Cuba Facts: Interesting Facts About Cuba

Officially known as 'The Republic of Cuba', Cuba consists of the Island of Cuba, the Isle of Youth, and some adjacent small islands. To the south is Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, to the north lies the Bahamas and the US state of Florida, to the east lies Haiti, and to the west lies Mexico. The 17th largest island in the world by land mass, Cuba is home to a plethora of strange and interesting facts, some of which are listed below.

	Interesting Facts About Cuba Cuba is the most populated country in the whole of the Caribbean. The main island of Cuba is surrounded by four other main groups of islands. The four islands are the Carnaguey, the Canarreos, the Jardines de la Reina and the Colorados. The total land area of Cuba is 110,860 kilometers square making it the 17th largest island in the world. The main island of Cuba consists of rolling plains. It has a range of steep mountains at its southeast end, called the Sierra Maestra. The highest point in Sierra Maestra is the Pico Real del Turquino at around two thousand and five meters (2005 mts). The climate in Cuba is tropical and moderated by trade winds. There is a dry season from November to April and a rainy season from May to October. The average temperature is 21 degrees Celsius in January and 27 degrees Celsius in July. The island was discovered by Columbus in 1492, and was claimed for the Kingdom of Spain. When he discovered Cuba, Columbus actually though he was in India. Cubans, as the people of Cuba are called, refer to the island as 'El Cocodrilo' or 'El Caiman' as it resembles the shape of a crocodile or alligator. Cuba consists of more than 400 islands and cays, and is home to the Manjuarí, a fish that is not found anywhere else on the planet. The current capital of Cuba is Havana, while earlier the capital used to be Santiago de Cuba. UNESCO has declared Havana City, Cienfuegos, and Trinidad World Heritage Sites. Cuba has a mixed population, with 1% Chinese, 11% black, 37% white and a major 51% being mixed black and white, mulatto. The female population is 5,580,500 while the male population is around 5,597,233. The doctor to patient ratio is the highest in Cuba. In fact, there are so many doctors in Cuba, that the country even sends doctors to other countries that face a shortage of doctors. There is a strict Internet policy in Cuba, with very few people given permission to use the Internet. Offenders are subject to a 5-year term in jail. Cuba has over 200 bays and 250 beaches to explore, making it a haven for tourists who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the world. There are no plants or animals in Cuba that are poisonous or lethal to humans. The official flower of Cuba is the Butterfly Jasmine, while the national bird is the Tocororo or the Cuban Trogon. The official tree of the Republic of Cuba is the Royal Palm. Surprisingly, soccer is not the most famous sport in Cuba. While most other Latin countries enjoy soccer as their favorite sport, for Cubans it is baseball. Cuba's baseball team is among the best in the world. The official language of Cuba is Spanish, though there are many people who speak English as well.

Given above were some of the interesting facts about Cuba. The country has become a major tourist spot and attracts around two million visitors per year. It has a number of beaches, colonial architecture, favorable climate and a rich cultural history to invite tourists from all over the world. It had the most number of tourists all around the Caribbean between 1915 and 1920. Cuba also has a favorable and flourishing health tourism business, which alone generates around 30 million dollars a year for the Cuban economy. It has a wide range of treatments for neurological disorders, orthopedics and eye-surgery. Night blindness is one disorder which is a specialty in Cuba. Besides this, the one reason you may have heard of this paradise is thanks to the extremely high quality cigars they make and export. Indeed, for a cigar smoker, there is nothing better than an authentic Cuban cigar!