Cuba country features. Cuba - description

Free economic zones were created. In 1997, there were already three SEZs operating in the country (Mariel, Vahay and the city of Havana).

Cuba exports, bringing income to its country's budget, tobacco, seafood, sugar, nickel, medical goods, coffee, and citrus fruits.

Cuba's export partners are China, Canada, Spain, and the Netherlands. China invested $500 million in the Cuban nickel industry, Brazil - the same amount in the development of Cuban hydrocarbon deposits and in the construction of a plant for the production of technical oils. A large nickel ore mining plant has been built in the province of Holguin.

The country today imports food, petroleum products, industrial equipment, and chemical products. Its import business partners are Venezuela, China, and Spain. Particularly close and productive ties in terms of the PetroCaribe oil program with Venezuela. Trade turnover between states annually reaches about $10 billion.

Since 1962, the country has introduced a card system for food distribution. The “black market” is thriving, since food cards are issued here irregularly.

Cuba has developed a system of free public services: medical care, higher, secondary education.

Since October 2010, the list of types of business activities permitted by the government has increased in the country. In 2016, private small and medium-sized businesses were legalized.

Cuban branches of government

Cuba is a socialist republic of parliamentary type. Most of the deputies in parliament today represent the Communist Party of Cuba.

The head of state is the Chairman of the State Council (who is also the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba), who exercises executive power in the country. The Chairman of the Council of Ministers, who is also the Second Secretary of the Central Committee, helps him.

The government of the Cuban state consists of two branches: the Council of Ministers and the Council of State. The ministry employs 31 ministers.

The highest authority on Liberty Island is the National Assembly of People's Power, i.e. parliament of the republic. It includes 609 deputies who are elected for 5 years. She is entrusted with forming a government and appointing the head of the State Council. The responsibilities of the Assembly also include electing the People's Supreme Court. Provincial courts are elected by the provincial assemblies of people's power, municipal courts by the municipal assemblies.

The Republic of Cuba is divided administratively into 16 provinces, which are respectively divided into 169 municipalities. Only one municipality, Juventud, is accountable to the central government; the rest are subordinate to local administrative structures.

Cuba's participation in international organizations

IN last years Having changed course in the political sphere, being squeezed by economic sanctions, Cuba became more active in influential international organizations.

The Republic is a member of the World Trade Organization and takes an active part in international agreements: the Paris Convention, the New York Convention on International Arbitration, and the Madrid Protocol. Cuba is a member of the international organization of ACP states. For decades, Cuba has been participating in social programs at the international level.

There are 57 Cuban specialists working in 101 countries, of whom 70% are health workers. One of Cuba's programs, Operation Miracle, provides affordable medical care in 16 countries to poor, seriously ill people. In 28 countries of Latin America there is a program “Yes, I can” aimed at combating illiteracy.

Whatever direction Cuba goes, the beauty of its natural landscape, the originality of its culture and the attractiveness of the Cuban mentality will remain unchanged.

The Republic of Cuba has the unofficial name of Liberty Island, and occupies the entire territory of the island of Cuba, which is part of the Greater Antilles. The history of the Republic is closely connected with political events during the cold war and the confrontation between the United States and the Russian Federation in the political arena, which is due to its favorable location and proximity to the North, South and Central parts of America.

Official name The Republic of Cuba has two versions of its origin story. Some scientists believe that this word came from the language of local Indian tribes, who called fertile lands that way. Others believe that this is what Columbus named this island at the time of its discovery, giving the island the name of a settlement with a similar name in Portugal.

Geographical characteristics

The island is located at the junction of three parts of America - North, South and Central. This is the largest island that belongs to the territory of the West Indies, and it represents most territory of the Republic. It also includes adjacent islands and coral reefs from the Greater Antilles.

In terms of territory, Cuba is quite impressive, and occupies 110,860 square kilometers, which stretch from west to east for 250 kilometers. The outline of the Republic on the map is very reminiscent of a lizard that has turned its head towards the Atlantic.

People of mixed national origin live here. When the Spaniards reached the island, it was inhabited by tribes of Indians of the Arawak group, as well as those who had recently migrated from Haiti. However, during the process of colonization, the indigenous people were practically destroyed, and most of the territory was occupied by the Spaniards and other colonizing peoples. Today the population of the state is more than 11 million people, of which only about 65% of citizens can be classified as white.

Nature

Rivers and lakes

The rivers on the territory of the Republic are not large. They are usually quite short and not very watery. More than 600 rivers or streams are found here, many of them heading north, although others flow south into the Caribbean Sea.

There are a huge number of swamps on the banks, the largest of which is called Zapata. Lakes, like rivers, are small and most often freshwater, although there are also salty lagoons. Largest lake with fresh water is called Laguna de Leche, and its waters are distinguished by a whitish milky hue, which is explained by the chalk content in the water...

Sea, bay and ocean surrounding Cuba

The southern part of the territory of the Republic is washed by the Caribbean Sea, and from the northwest the island bends around the Gulf of Mexico. The northeastern coast faces the Atlantic Ocean...

Plants and animals

More than 3,000 species of tropical fruiting plants and flowers grow in Cuba and the surrounding islands. The forests contain both deciduous and evergreen trees, and it is not uncommon to find redwood or logwood. In the mid-20th century, forest plantations were actively planted, and today more than 30% of the territory is covered with green spaces and forests...

One of the most interesting mammals in Cuba is the almost exterminated Cuban slittooth. The island is home to 23 species of bats, as well as many different rodents. Parrots and thrushes predominate among the birds, and flamingos and hummingbirds also live in large numbers.

Amphibians include alligators and a variety of lizards, including the iguana, as well as turtles and crocodiles. Among snakes there are many varieties that are non-venomous and not dangerous to humans. More than 7 thousand species of insects and 500 species of fish complement the fauna of this Republic.

Climate of Cuba

The tropical location next to the Gulf Stream and warm trade winds provides a fairly warm climate in Cuba. average temperature in January it usually does not fall below 22.5 degrees Celsius, and in August it reaches 27-28 degrees on average. From the beginning of May until October there can be quite heavy rainfalls, and in the fall the picture is complemented by hurricanes. From November to March the most favorable tourist season...

Resources

Industry and Agriculture

The subplatform areas on which the state is located consist mostly of limestone fossils. There are practically no expensive minerals in the country that could bring profit to the Cuban budget. The main types of industry are light, textile and food; heavy industry occupies a very small place in the country.

Fertile lands produce rich harvests, which is why Cuba has a fairly well-developed Agriculture. The bulk of the plantations is occupied by sugar cane, but other aspects of agricultural structures are also actively developing. Cuba supplies to the world market a large number of elite cigars and sugar, as well as nickel in quite significant quantities...

Cuba(Spanish Cuba), official name - Republic of Cuba (Spanish República de Cuba), unofficial since 1959 - Liberty Island) - Island state in the northern Caribbean. The country occupies the territory of the island of Cuba as part of the Greater Antilles, Isla Juventud and many smaller islands. Cuba is separated from North America by the Strait of Florida in the north and the Yucatan Strait in the west.

The capital and largest city is Havana.

Geographical position

Cuba is located at the junction of North, Central and South America, on the island of Cuba (the largest in the West Indies), the island of Juventud, as well as on the adjacent about 1,600 small islands and coral reefs belonging to the Greater Antilles group. The coastline is characterized by deep bays and many convenient bays. The island is framed by reefs and other coral formations.

The territory of Cuba is 111 thousand km². The island, which stretches 1,250 km from west to east, is often compared to a lizard, whose body faces the Atlantic and whose tail is at the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico. In the south, Cuba is washed by the Caribbean Sea, in the northwest by the Gulf of Mexico, and in the northeast Atlantic Ocean. The distance from Cuba to the United States at the narrowest point of the Strait of Florida is 180 km, to the island of Haiti through the Windward Strait is 77 km, to the island of Jamaica through the Strait of Colon is 140 km, to Mexico through the Yucatan Strait is 210 km.

Relief

The relief of Cuba is predominantly flat. Hills and mountains occupy about a third of the territory. Highest mountain range The Sierra Maestra stretches along the southeastern coast for 250 km. Its highest point is Turkino Peak (1972 m). The picturesque low mountains located in the west of the island are intricately dissected and sparsely populated.

In Cuba, karst is widespread, and therefore many caves, including large ones, are known. Thus, in the west, the Santo Tomas cave has an extensive network of underground galleries with a total length of 25 km. Often there are so-called “mogotes” - forms of tropical karst, which are hills with almost vertical slopes and flat tops. Approximately 2/3 of the entire area of ​​Cuba is occupied by slightly hilly plains. They are the most populated and developed. The banks are generally low, sometimes swampy, and in many cases overgrown with mangroves. Often found sandy beaches, which stretch for many kilometers (for example, on the Hicacos Peninsula, where the famous resort of Varadero is located).

Minerals

Cuba occupies one of the leading places in the world in nickel mining (2nd place in the world in reserves and 3rd in production), has significant reserves of chromium, manganese, iron and copper ores, asbestos, rock salt, and phosphorites. Oil and gas fields have been discovered in the west of the country.

Climate

The climate of Cuba is tropical, trade wind. The average annual temperature is 25.5 °C. The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is 22.5 °C and the hottest (August) is 27.8 °C. The temperature of surface waters off the coast in winter is 22-24 °C, in summer - 28-30 °C. The average annual precipitation, usually in the form of showers, is 1400 mm, but dry years often occur.

Cuba has clearly defined two climatic seasons: rainy (May-October) and dry (November-April). The rainy season accounts for 3/4 of the total annual precipitation.

A feature of Cuba's climate is its typical high humidity throughout the year. The combination of high humidity and high temperature has a generally unfavorable effect on people's lives. However, on the coast, the wind from the sea moderates the heat, brings freshness, and in the evenings, coolness. In any place, the winds are characterized by a certain constancy, so you can often see trees whose trunks have a corresponding slope.

Cuba is subject to tropical cyclones that originate in the summer-autumn period (June - mid-November) east of the Lesser Antilles and in the west of the Caribbean Sea, then moving towards Florida. Typhoons are accompanied by heavy rainfall and strong winds that can cause great damage to the economy and population of the island. The rivers in Cuba are short and shallow. Forests, covering about 10% of the territory, are preserved only in mountainous and swampy areas. Animal world sushi is relatively poor. At the same time, in the waters surrounding Cuba there are valuable commercial fish, shellfish, lobsters, shrimp, and sponges.

Administrative division

Cuba is unitary state. The national territory for political and administrative purposes is divided into 14 provinces and the special municipality of Isla Juventud.

• Juventud Island (Spanish: Isla de la Juventud)
• Pinar del Rio (Spanish: Pinar del Rio)
• Havana (Spanish: La Habana)
• City of Havana (Spanish: Ciudad de La Habana)
• Matanzas (Spanish: Matanzas) Cienfuegos (Spanish: Cienfuegos)
• Villa Clara (Spanish: Villa Clara)
• Sancti Spiritus (Spanish: Sancti Spiritus)
• Ciego de Avila (Spanish: Ciego de Avila)
• Camagüey (Spanish: Camagüey) Las Tunas (Spanish: Las Tunas)
• Granma (Spanish Granma)
• Holguin (Spanish: Holguin)
• Santiago de Cuba (Spanish: Santiago de Cuba)
• Guantanamo (Spanish: Guantanamo)

On the island of Cuba there is Railway(Cuban Railway, Spanish Ferrocarriles de Cuba), network highways. Sea and air communications have been established with other countries. Cuba's leading airline, Cubana de Aviación, has offices in 32 countries.

Connection

After Castro came to power, the development of telecommunications on the island turned out to be extremely difficult. Cuba, however, received a lot of help from the Soviet Union, which provided some resources, such as communication channels.

In 2003, there were 2 Internet providers on the island. Nationaldomain.cu.

Today there is only one operator in Cuba mobile communications- ETECSA company under the Cubacel brand. An interesting fact is that until 2008, the use of mobile communication services for ordinary residents of the country was prohibited. Only foreign citizens and senior officials of the country were allowed to use mobile communication services. After Raul Castro abolished the terms of use mobile phones in the country, the national telecom operator - ETECSA - began providing communication services for ordinary citizens on April 14, 2008. In Cuba, the GSM 900 standard is currently in use, and in some areas of Havana and the resort of Varadero - GSM 850.

Population

Cubans are a people of mixed origin. By the time the Spaniards arrived here, Cuba was inhabited by tribes of Sibones, Arawak Indians, Guanahanabeys and Indians who migrated from Haiti. But as a result of Spanish colonization, the Indians were mostly exterminated.

Since the Spanish colonists needed a lot of labor, primarily to work on plantations, they began to import slaves from central Africa (mainly Yoruba, Ashanti, Ewe, Congo). Over 350 years, the Spaniards imported more than 1 million African slaves, their descendants make up 40% of the population. For the same reason, more than 125,000 Chinese were imported from Asia between 1853 and 1874. To this day, “China Town” has been preserved in Havana. In addition, Indian slaves were imported, but in small quantities, from Yucatan, Central and South America. During the same period, 850,000 immigrants arrived from Spain, mostly Galicians, Castilians, Navarreans, and Catalans, although it should be noted that not all of them remained to live in Cuba. They are collectively called Gallego (Galicians). From the end of the 18th century. a large influx of French from Haiti and Louisiana also arrived here. There was also a fairly intense flow of immigrants from Germany, Italy and Britain. At the beginning of the 20th century, many Americans settled in Cuba and created their own colonies on the island. Pinos (presently Isle of Juventud). There were very strong waves of immigration to Cuba during and after the First and Second World Wars, primarily Jews moving here.

Data about racial composition Cubes are contradictory. According to official data, the population of Cuba consists of whites - 65.1%, mulattoes - 24.8%, blacks - 10.1% (according to the 2002 census). According to the Institute of Cuban Studies at the University of Miami, 68% of Cubans are black or mulatto. Minority rights group International says 51% of the population is mulatto.

In 1953, the proportion of the white population was 84%, but then decreased, mainly as a result of emigration after the revolution.

Story

The first European to arrive here was Columbus, who landed in the east of the archipelago in October 1492. In 1511, Diego Velazquez de Cuellar subjugated the indigenous population of the islands, built Fort Baracoa and became the first Spanish governor of Cuba. By 1514, seven settlements had been founded. In 1515, Cuellar moved his headquarters to Santiago de Cuba, which became the first capital of Cuba. Colonization took place in the context of a struggle with the indigenous population of the island - the Taino Indians, who made up 75% of the population.
In 1823, the first uprising for independence was suppressed.
In 1868, the Ten Years' War for Cuban Independence began; The rebels were supported by the US. Hostilities reached their climax in 1872–1873, but then the rebels fought only in the eastern provinces of Camagüey and Oriente. In 1878, a peace agreement was signed that eliminated the most unpleasant legislative acts for the inhabitants of the island.
In 1895, a detachment of Cuban patriots under the leadership of Jose Marti landed in Cuba. This event became the starting point of a new war with the Spanish, during which the Cubans achieved control over almost the entire territory of the island, excluding large cities (see War of Cuban Independence).
In 1898, the United States went to war with Spain, which it won. Cuba becomes dependent on the United States. The Constitution stipulated the right of the United States to send troops into the country. This clause was repealed in 1934.
In 1933, as a result of a coup organized by revolutionaries led by Sergeant Fulgencio Batista, dictator Gerardo Machado y Morales was overthrown and a democratic regime was established.
On March 10, 1952, Fulgencio Batista carried out a coup d'etat and established a personal dictatorship.
On July 26, 1953, a group of revolutionaries led by Fidel Castro attempted to seize the Moncada barracks. The attempt was unsuccessful, and the participants in the assault ended up in prison, but this event became the starting point of the Cuban Revolution. In 1955, the revolutionaries were granted amnesty. On December 2, 1956, a new group of revolutionaries disembarked from the yacht Granma in the east of the island and began military operations against the Batista government.
On January 1, 1959, dictator Batista fled Cuba. At this point, rebel forces occupied the city of Santa Clara in the center of the island and controlled large swathes of terrain to the east, although the capital was not in immediate danger and Batista still had significant military forces at his disposal. In the conditions of the power vacuum that arose as a result of Batista's flight, on January 8, a column of rebels entered Havana, where they were greeted with popular jubilation.

As a result of the victory of the revolution, power in Cuba was given to a left-wing government headed by Fidel Castro, which then leaned towards the construction of socialism and is in power to the present day. The country's ruling and only permitted party is the Communist Party of Cuba. The government of Fidel Castro carried out agrarian reform, nationalized industrial assets, and launched broad social reforms, which alienated many groups of the population; the result of the process was the mass emigration of the dissatisfied, mainly to the United States, where a large diaspora of opponents of Castro and his policies was created.
In April 1961, Cuban emigrants, with the active support of the United States, landed armed troops on south coast islands with the goal of organizing a mass protest against the policies of the new government in the future, but the intervention was quickly stopped, and the expected social explosion never happened. Subsequently, emigrant organizations repeatedly organized terrorist attacks and small-scale landings on Cuba, but without much results.

From the early 1960s to the early 1990s, Cuba was an ally of the USSR, which provided significant financial, economic and political support, actively supported Marxist rebels and Marxist regimes in Latin America (Puerto Rico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama, Bolivia, Peru , Brazil, Argentina, Chile), Africa (Ethiopia, Angola) and Asia, and also pursued a policy of providing humanitarian assistance to various countries of the world. In the late 1980s, more than 70 thousand Cubans were abroad as part of military and humanitarian missions.

Immediately with the 1959 revolution, political repression began (see repression during the reign of Castro), primarily directed against figures from the overthrown regime of dictator Batista and CIA agents.

Castro had a negative attitude towards the policy of perestroika in the USSR and even banned the distribution of a number of Soviet publications in Cuba (Moscow News, New Time, etc.), and at the same time supported Gorbachev’s main opponent, Yeltsin. According to Yeltsin’s memoirs, Castro expressed sympathy for him both during the years of disgrace and later, after he came to power, despite the obvious anti-socialist nature of the reforms in Russia.

With the collapse of the USSR, Cuba suffered huge economic losses (up to half of GDP), and analysts predicted the imminent fall of the Castro government, but by 1994 the situation had largely stabilized, and the country's economic condition international organizations is currently assessed as quite satisfactory.

On February 19, 2008, through the Granma newspaper, Fidel Castro announced his resignation as Chairman of the State Council and Commander-in-Chief of the Cuban forces. “To my dear fellow citizens, who have given me the immeasurable honor of electing me as a member of Parliament, in which the most important decisions for the fate of the revolution will be made, I inform you that I do not intend and will not give my consent to take the post of Chairman of the State Council and Commander-in-Chief,” it says in circulation.

Observers have some concerns about the political stability of Cuba regarding the process of transfer of power from Fidel Castro to his heirs.

State structure

Public administration is a republic. The legislative branch is a unicameral parliament (National Assembly).

Executive power belongs to the Chairman of the State Council (head of state) and the Chairman of the Council of Ministers (head of government).

Economy

Advantages: The tourism industry attracts foreign investors. Export of sugar and nickel. Elite cigars. The banking sector is strengthening.

Weaknesses: Due to the US embargo, lack of access to important markets and investments. Acute shortage of foreign currency. Fluctuations in world prices for sugar and nickel. Complicated trade restrictions and lack of legal regulations hinder investment. Poor infrastructure. Shortage of fuel, fertilizers and spare parts. Hurricane damage in 2001

There are different points of view regarding the level of development of Cuba before the revolution. According to a number of sources, in terms of GNP per capita, Cuba was ahead of Spain and Japan at that time. Robin Blackburn also wrote that Cuba was one of the richest countries in the underdeveloped category. Professor Maurice Halperin, who worked in Cuba immediately after the revolution, objected to the application of the term “underdeveloped” to pre-revolutionary Cuba, which, in his words, caused false associations with truly backward countries, and proposed calling it “moderately developed.” On the other hand, the Groningen Growth and Development Center, having conducted its own retrospective calculations using a special methodology, obtained data stating that Cuba in 1958 was inferior to these countries and a number of Latin American countries.

According to statistics, in 1951 in Cuba there were 122 thousand cars for a population of 5.5 million, that is, 1 car for 41 people. At the same time, according to the authors of the Area Handbook for Cuba, “all this, as a fact, does not matter at all, since there were de facto two Cubas, in one the elite lived beautifully and comfortably, and in the other the most necessary things for life were not available "

In 1960, a massive nationalization of the private sector was carried out. Currently, Cuba has one of the most nationalized economies in the world. In the second half of the 1960s. the government has attempted to abandon central planning in favor of sectoral planning and is moving toward experiments involving moral incentives and widespread use of free forced labor. Falling production levels and avoidance of forced labor forced a return to Soviet-style central planning. In the 1970s - 80s. With the help of the countries of the socialist bloc, the basis of the industry is being created in Cuba.

After the collapse of the USSR, there was a reduction in purchases of Cuban sugar and the cessation of economic assistance. For 1989-1993 Cuba's GDP fell by a third. Economic collapse was avoided by opening the country to foreign capital in industry and tourism.

Venezuela (Hugo Chavez is a personal friend of Fidel Castro) provides Cuba with cheap oil; Cuba provides Venezuela with medical assistance.

According to official data, in 2006 GDP growth was 12.5%. According to the CIA directory, in 2007 real GDP growth was 7%.

The main sector of the Cuban economy is the sugar industry. The capacity of Cuba's sugar factories is capable of processing 670 thousand tons of sugar cane per day (production of 9-9.5 million tons of sugar per year). In the past, the industry developed extensively thanks to the support of the CMEA.

The Cuban government is creating free economic zones (FEZ) in order to attract foreign investment. In 1996, a law was adopted on the procedure for the creation and functioning of free economic zones. The validity period of the concession for the right to operate in the SEZ is 50 years. In 1997, three SEZs began operating (Mariel, Havana City and Vahay).

Exports ($3.8 billion in 2008) - sugar, nickel, tobacco, seafood, medical products, citrus fruits, coffee. The main export partners are China (28%), Canada (25%), Spain (6%), the Netherlands (5%), Iran (4%).

In November 2004, during a visit to Cuba by Chinese President Hu Jintao, an agreement was reached that China would invest $500 million in the Cuban nickel industry. In January 2008, Brazilian President Lula da Silva and the head of the state oil company Petrobras, Jose Sergio Gabrielli, who visited Cuba, announced their intention to invest $500 million in the exploration of Cuban hydrocarbon deposits in the Gulf of Mexico and the construction of a plant for the production of technical oils in Cuba.

Cuba imports ($14.5 billion in 2008) petroleum products, food, industrial equipment, chemical products. The main import partners are Venezuela (31.5%), China (11.8%), Spain (10.6%), Canada (6.7%), USA (6.6%).

The Cuban banking system consists of the Central Bank, 8 commercial banks, 13 non-banking financial institutions, 13 representative offices of foreign banks and 4 representative offices of foreign financial institutions. There are 2 types of currency in Cuba. Citizens of Cuba receive black and white Cuban pesos, foreigners receive colored (convertible) pesos when exchanging currency. Western means mass media reported on currency fraud by the top Cuban leadership and the F. Castro family.

Since 1962, a card system has been in effect in Cuba; products are issued according to the same standards for the entire country. According to Cuban experts, the population currently receives from 40 to 54 percent of the minimum required calories from food distributed on ration cards. Milk is provided free of charge by the state to children under 6 years of age or purchased by the population at the market. Throughout the post-revolutionary years, a black market existed in Cuba. A number of goods, the distribution of which by cards is carried out irregularly or are intended only for beneficiaries, are still purchased on the black market.

In 2008, residents of Cuba were allowed to buy Cell Phones, computers and DVD players, as well as 19- and 24-inch TVs, electric pressure cookers and electric bicycles, car alarms and microwave ovens (but only for convertible currency). About 100 thousand cars are registered in the country, of which 60 thousand are old American cars that were on the island before the revolution.

According to the BBC, there is an increase in prostitution and corruption in Cuba. The average monthly salary in Cuba is $12, but there are many government benefits. For example, free clothing is provided to workers. There is a system of free medical care and free higher and secondary education.

Foreign policy

Panama

August 23, 2004 - President of Panama Mireya Moscoso announced the recall of the Panamanian ambassador from Cuba in response to the warning issued by the Cuban Foreign Ministry on August 22 about its readiness to sever diplomatic relations with Panama if its authorities amnestied the criminals who were preparing an assassination attempt on Fidel Castro. At the same time, the President of Panama noted that the recall of the Panamanian ambassador from Havana does not mean a severance of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
August 25, 2004 - Cuban Ambassador to Panama Carlos Zamora, at the request of the Panamanian authorities, left for his homeland. Before leaving, he made a statement to the press in which he noted that “Cuba considers it its duty to achieve exemplary punishment for the terrorists” who were preparing the assassination attempt on Fidel Castro. In March 2004, the Supreme Court of Panama sentenced six conspirators detained in Panama in 2000 to prison terms. The new President of Panama, Martin Torrijos, who takes office on September 1, expressed the hope that the Panama-Cuban conflict would be resolved on the basis of mutual “respect and common sense."

Russia

From the very beginning of the revolution in Cuba, the attitude of the CPSU leadership towards Liberty Island was ambiguous, in some ways similar to the position regarding the SFRY. First, neither the Castro brothers nor their associates were formally Leninists. Their theoretical basis was limited to the legacy of Marx and Engels. Secondly, among other things, Cuba, in principle, was not part of the military blocs. Highly valuing freedom, Cuba, starting from the Belgrade Conference (Yugoslavia, September 1-6, 1961), was one of the most active participants in the Non-Aligned Movement. It joined the CMEA only in 1972.

January 21, 1964 - The USSR and Cuba signed a Long-term Agreement on the supply of sugar to the USSR.

Relations between Cuba and Russia changed after the collapse of the USSR, which was caused, in part, by the cessation of economic aid to Cuba and the reduction of the Soviet (Russian) military presence on the island. Soviet military bases were established here in the early 1960s. Their existence was based on an agreement between the Soviet and American leadership reached after the Caribbean crisis in 1962. In 2001, the last Russian military base in Cuba was closed, and all remaining Russian troops were withdrawn from Liberty Island. Recently, starting in November 2008, there has been a revival of interest in building relations between Russia and Cuba of an economic, political, scientific and social nature.

The United States owns the Guantanamo Bay military base in Cuba. Military base Guantanamo is located in southeastern Cuba, occupied by the United States under a 1901 treaty that Cuban authorities later abandoned. In January 2002, a prison for suspects of international terrorism was created at the base, where the first 20 people accused of participating in hostilities on the side of the Taliban were brought from Afghanistan.

The United States imposed an embargo on Cuba in 1961, any ties with Cuba were prohibited, US sanctions against Cuba continue to be in force as of 2008; this blockade is regularly condemned by the UN General Assembly.

However, now the US share of Cuban imports is 6.6% (in 2008).

In 1962, the US Department of Defense planned Operation Northwoods, the purpose of which was to prepare American public opinion for an armed invasion of Cuba and overthrow the government of Fidel Castro. The operation was part of Operation Mongoose, developed by the US government on the initiative of President John F. Kennedy, directed against Cuba, and involved the implementation of terrorist acts with imaginary and/or real victims in the United States, Cuba and other countries, including hijacking aircraft, simulating hostile actions under a false flag, state-sponsored acts of terror. However, Kennedy rejected the project.

In 2001, the United States was sentenced to long periods imprisonment of five Cuban agents (“Cuban Five”). According to them, they conveyed information about impending terrorist attacks against Cuba.

In 2006, a committee was created at the US State Department whose task is to develop US policy towards Cuba in the event of the death of Fidel Castro.

Participation in international organizations

Cuba is a member of the WTO and the World Customs Organization. Takes part in international agreements - the New York Convention on International Arbitration, the Paris Convention and the Madrid Protocol.

Healthcare

On the eve of the revolution, there were 6 thousand doctors in Cuba, that is, 1 doctor per 1000 people, which was equal to the figures in France. However, unlike developed countries, Cuba did not have a health insurance system or cheap or free social healthcare. Therefore, for example, the infant mortality rate was 100-110 per 1000, which corresponded to the level of the most backward countries Western Europe- Spain and pre-war Italy.

Immediately after the revolution, about 3 thousand doctors left the country. However, this deficiency was compensated for by the organization of the medical education system.

Currently, the Cuban health care system is considered one of the best in the world and has extensive primary health care and scientific development programs. According to a 2009 CIA estimate, the average life expectancy in Cuba is 77.45 years. Cuba has the lowest infant mortality rate among Latin American countries. All types of medical care are free.

Budget spending on health care (2004): 5.5% of GDP.

Education

Cuba has a traditionally high educational level of the population. Since the beginning of the 20th century, there has been a system of state free 9-grade elementary education for children from 6 to 14 years old (the ninth grade was optional, the rest are compulsory). In 1932, 90% of school-age children attended elementary schools (state and church). In 1951, illiterates accounted for 22% of the adult population, which was lower than in Spain and pre-war Italy.

In 1961, a massive literacy campaign began. As a result, in 1980 the number of illiterate people was only 2%, and in 1990 Cuba became a country of complete literacy. A public secondary and higher school was created. During the 60s, the number of students doubled (from 717 thousand to 1.5 million) with a population growth of 1-2% per year. In total, counting all stages of education, the number of people covered by them has tripled.

Cuba currently has compulsory nine-grade education (the average is 12-grade education). There are 50 centers of higher education. Education at all levels is free.

The main educational institution of the country is the University of Havana, located in different parts of the capital. Until 1999, Russian was taught there as the main foreign language (faculty of the Pais brothers). The work of this faculty was supervised by the Moscow State University Center for Education. After 1999, English became such a language. Other universities in Cuba: Agricultural University of Havana.

Budget spending on education (2002-05): 9% of GDP.

Culture

Painting

Independent Cuban painting emerged only at the end of the 19th century. In the 1930s, artists who visited Europe became acquainted with modern artistic movements there and brought them to Cuba. Thus, Marcelo Pogolotti used cubism to create images on themes related to the poverty of the Cuban people. The most famous Cuban artist, Wifredo Lam, painted in a surrealist style. Mario Carreno was greatly influenced by the work of Mexican muralists. Jorge Arche is known for his portraits, which are similar in style to the work of other Latin American artists of the 1930s.

The science

Illiteracy was virtually eliminated in Cuba in 1961. Education here is free at all levels - from primary school to higher education. educational institutions- and compulsory until the end of nine grades. All graduates of primary, secondary, high school and technical schools are guaranteed the opportunity to continue their studies, and graduates of higher educational institutions are guaranteed the right to work. Since 1959 higher education in Cuba has become accessible to everyone. There are currently about 700,000 people in the country with higher education. Out of every seven Cuban workers, one has a university degree.

There are about 9,500 primary schools, about 2,000 secondary and 48 higher education institutions in the country. The school is considered a basic cultural institution.

There are more than 170 research institutes in Cuba.

After the victory of the Revolution, to this day in Cuba, about 630 thousand people have graduated from higher educational institutions in various specialties, and millions have received secondary education. The illiteracy rate (among the population aged ten years and over) is 3.8 percent.

There are 1,115 kindergartens in the country, attended by 145.1 thousand children. 135 thousand working mothers use the services of kindergartens.

The total number of primary school students is 1,028,900; children of secondary school students are 778 thousand; students of higher educational institutions - 127 thousand. The system of secondary and higher evening and correspondence education covers more than 100 thousand people.

There are 9,487 primary schools, 1,943 secondary schools and 48 higher education institutions in Cuba. There are a total of 17.8 teachers for every thousand inhabitants. 9 percent of GDP is allocated for education. The country allocates significant funds for scientific research, in particular related to human health, in the field of biotechnology and genetic engineering, the production of vaccines and numerous medicines; the results of these studies have received universal recognition. All this became possible thanks to the existence of significant human resources, including highly qualified specialists trained within the national education system.

Cuba also ranks 4-5 among Latin American countries (and 51 in the world) according to the UN classification in terms of Human Development.

Religion

In Cuba, church and state are separated, and the Cuban Constitution guarantees the population freedom of religion. The most common religion is Catholic.

Despite the peculiarities of socialism as a socio-political system that has dominated the country for many decades, Cubans are quite religious. Even members of the Cuban Communist Party are not prohibited from attending churches. Catholic churches exist throughout the country. Even after the victory of the revolution, masses are celebrated daily and solemn services are held on national or local religious holidays.

With the arrival of black slaves on the island, various beliefs of African origin spread. Over time, three main movements emerged from them, existing and popular to this day. These are Regla de Ocha (Spanish: Regla de Ocha) or Santeria (Spanish: Santeria), Las Reglas de Palo (Spanish: Las Reglas de Palo) and La Sociedad Secreta Abakua (Spanish: La Sociedad Secreta Abacua). As a result of the historical process, a mixture of Catholic dogmas and African cults also formed. For example, the Most Pure Virgin of Mercy from Cobre is considered by Catholics to be the patroness of Cuba. In Santeria she goes by the name Ochun.

In recent years, Protestant churches have begun to appear, especially in the provinces.

Sport

Sports in Cuba are available to everyone and this mass nature allows them to constantly replenish national teams in various sports, which brought little Caribbean island important world and Olympic awards. Cuba is the birthplace of world famous athletes. Among the sports that stand out are baseball, boxing, athletics and volleyball.

Armed forces

The Cuban Army (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias - FAR) is the main armed formation of Cuba, ensuring its national defense.

The Cuban Constitution specifies that the country's president is the supreme commander in chief and determines the structure of its army.

The Cuban Army includes the following units:
Ground troops
Navy
Air Force and Air Defense.

The Cuban army is under the leadership of Commander-in-Chief Raul Castro.

The Liberty Island daily newspaper Granma bears the name of the yacht of the same name, on which a group of revolutionaries led by Fidel Castro landed in Cuba to carry out guerrilla warfare against the Batista regime. The newspaper is the official conductor and popularizer of the policies pursued by the Communist Party of Cuba (CPC). Once a week on English language Granma Internacional is released. Also, the Cuban press is represented by such publications devoted to the problems of economics, tourism, finance, culture, politics, such as “Opciones”, “Bohemia”, “Juventud Rebelde”, “Trabajadores”.

CUBA

This is the most big Island in the West Indies and one of the largest islands in the world. The official name is the Republic of Cuba, the unofficial name since 1959 is Liberty Island. The country occupies the territory of the island of Cuba as part of the Greater Antilles, Isla Juventud and many smaller islands. According to its history, culture, language and customs, Cuba is part of the countries of Latin America and Caribbean. The capital and largest city is Havana.

The administrative and political system of the Republic of Cuba is made up of 14 provinces, which are located in the direction from west to east in the following order: Pinar del Rio, Havana, Havana City, Matanzas, Cienfuegos, Villa Clara, Sancti Spiritus, Ciego de Avila , Camagüey, Las Tunas, Holguin, Granma, Santiago de Cuba and Guantanamo Bay. South of the province of Havana is a Special Municipality: Isla Juventud.

The territory of Cuba is 111 thousand km². The island, which stretches 1,250 km from west to east, is often compared to a lizard, shaped like a crocodile, a long, narrow island with its body facing the Atlantic and its tail at the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico. In the south, Cuba is washed by the Caribbean Sea, in the northwest by the Gulf of Mexico, and in the northeast by the Atlantic Ocean. The distance from Cuba to the United States at the narrowest point of the Strait of Florida is 180 km, to the island of Haiti through the Windward Strait is 77 km, to the island of Jamaica through the Colon Strait is 140 km, to Mexico through the Yucatan Strait is 210 km.

The relief of Cuba is predominantly flat. Hills and mountains occupy about a third of the territory. The highest mountain range, the Sierra Maestra, stretches along the southeastern coast for 250 km. Its highest point is Turkino Peak (1972 m).

The picturesque low mountains located in the west of the island are intricately dissected and sparsely populated.

Cuba has a pleasant subtropical climate with mild northeast trade winds. The average annual temperature is 25.5 °C. The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is 22.5 °C and the hottest (August) is 27.8 °C. The temperature of surface waters off the coast in winter is 22-24 °C, in summer - 28-30 °C. The average annual precipitation, usually in the form of showers, is 1400 mm, but dry years often occur.

Cuba has clearly defined two climatic seasons: rainy (May-October) and dry (November-April). The rainy season accounts for 3/4 of the total annual precipitation.

High humidity persists throughout the year. The combination of high humidity and high temperature has a generally unfavorable effect on people's lives. However, on the coast, the wind from the sea moderates the heat, brings freshness, and in the evenings, coolness. In any place, the winds are characterized by a certain constancy, so you can often see trees whose trunks have a corresponding slope.

Cuba is exposed to tropical cyclones, which originate in the summer-autumn period (June - mid-November) east of the Lesser Antilles and in the west of the Caribbean Sea, then moving towards Florida. Typhoons are accompanied by heavy rainfall and strong winds that can cause great damage to the economy and population of the island.

Forests in Cuba, covering about 10% of the territory, are preserved only in mountainous and swampy areas. The rivers are short and not high in water. The fauna of the land is relatively poor. At the same time, in the waters surrounding Cuba there are valuable commercial fish, shellfish, lobsters, shrimp, and sponges.

The coastline is characterized by deep bays and many convenient bays. The island is framed by reefs and other coral formations. A large expanse of coral with a distance of more than 10 km and a depth of 10 to 30 m, where the integrity of marine ecosystems is reflected in the richness and diversity of fish, creating the feeling of being inside a huge aquarium. The average daily water temperature throughout the year is 24°C.

In Cuba, karst is widespread, and therefore many caves, including large ones, are known. Thus, in the west, the Santo Tomas cave has an extensive network of underground galleries with a total length of 25 km. Often there are so-called “mogotes” - forms of tropical karst, which are hills with almost vertical slopes and flat tops. Approximately 2/3 of the entire area of ​​Cuba is occupied by slightly hilly plains. They are the most populated and developed. The banks are generally low, sometimes swampy, and in many cases overgrown with mangroves. There are often sandy beaches that stretch for many kilometers (for example, on the Hicacos Peninsula, where the famous resort of Varadero is located).

Cuba is one of the leading countries in the world in nickel mining (2nd place in the world in reserves and 3rd in production), has significant reserves of chromium, manganese, iron and copper ores, asbestos, rock salt, and phosphorites. Oil and gas fields have been discovered in the west of the country.

The island of Cuba has a railway and a network of roads. Sea and air communications have been established with other countries. Cuba's leading airline, Cubana de Aviacion, has offices in 32 countries.

Cuba is not only sun and beaches, not only nature, not only traditions and music; Cuba is its people and history... Cubans are a people of mixed origin. By the time the Spaniards arrived here, Cuba was inhabited by tribes of Sibones, Arawak Indians, Guanahanabeys and Indians who migrated from Haiti. But as a result of Spanish colonization, the Indians were mostly exterminated.

The history of Cuba is amazing, beautiful and tragic at the same time. This definition can be applied to any period of Cuban history.

The Spanish colonists needed a lot of labor, primarily to work on the plantations; they began to import slaves from central Africa (mainly Yoruba, Ashanti, Ewe, Congo). Over 350 years, the Spaniards imported more than 1 million African slaves, their descendants make up 40% of the population. For the same reason, more than 125,000 Chinese were imported from Asia between 1853 and 1874. To this day, “China Town” has been preserved in Havana. In addition, Indian slaves were imported, but in small quantities, from Yucatan, Central and South America. During the same period, 850,000 immigrants arrived from Spain, mostly Galicians, Castilians, Navarreans, and Catalans, although it should be noted that not all of them remained to live in Cuba. They are collectively called Gallego (Galicians). From the end of the 18th century. a large influx of French from Haiti and Louisiana also arrived here. There was also a fairly intense flow of immigrants from Germany, Italy and Britain. At the beginning of the 20th century, many Americans settled in Cuba and created their own colonies on the island. Pinos (presently Isle of Juventud). There were very strong waves of immigration to Cuba during and after the First and Second World Wars, primarily Jews moving here.

Today, the population of Cuba consists of whites - 65.1%, mulattoes - 24.8%, blacks - 10.1% (according to the 2002 census). In 1953, the proportion of the white population was 84%, but then decreased, mainly as a result of emigration after the revolution.

Today, the Cuban health care system is considered one of the best in the world and has extensive primary health care and scientific development programs. Cuba has the lowest infant mortality rate in Latin America. All types of medical care are free.

In Cuba, the educational level of the population is quite high. Illiteracy was virtually eliminated in Cuba in 1961. Education here is free at all levels - from primary school to higher education institutions.

Cubans are quite religious and the Cuban Constitution guarantees the population freedom of religion. Even members of the Cuban Communist Party are not prohibited from visiting churches. The most common religion is Catholic. Churches exist all over the country.

When black slaves arrived on the island, various beliefs of African origin spread. As a result of the historical process, a mixture of Catholic dogmas and African cults also formed. For example, the Most Pure Virgin of Mercy from Cobre is considered by Catholics to be the patroness of Cuba. In Santeria she goes by the name Ochun.

In recent years, Protestant churches have begun to appear, especially in the provinces.

The religion of Islam in Cuba is not very widespread, noticeably inferior to Christianity and atheism.

Liberty Island is valuable for its original life, infused with history and centuries-old traditions, felt in everything: in the five-century-old fortresses, in the dignified faces of Cuban elders, and in the unambiguous goodwill towards everyone who comes to this country.

Cuba is sun and sea, colors and aromas... it is fun and warmth, it is the exoticism of nature and the originality of urban architecture. Cuba is its people, the perfect place to experience the Caribbean. This is the magical world of its towns and villages, full of hidden wonders. She invites you to share with her her adventures, myths, legends and everyday life, enhanced by the extraordinary attractiveness of nature, culture and tourism opportunities, not least of which are more than 300 natural beaches, unique in the purity and transparency of the water, the beauty and virginity of the coastal islands and the preservation seabed.

Cuba is living proof of the axiom: those who have something to give give.

General information

The Republic of Cuba is a state and the largest island in the Greater Antilles archipelago. The territory of the Republic of Cuba is 110,861 square meters. km. Cuba is the only socialist state in the Western Hemisphere. Administratively, Cuba (since 1976) is divided into 14 provinces.

Geographical location, nature

The Republic of Cuba is located in the Caribbean Sea, between North and South America and is the gateway to the Gulf of Mexico. The length of the island from west to east is 1200 km. Neighboring countries- Haiti, Jamaica, Florida, Mexico. The Cuban archipelago includes the island of Cuba - the largest in the Antilles, the island of Juventud (Youth Island, former Pinos Island) and 4195 small islands and islets. With such a long coastal strip, Cuba has 289 natural beaches bestowed by nature on this tropical country. The area of ​​the Republic of Cuba is 111,000 sq. km. The most high point- Pico Real del Turquino - 1,974 m.

Fauna. A characteristic feature of the Cuban fauna is the complete absence of animals that are poisonous or dangerous to humans. Polymites - mollusks found exclusively in Cuba - are distinguished by their bizarre and eye-catching shell colors. Cuba is home to the sunsuncito, or fly bird, the smallest bird in the world, and the tocororo, the country's national bird. Cuban forests abound in songbirds. About 900 species of fish can be found in the sea, most of them edible. The most valuable of them are pagr, sawfish and blue marlin. Shrimp, crab and lobster are also highly prized.

Flora. The Cuban flora is very rich and extremely diverse. The number of plant species significantly exceeds eight thousand. A characteristic element of the Cuban landscape is the royal palm, depicted on the coat of arms of the republic. The national tree of Cuba is the Jagruma, and the Mariposa is its national flower.

Undersea world. Cuba is a paradise for fishermen, scuba divers, biologists and underwater photographers. The fresh and salt waters of the island are home to about 900 species of animals and fish, including dolphin, barracuda, tuna, stingray, swordfish, moray eel and shark. The latter, frankly, never caused any trouble to vacationers. Here they are small and you still need to look for them. Meetings with them are extremely rare. Warm waters are especially loved by jellyfish, octopuses and sea turtles. Oysters and lobsters are objects of industrial and tourist fishing. The greatest pleasure will be given to you by lobsters with their magnificent coral palette and very tasty and tender meat. At the depths you can see black corals. The seabed is strewn with a wide variety of shells. It is officially prohibited to fish with a harpoon in Cuba. But making an agreement through a guide or directly with the boat crew is not a big problem. Officially with you Boat trip and it is better not to show off your naval guns before sailing.

Capital, largest cities

The largest city in Cuba, much larger than the rest in population, is the capital of the country, Havana (2.1 million inhabitants in 1989), where more than 20% of the country's total population lives. Other large cities are Santiago de Cuba (406 thousand people), Camagüey (283 thousand people), Holguin (228 thousand people), Guantanamo (201 thousand people) and Santa Clara (195 thousand people).

Weather and Climate

The climate of Cuba is very favorable, since the island does not have such humidity as in countries with a typical tropical climate, and the heat is moderated by the constantly blowing winds from the ocean. There are no animals dangerous to humans here, and countless fish, birds, and shellfish become not only a delicacy for gourmets, but also the subject of fishing and hunting (including underwater). The temperature is almost the same all year round, on average it is 250C in winter and 28-300C in summer. In Cuba, there is rather not a winter and a summer, but a dry and wet season. The heat in the dry season (autumn-winter) is well tolerated, it is even pleasant, which cannot be said about the rainy season (spring-summer), since it is quite humid at this time; not often, but it rains and there is very bright, dazzling sun. Relative humidity 81%. Average temperature - +25.

Population

In 1993 – 10,978 thousand people; in December 1997 the population was estimated at 11,094 thousand people.

Culture. In Cuba there are 247 museums, 53 theaters, 354 libraries, 129 art galleries, 350 bookstores, 278 cultural centers.

When Alejo Carpentier, the greatest novelist and, perhaps, the most famous Cuban writer in the world, was asked about the origin of the inhabitants of this land, he answered: “We all got off the ships.”

The conquistadors arrived from Spain on ships across the seas and oceans and in a short period of time almost completely destroyed the indigenous population, who became victims of arquebuses, merciless diseases and backbreaking labor. river banks in search of gold that never appeared. In return work force The indigenous inhabitants of the island were forcibly brought to Cuba in the holds of slave ships, thousands and thousands of slaves from the African coast of the Gulf of Guinea, from Old Calabar and the Mayombe jungle, who, under the dictates of the whip, ensured the development of the country's sugar economy. In the mid-19th century, Chinese coolies arrived by ship, and shortly before that, French settlers settled in the eastern part of the countries, fleeing through the Windward Strait separating Cuba and Haiti from Toussaint L'Ouverture's revolution.

Then ships with Canarian peasants began to arrive on the island, ready to grow aromatic tobacco and tropical fruits; Arabs and Jews took up urban trade; enterprising Spaniards mixed with the population of Cuba through marriage and extramarital affairs, which led to the emergence of mestizos. Yucatan Indians, artisans and soldiers from the recently liberated American republics, and even Japanese, Americans and Swedes, united in small agricultural communities, settled here. However, out of all this diversity arose a unity - the concept of nation and nationality, which was gradually defined and finally tempered in the crucible of the struggle for liberation from the colonial yoke. Mixed blood and common aspirations created a unique basis, a special vision of the world, in a word, their own culture. One of the most prominent Cuban thinkers, Don Fernando Ortiz, studied this process and called it transculturation.

If we were to define the essence of Cuban culture, we would have to take into account two main elements: its integrative orientation and its universal vocation. These elements do not exist one without the other.

At the dawn of the nation, in the first decades of the 19th century, the most refined poet of the time sang not only the palm trees, a typical element of our landscape, but also the grandeur of Teocali at Cholula, a monument of pre-Columbian Aztec architecture, and the mighty Niagara Falls in North America. The most universal of all Cubans was the poet José Martí, a man of exceptional personal and social sensitivity. Life of a wanderer - Spain, Mexico, Venezuela, Guatemala.

Sport. Today, Cuba is a sports power thanks to its policy of mass participation in sports various types sports, starting from school.

During the Olympic Games in July 1996, Cuba finished eighth out of 197 participating countries, leaving behind large, wealthy developed countries.

Cuba won 9 gold medals, eight silver and the same number of bronze. She became a winner in boxing and in team sports such as baseball and volleyball (women), as well as in judo, weightlifting and classical wrestling.

During the 7th World Athletics Championships, organized in Seville, Spain, in August 1999, Cuba took sixth place, ahead of dozens of more developed and populous countries.

Cuban athletes constantly occupy high places at the Central American and Caribbean Games and confirmed this at the last games held in Maracaibo, Venezuela, in August 98, where they won 191 gold medals.

At the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Cuba, having received 157 medals, including 70 gold, took second place, beating Canada, the country where the games were held.

Currently, hundreds of Cuban coaches and specialists work in dozens of countries, in some of which athletes have already significantly improved their performance and achieved success in scientific disciplines related to sports.

Cuba - medicine. The infant mortality rate in Cuba is one of the lowest in the world: 7.2 for every thousand births. The life expectancy of Cubans today is 74.7 years.

Now, in the first months after birth, all children receive vaccinations against 12 diseases: polio, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, tuberculosis, typhoid, measles, rubella, mumps, meningitis B and C and hepatitis B.

In Cuba, there are 6.7 hospital beds for every thousand inhabitants. Among the advanced medical specialties in Cuba, cardiology should be highlighted - the country has highly qualified specialists and excellent medical institutions in this field. Not only heart and lung transplant operations have received scientific recognition, but also a new method for installing pacemakers, the number of which exceeds 6 thousand. The rapid growth in international demand for health tourism in Cuba over the past five years can only be explained by its beneficial effects on patients who came here for help - namely, a complete cure or radical relief of their ailments. The ever-expanding health tourism in Cuba is now being enjoyed by visitors from approximately 70 countries on almost all continents.

The official language is Spanish. However, hotel staff will answer you in English, German, Italian.

In Cuba, the church is separated from the state, and the population is guaranteed freedom of religion. The most common religion is Catholic; there are many churches here that are of great architectural and artistic value - this is the Havana Cathedral, Church of the Holy Angel and others, in which all relevant religious ceremonies are performed. However, it should be noted that the Afro-Cuban religion also has deep roots here, which was the result of a mixture of African cults brought to Cuba by slaves with the Catholicism of the Spanish colonialists. Don Fernando Ortiz called this phenomenon religious syncretism as a result of the fusion of the cultures of Africa, Spain and Cuba.

This syncretism was born when black slaves, in search of the opportunity to freely practice their religious cults, began to identify their own gods with Catholic saints. This is how the cult of "Regla de Ocha", usually called "Santeria", with its famous "orishas" (deities) arose. And so the white clothes, purity and humility of the Most Pure Virgin of Mercy made it possible to identify her with Obatalage; Yemaya found her equivalent in the Virgin of Regla, Aochun in the Virgin of Kobre; Chango - in St. Barbara; Babalu Aye is identical to Saint Lazarus - the patron saint of the weak. In addition, there are other religious movements, such as “Reglade Palo Monte” with its animistic gods, “Regla Abakua”, which is based on the cult of ancestors, as well as other sects and beliefs that enjoy greater or lesser influence among the population of the country .

The artistic and religious manifestations of African slaves became a valuable contribution to national culture Cuba not only in terms of religion, but also in such important aspects of life as cuisine and clothing. They also had a decisive influence on the Cuban character.

Holidays and weekends

January 2 is Liberation Day and the anniversary of the victory of the revolution. May 1 - Day international solidarity workers are always a big holiday in Cuba. July 26 - Day of the start of the national uprising - storming of the Moncada barracks. The famous Havana carnivals take place in the summer, mainly in July. The most famous festivals are held in the fields of cinema, ballet, theater arts and jazz music.

Pork, fried or in other forms, Kogri rice - white rice with black beans, cassava in garlic-lemon sauce, vegetable salad, homemade dessert, fruits of the season.

As for dessert, Cuba has very decent ice cream. We can’t help but remember Cuban coffee. This coffee is very strong and very sweet, it is served in a tiny cup. This tiny “atomic bomb” is to the Cubans what coca leaves are to the Bolivians. In general, the inhabitants of the island have a big sweet tooth.

The most commonly consumed beverage is beer. Along with rum, it can be said to be a national drink. Of the large palette of rums, the most famous is Habana Club. All varieties of rum differ primarily in aging: they are generally divided into 0-3 years; 3-5 years; 5-7 years. Cubans also love juices. However, no wine is produced in Cuba at all.

Please note that food products (fruits, sausages, etc.) cannot be imported into Cuba. As a rule, everything is confiscated at the border.

Transport

There are no clearly marked roads or signs in Cuba. Service stations are quite rare. There is only one highway: to the east and west of Havana. There are several car rental companies in Cuba. The cost of renting a car is not cheap, approximately 55-65 dollars per day, deposit is 100 dollars, gasoline costs 1 dollar per liter, mileage is 100 km per day. The local traffic police are very lenient towards foreigners. In general, driving is not difficult, because... There are few cars on Cuban roads, but they trudge along at a speed of 50 km/h and are certainly in the priority left lane. In recent years, thousands of cyclists have appeared, mainly in cities.

Taxi. In the resort of Varadero, there are an abundance of foreign cars that work as taxis. There is no need to look for them, as they are looking for you everywhere. You just need to look in the direction of the driver and he will immediately drive up. A taxi is not very expensive, but not cheap either (about 1.5 -2 km - 2 dollars). Previously, in Varadero, along with foreign cars, you could see our dear Zhiguli cars and old American cars from the 50s and 60s. They also operated as private taxis. Their cost was approximately 2 times less. Now there are practically none of them at the resort. There are still many of them in Havana and the provinces. Prices for “private owners” are low: for example, in the center of Havana - 2 dollars; from the center to Miramar - 3 dollars; from the airport to Havana - 10-12 dollars. In many places in Varadero you can rent, in addition to cars, a Yamaha moped or a bicycle. The moped costs $9 for 1 hour, $12 for 2 hours, $15 for 3 hours. Every hour of delay plus $5. To rent, it is enough to have a foreign passport or hotel card with you.

It is 8 hours behind Moscow.

In Cuba for foreign tourists(one might say) only dollars are in circulation. Fortunately for us, no one pays attention to the dilapidation of banknotes. You should pay special attention to the fact that upon change you may be given a so-called convertible peso. This type of peso is equal to the dollar 1:1. This is a new Cuban banknote that has nothing in common with the “wooden” Cuban pesos. To avoid getting into trouble, the convertible peso must have “convertible” written on it. As a rule, they are given in small bills: 1.5, 10. The exchange rate of the old Cuban peso to the American dollar is approximately 1:25. Convertible Cuban small change also circulates on par with American cents. Often you will be hit back by both. Credit cards are also in use: VISA, EUROCARD, etc. Due to the political situation, AMERICAN EXPRESS cards are prohibited.

Visa and customs control

Visa-free entry (for stays of no more than 30 days). Have your salary with you (valid for 3 months from the date of return), an air ticket with a return date, cash at the rate of $50/day, power of attorney for the child from the second parent.

Tourists do not have to fill out a customs declaration. It is prohibited to bring into Cuba drugs and all types of pornographic materials, Cuban banknotes, except when carried by passengers arriving from countries with which Cuba has signed bilateral agreements on this issue, firearms, with the exception of guns for sport hunting , belonging to tourists who come to the country for this purpose and have the appropriate permit issued in Cuba upon arrival.

When a visitor purchases durable goods or valuables in stores during his stay in Cuba, he must always have the appropriate receipt for the purchase in order to present it upon departure, if required. Allowed free from customs duties bringing personal belongings into the country within reasonable limits. Items that are national treasures, precious metals, sea shells, antiques and certain types of plants and animals are not allowed to be exported from the country.

Consulates and Embassies

Embassy of the Russian Federation - Havana, tel. 33-10-85, 33-33-26. The Consular Section- Havana, Vedado, 8/306.

Additional Information

Cuba...The azure waters of the ocean and coral reefs, the gentle sun and snow-white sand of the shore, a fantastic underwater world and fabulous birds, the heady smell of orchids and the fears of a crocodile nursery, a riot of colors of sunrises and sunsets, impenetrable forests and colonnades of palm groves, crystal waterfalls and chilling waters. the silence of underground lakes in stalactite caves, the architecture of ancient cities and fortresses, the riotous fun of the night city and the refined severity of luxury hotels, the smoke of a Cuban cigar, slender mulatto women - all this is Cuba! For many people around the world, Cuba means beaches and sun, and this association is not wrong. The island's wonderful seaside resorts are now its main and most famous offer - after all coastline The archipelago is more than six thousand kilometers long, it includes over four thousand small and medium-sized islands, and there are about three hundred magnificent beaches. The regime of sea currents washing Cuba on all sides ensures that the water here retains unique purity and transparency, as well as a pleasant temperature throughout the year (24-26 C). Observation underwater world, underwater photography, fishing and hunting in designated areas, as well as swimming and marine species sports - all this is offered by Cuba to lovers of marine ecotourism.

Cuba - history. Cuba was discovered on October 28, 1492 by Christopher Columbus and over the following centuries, until the end of the 19th century, was subject to Spanish colonization. In 1868, the War of Independence begins, and Spanish colonial rule gives way to a neo-colonial republic, when the country's economic and political development was completely determined by the will of its North American neighbor. And only from January 1959, with the victory of the people's revolution, did national independence become possible. In recent decades, for former USSR Cuba was one of the main partners in the Western Hemisphere, “the only socialist state” off the coast of the United States. In view of the special political position of the Republic of Cuba on the world stage, it is impossible not to mention some personalities who personify modern Cuban history. Dr. Fidel Castro Ruz - Commander-in-Chief, 1st Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, Chairman of the State Council and Council of Ministers. Fidel Castro is without a doubt one of the significant characters of the 20th century. Castro was born in 1926. There was a lot in his life: the storming of the Moncada barracks, and the bright speech at the trial “History will vindicate me,” and the guerrilla war, and the victory of the revolution, and Playa Giron, and the missile crisis, and help, and then the betrayal of the “big brother,” and difficult years of the “special period in Peaceful time" Fidel Castro has a rare gift of oratory and exceptional personal charm, he never gets tired and is interested in everything, and, as always, continues to speak to top audiences for seven hours without a single “piece of paper.” Fidel Castro enjoys the unconditional support of a significant part of the population, which has followed him since the days of the guerrilla war and the first years of the revolution. However, now his position is not as strong as in former times. Raul Castro Ruz is Fidel's younger brother, Minister of Defense, and heir apparent to his older brother. Jose Marti is a revolutionary poet, “apostle of the Fatherland”, his image is comparable only to the image of Simon Bolivar. The memory of him is alive in the names of the streets, international airport etc., a bust of José Martí in every school. Something makes him similar to our Lenin. Ernesto Che Guevara - his image in a beret with a star will forever remain in the memory of the generation that adored the great rebel. He was young and romantic. The god of war and love of the 60s, this Argentine revolutionary was a close friend of Fidel Castro. He was killed in action in Bolivia in 1967. Camillo Cienfuegos - shortly before the victory of the revolution in Cuba, Cienfuegos, Che Guevara and Castro formed a triumvirate of romantic bearded guerrillas. Ciefuegos fought alongside Fidel and entered Havana in triumph. Some time later he died in a plane crash.

Cuba - courtesans. Of course, local girls deserve attention; they are truly extraordinary in beauty, giving tourists their ardent love and affection for free. Today, approximately 70% of foreign visitors to Cuba are so-called sex tourists. Mexicans come in search of white-skinned chicks, Europeans are eager to communicate with passionate mulattoes. Yes, indeed, Liberty Island is turning into a men's resort. According to statistics, significantly more men come to Cuba than women. Locals They treat people of easy virtue rather with respect; you will never encounter a reproachful glance addressed to them. And what, tell me, can one reproach young beauties who earn money for themselves and their loved ones, often in the hope of a handsome overseas prince who will take her across these very seas? The prevailing opinion that all Cuban girls are courtesans is far from the truth. The definition of "prostitution" does not quite fit what is actually happening. If the man likes him, the girl can refuse the money. And if meetings are repeated, then the most accurate definition of such a relationship can be only one word - love. At the Havana airport. X. Marty can often be seen saying goodbye to couples. However, it is not only at night that love passions rage. During the day on the beach there is no shortage of offers of daytime beauties. Swimming with mulatto girls is a common occurrence on Cuban beaches. Love in water is a completely normal thing here. Cuban beauties are forbidden to sunbathe without swimsuits, but who can stop a passionate Cuban woman from taking off her swimsuit in the water!

Telephone conversations. International telephone calls can be made from your hotel room through Telecorreos branches or from an international call center. Upon arrival in Cuba, you can also contact the Cubacel agency, tel. 80-2222 in order to use a cell phone telephone communication or the 711 system if you have your own phone with you. To contact Cuba from abroad, first dial the Cuba code (53), then the corresponding city code, if it is Havana, dial 7 and then the phone number you want to contact. To call Moscow or another city in Russia you need to use a special telephone, which is available in every hotel. To make a phone call, you need to buy a special card from the administrator for 10 or 25 dollars; then you need to pick up the phone, enter the card into the machine (red arrow up) and dial the following code: 119-7-095 (Moscow) + phone number.

What is better to buy for friends and acquaintances? Undoubtedly, this is black coral and jewelry made from it: pendants, rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets. Paired with silver it will look better. There are also good items made from tortoise shell, especially bracelets and hairpins. Various seafood products are also in demand, especially various shells and mahogany products. Almost no one leaves without buying 1-2 bottles of Cuban rum (3,5,7 years of aging) or world famous Cuban cigars. Shopping can be done in shops at every hotel, on the beach, resort town, as well as in shopping centers. There are 3 such centers known in Varadero: Soreu - located between streets 61 and 63, opposite the 4 Palms hotel. "Caiman" - located between streets 61 and 62, i.e. in the same place as Sorey. Near the shopping centers there is a magnificent Josone Park - you should visit it in your free time. The third shopping center appeared relatively recently. It is located between two five-star hotels (MELIA VARADERO and MELIA LAS AMERICAS). The distinctive feature of this shopping center is that during construction the architects sought to breathe into it modern style similar structures: modern pavilions, car parking, quality goods, security, etc. In addition to the above purchases, mention should also be made of the machete - the main tool for cutting sugar cane. The souvenir option looks, of course, more attractive. When transporting, check it in as your luggage, and when going to Sheremetyevo, go through the “green corridor” and there will be no troubles.