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Cuba is an island country with various archipelagos, rich culture, colorful history, amazing beaches and several distinct features. Havana is Cuba’s capital and is also the largest city in the country. Cuba is the most populated insular country in the region with over 11 million inhabitants. Since Cuba went through the period of Spanish colonialism, Spanish is the official language in the country.
Economy
Having a dual economy, this island country has two different schemes functioning alongside each other. Cubans take advantage of the socialist peso economy where they are given retirement benefits, disability benefits, unemployment compensation, universal employment, free health care and free education. Aside from that, they also get monthly rations of food and a decent home. Their economy relies heavily on the export and tourism sector.
Cuba sticks to its socialist beliefs. It is no wonder why the country’s economy is managed by the government. About 90% of Cuba’s employed individuals work for the government because most companies in the country are owned by state-run.
Government and Politics
Cuba is perharps popular in the world because of its government. It has its own attach on leadership, power and control. Cuba was first recognized as a social republic by its 1976 Constitution, but in 1992, the Constitution was replaced with the idealogies of philosophers like Lenin, Engels, Marx and Jose Marti. There are 169 municipalities and 14 provinces in the country. Cubans who are at the voting age choose their municipal officials who are going to serve them for 2 ½ years.
Cuba’s main political forum is the national assembly of Cuba. This assembly carries the responsibility of electing the council of Cuba which has 31 members. Municapal committees are tasked to choose 601 members of the national assembly.The committees elect members every five years.
Geography
There are many islands in the Caribbean worth visiting, but Cuba is perhaps the most interesting country when it comes to culture and history. It is the largest country in the region and is 90 miles away from Florida. Nestled between the equally stunning islands of Jamaic and the Bahamas, Cuba is
Photo by Detlef Rimkus |
about the same size as Pennsylvania. To its northwest is the Gulf of Mexico and to its north is the North Atlantic Ocean. The Yucatan Channel is on the west. Cuba is bounded by the waters of the Caribbean.
Topography of Cuba
A large part of Cuba features mountain ranges and is a signifant part of Cuba’s overall geography. In fact, more than one third of Cuba is characterized by hills and mountains. Cuba is indeed an ideal place to go to if you are a nature lover because there are 289 beaches to explore and hundreds of mountains to climb. Cuba is home to several rivers and bays among other bodies of water.
Healthcare in Cuba
There are many healthcare professionals in Cuba because the government is paying enough attention to the health needs of its citizens. Since the revolution, the government has produced many competent and efficient healthcare practicioners, most of which have been sent to the different parts of the globe (Africa, Latin America) to extend help to other nations. Students who want to pursue a career in the healthcare industry are required to tender two years worth of service in the country’s rural wages before they can go abroad or work for private companies.
Natural Resources
Cuba is very rich in natural resources. The most important mineral economic resource is nickel. The island actually houses the second largest nickel reserve in the world, following Russia. Another important mineral resource in the area is cobalt, a by-product of the nickel mining operations. Cuba is currently the fifth largest producer of refined cobalt in the world.
Photo by Lothann Dohanec |
Climate
The local climate in Cuba is tropical. The warm temperature is moderated by northeasterly trade winds that blow in the area all year-round. The climate varies in Cuba, depending on the local variations. However, in general, the dry season is observed from November to April while the rainy season comes between May and October. In these seasons, the average temperature for dry season is 21 degrees Celsius; this is usually during January. The average temperature during wet season is 27 degrees Celsius which is usually during the month of July. Cuba is frequently visited by hurricanes especially during September to October. This is because the warm temperatures in the Caribbean Sea and the location of Cuba in relation to the Gulf of Mexico have combined to make the archipelago prone to hurricane visits.
Tourism
Tourism in Cuba was originally restricted to enclave resorts in which the tourists are separated from the rest of the Cuban society. In fact, contacts with foreigners and tourists were considered de facto illegal until 1997. To date, the tourism sector of Cuba is flourishing. It has attracted 1.9 million tourists in the past year, mostly coming from Canada or the European Union. The revenues generated from this equated to USD 2.1 billion. The tourism sector has now surpassed the sugar industry as the largest source of hard currency.
The Cuban Culture
The culture of Cuba presents a collage of different traditions and customs. The most predominant influences are those of Spain and Africa.
Sport
- The national passion or favorite pastime among Cubans is sport. Owing to the historical linkages between them and the United States, Cubans tend to participate in sports that are also popular in North America instead of the usual Latin American sports. For instance, baseball is the most popular sport, followed by basketball, volleyball, cricket, and athletics. They are also the dominant force in amateur boxing.
Music
- Cuban music is oftentimes characterized as very rich. This is the most common expression of their culture. The central form of Cuban music is the Son which is the foundation of many other musical styles such as salsa, rumba, and mambo. Cuban classical music, on the other hand, exhibits strong African and European influences that feature symphonic works and soloists. |
