25 Amazing and awesome Facts About Cuba | Amazing Facts 4U
Land & Geography
- Cuba is the largest of all islands in the Caribbean he country also includes more than 4000 other much smaller islands and cays. It has an area of about 1,11,000 Sq. Kms.
- Cuba is a long and narrow island. It is 750 miles from east to west, but only about 60 miles wide in most places.
- Cuba is frequently referred to as El Cocodrilo, which means alligator in Spanish. This is because the aerial view of Cuba resembles the actual form of an alligator.
- Cuba is a country of about 11 million people. The Capital of Cuba is Havana with a population of 2.2 million. Official language is Spanish.
- The smallest bird in the world (Peewee) is living in Cuba , the bee hummingbird. It weighs only 1.6 grams. The worlds’ smallest frog is also found in Cuba.
- The prehistoric fish, the Manjuarí, is now only found in Cuba.
- Amazing fact is there are no animals or plants in Cuba that are poisonous or lethal to humans.
- Christopher Columbus arrived on the island and claimed it as a Spanish territory.
- Cuba remained a Spanish colony until the Spanish-American War of 1898 when the country became part of the United States. This was only brief though, the country was given independence in 1902.
- The United States had a strong influence over the island until 1959, when communist revolutionaries, led by Fidel Castro, took over. He led the country until 2008 when he stepped aside due to health complications.
- Since 1962, there has been a commercial embargo between the US and Cuba. Amazingly JFK bought 1,200 Cuban cigars days before it became illegal!
People Customs & Culture
- Amazingly Cuba has the highest doctor to patient ratio in the world. There are so many doctors in Cuba, that doctors are often sent abroad to needy countries.
- Cuba actually possesses one of the best health care systems anywhere in the world!
- Schooling, health care, and food, are all promptly available without cost to any Cuban citizen.
- In Cuba, the crime rate is among the lowest in the world.
- It’s fact that Government vehicles in Cuba are legally required to pick up hitch-hikers if space available!
- Amazing fact is Cuba is full of US cars from the 1950s. This is because they’re the only cars Cuban citizens can legally own. Only pre 1959 cards that were seized from their original owners can be privately owned and worked on. All newer cars are owned by the government.
- Christmas did not become an official holiday in Cuba until 1997, in preparation for Pope John Paul II’s visit to Cuba in 1998 .
- 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.
- Cuban central channels broadcast without commercials. The grid is full of educational, scientific and popular music and TV shows, sports broadcasts and new movies.
- Very few people are allowed internet access, and violators are given a 5 year prison sentence.
- Amazing fact is that up until recently, Cubans could not stay in a hotel, rent a car, or own a DVD player.
- Sugar from sugar cane is the main crop grown in Cuba, followed by tobacco which is used in the making of hand-crafted cigars that are famous for being the finest cigars in the world.
- Amazingly over three quarters of Cuba’s food is imported from other countries.
- Fact is that Bacardi rum was originally manufactured in Cuba. However, the brand moved to Puerto Rico after Fidel Castro’s takeover.
By Amazing Facts 4U Team