Cuba where is it

There are even small deserts. These different ecosystems are home to unique plants and animals found only in Cuba. Many interesting creatures live in Cuba's thick forests. Most famous is the bee hummingbird, the world's smallest bird. Adult bee hummingbirds grow to only two inches five centimeters long. The world's smallest frog also lives in Cuba. Cuba is a socialist state run by the Cuban Communist Party.

Cubans vote for their leaders, but the communist party is the only legal party. Fidel Castro was president, prime minister, and commander of the armed forces until February , when he stepped down due to a lengthy illness. The United States had been hostile toward Cuba since the communists took power in , but in the United States reopened its embassy in Cuba—where American diplomats live to work with the Cuban government.

Soon after, Cuba did the same in the United States. Cuba's original inhabitants were the Ciboney and Guanahatabey people. About a thousand years ago, the Taino people from Venezuela took over the island. In , forces from Spain defeated the Taino and claimed the island as a Spanish territory.

The Spanish forced many of the Taino people into slave labor. Most died from overwork and from diseases brought by the Europeans. Hundreds of thousands of African slaves were then brought to Cuba, mainly to plant and harvest sugarcane. American forces helped drive the Spanish out of Cuba in , and by , Cuba had won independence. But the United States had a strong influence over the island.

Where is Cuba in the World? Total Area and Population of Cuba The total area of Cuba is about 42, square miles, making Cuba the th largest country in the entire world. World View: Continent View:. Official Name. Republic of Cuba. Common Name. Bordering Countries. Calling Code. Search form Search this site. Your Booking. About Cuba. Environment Cuba is a world leader in sustainable ecological practices and has begun making the transition from agricultural imports to low-footprint, sustainable farming.

Environmentally conscious travelers can revel in six rich UNESCO biosphere reserves, ranging from tropical dry, humid or deciduous forest to mangroves.

The island features 3, miles of coastline. Its longest river, the Rio Cauto flows for miles. Education has been nationalized since the Cuban Revolution. As of , according to the U. Central Intelligence Agency, At the end of basic secondary education, students can choose between pre-university, technical, and professional education.

They may then choose public universities or centers of higher education, including pedagogical or polytechnic institutes. Cuba is a place of perseverance. Discovered by Christopher Columbus in , it was colonized by Spain. The U. However, in , the island gained its independence.

Castro declared Cuba a socialist state in He remained in power until he became ill in and relinquished governmental control to his brother, Raul.