Location
The
Republic of Cuba, with a population of 11 million, is the
largest Island in the Caribbean. It is 1250 km (775 miles) from east to west and 40 km
to 160 km (24 to 96 miles) from north to south. The country
consists of more than 4000 islands and keys. Cuba's main
island is the 15th largest island in the world, measuring
104,945 sq km, 1250km long and 191km wide at its widest
point. Cuba has about 300 natural beaches, many mountains, rain forests,
coral cays, islets and valleys. Isla de la Juventud is also
a part of Cuba
Cuba is part
of the West Indies and is situated within the Antilles
Archipelago. Havana is the capital. Cuba has Key West,
Mexico, Jamaica, the Bahamas and Haiti, as there closest neighbors.
Climate
The climate is sub-tropical and there are no great difference between the
seasonal temperature in Cuba. The wet season is
between May and October, and the drier winter season runs
from November to April. The average temperature reaches 27°C
(81°F) in July and August and 22°C (72°F) in February. An
average of 80% humidity exists all year.
Plants & Animals
Cuba's most abundant land fauna is reptilian and
includes crocodiles, iguanas, lizards, salamanders, turtles
and 15 species of nonpoisonous snakes. The largest land
mammal is the jutía (Capromys), a tree rat which grows to
about 60cm in length. The world's smallest bird comes from
Cuba: the bee hummingbird, is just bigger than a grasshopper
and weighs only two grams. The tocororo (Priotelus temnuros)
is dubbed Cuba's national bird due to its red, white and
blue plumage - the colors of the Cuban flag. More
than 150 species of fish abound
in Cuban waters, mackeral, seatrout, the majestic marlin, swordfish,
sailfish, bonefish, tarpon, Tuna, cobia and barracuda.
There are more than 6000 plant species in Cuba, around half
of which are endemic. The ever-present royal palm (Reistonea
regia) is represented on the country's coat of arms; there
are said to be 20 million palms in Cuba. Cuba's other flora
includes the rare and prehistoric cork palm (Microcycas
calocoma), the jagüey, a fig with aerial roots; the palma
barrigona (big belly palm); the ceiba, the sacred
silk-cotton tree, and the mariposa (butterfly jasmine), the
white national flower. Much of the southern coast has
mangrove swamps that support small fish and birdlife while
the majority of the northern coast is bordered by rugged
beaches. In sum Cuban
flora includes more than 6,300 varieties, 51% of which are
endemic, and as for fauna: 54 species of mammals, 350
species of birds, 106 reptiles, 42 amphibians, 1,400
mollusks, 15,000 insects and 1,440 arachnids. |
