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Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and
the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Florida
Geographic coordinates: 21 30 N, 80 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 110,860 sq km
land: 110,860 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:
total: 29 km
border countries: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 29 km
note: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and thus
remains part of Cuba
Coastline: 3,735 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season
(November to April); rainy season (May to October)
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills
and mountains in the southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Pico Turquino 2,005 m
Natural resources: cobalt, nickel, iron ore, copper, manganese,
salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 7%
permanent pastures: 27%
forests and woodland: 24%
other: 18% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 9,100 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: the east coast is subject to hurricanes
from August to October (in general, the country averages about one
hurricane every other year); droughts are common
Environment - current issues: pollution of Havana Bay; overhunting
threatens wildlife populations; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note: largest country in Caribbean
Background: Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in
1959; his iron will has held the country together since.
Cuba's communist revolution, with Soviet support, was exported throughout
Latin America and Africa during the 1960s, 70s, and 80s.
The country is now slowly recovering from a severe economic recession
following the withdrawal of former Soviet subsidies, worth $4 billion
to $6 billion annually, in 1990.
Havana blames its difficulties on the US embargo in place since
1962.
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