rebellions. The most important museums involve the Cuban collection of the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, the fascinating Mueso de la Revolucion, and the inspiring museum Hemingway (Gory and Stanley 17). Cuba also offers beautiful landscapes; there are seven Unesco World Heritage sites, including ramparts of Santiago de Cuba and cobblestones of Havana Vieja. Tourists can also enjoy Vinales, with rock faces to scale and numerous caves to explore. Conclusion Cuba is an attractive tourist destination for tourists from all over the world. Its picturesque landscapes, historical background and rich cultural heritage make it a unique place, with fascinating customs and traditions. Works Cited: Gorry, Conner and Stanley, David. Cuba. Population, Cuba. The Multimedia History Company. Website of Multi Educator, Inc. Web. 16 Feb. 2010. Saunders, Nicholas. The peoples of Caribbean: an encyclopedia of archeology and traditional culture. California: ABC-CLIO, 2005. Print. Sheehan, Sean and Jermyn, Leslie. Cuba. New York: Marshall Cavendish Benchmark, 1995. Print. United Nations. United Nations World Fertility Patterns, 2007. Web. 17 Feb. 2010. Read More