Brief History

The first settlers of Cuba were the Guanahatabey, Ciboney  and Taino people. Christopher Columbus was the first European to reach Cuba in 1492, and he claimed the land for Spain. In 1511, Diego Velasquez conquered Cuba and founded several settlements. Many of the native people died of European diseases during Spanish colonization. To have workers for their tobacco and sugar plantations, Spaniards imported more than a million African slaves to Cuba. In its journey to independence, Cuba fought three wars with Spain: the Ten Years War, The Small War and The Cuban War of Independence. The US gained control of Cuba with the Treaty of Paris and gave it independence in 1902. From 1902 to 1959, The US chose several leaders to rule Cuba in order to protect the tobacco, sugar, and gambling industries. But in 1959, after a two-year guerilla war, Fidel Castro seized power. Castro declared the country a socialist nation and allied with the Soviet Union.

National Flag

The National flag of Cuba was officially adopted on May 20, 1902, but it was designed by Narciso Lopez in 1849. The three blue stripes represent the three original Cuban provinces, and  the red triangle stands for equality and freedom.

Geography

Cuba is an island nation located in the northern Caribbean Sea.  It is a long and narrow island and is primarily flat with lowland plains. About one-third of Cuba is covered with mountains and hills.

 

World Land Mass Ranking: 106
Highest Mountain: Pico Turquino, 1,974 m (6,476 ft)
Longest River: Cauto, 370 km (230 mi)

 

Main Languages

Spanish.

Cuba Population: 11.3 million (as of 2019)
Capital City: Havana
Capital City Population: 2.1 million (as of 2017)

Climate

The climate of Cuba is subtropical. It is generally hot and moist, with the average annual temperature being around 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit). Cuba has two seasons, a dry season and a rainy season. During the rainy season, tropical storms, cyclones, and hurricanes can affect the eastern part of the country.

Key People

• Fidel Castro
• Andy Garcia
• Ana De Armas
• Desi Arnaz

• 

  Cuisine

  Cuban cuisine has many influences due to the mixing of people from various countries over time. This makes the cuisine a mixture of Spanish, African, and Caribbean cuisines. Due to Cuba’s tropical climate, tropical fruits and vegetables, including plantains, mangoes, pineapples, avocados, corn, and coconut are plentiful. Ropa Vieja, which is a shredded beef stew typically served with black beans and rice.

  The picture is a picture of Arroz con pollo, a typical Cubian dish.

• 

  Sports

  Baseball is the most popular sport in Cuba. It was introduced in 1864, and the first baseball league was established in 1878. Other sports that are popular in Cuba include boxing, cricket, basketball, and volleyball. Year-round calm and warm waters make many water sports common in Cuba. Some of the most popular are scuba diving, sailing, and snorkeling.

  The picture is a picture of the Cuban National Baseball Team.

• 

  Culture

  The culture of Cuba is made up of different languages, religions, customs, and traditions. The rich culture is influenced by Spain, Africa, Europe, and the United States. The performing arts are an important aspect of Cuban culture, especially in the forms of music and dance. Religious freedom is valued in Cuba since in the years around 1959, religious Cubans were persecuted. Now, about 60% of the nation identifies as Catholic.

  The picture is a picture of people playing dominoes.

   

  Cuba is a beautiful country with wonderful people.

   

  Download questions about the Cuba here: Cuba (answers are on this page)

  For further reading and more info on the Cuba visit https://kids.kiddle.co/Cuba