Which country does the island of Cuba belong to? The official language of Cuba. Climate in Cuba, when is the best time to go

Physical and geographical characteristics

Geographical position

Relief of Cuba

Relief

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

Minerals

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

Climate

The climate of Cuba is tropical, 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 rainfall, usually in the form of showers, is 1400 mm, but dry years also occur frequently.

There are two distinct climatic seasons in Cuba: 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 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 distinguished by a certain constancy, so you can often see trees whose trunks also have a corresponding slope.

Cuba is subject to the action of 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 rains and strong winds that can cause great damage to the economy and the population of the island. The rivers in Cuba are short and shallow. Forests, covering about 10% of the territory, have been 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, molluscs, lobsters, shrimps, and sponges.

Administrative division

Cuba is a federation. For political and administrative purposes, the national territory is divided into 14 provinces and the special municipality of Isle of Youth.

Isle of Youth (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)
Camaguey (Spanish) Camaguey)

Las Tunas (Spanish) Las Tunas)
Granma (Spanish) Granma)
Holguin (Spanish) Holguin)
Santiago de Cuba (Spanish) Santiago de Cuba)
Guantanamo (Spanish) Guantanamo)

Transport

Railroad map of Cuba

The island of Cuba has Railway(Cuban Railway, Spanish) Ferrocarriles de Cuba), net highways. Maritime and air communications have been established with other countries. Cuba's leading airline, Cubana de Aviación, has offices in 32 countries around the world.

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 ISPs operating on the island. The national domain Raul Castro abolished the rules for using mobile phones in the country, the national telecom operator - ETECSA - from April 14, 2008 began to provide communication services for ordinary citizens. In Cuba, the GSM 900 standard is currently in effect, and in some areas of Havana and the resort of Varadero - GSM 850.

Population

Story

The first European to be here was Columbus, who landed in the east of the archipelago in October. In Diego, Velasquez de Cuellar subjugated the indigenous population of the islands, built Fort Baracoa and became the first Spanish governor of Cuba. By the year seven settlements had been founded. In Cuellar, he moved his headquarters to Santiago de Cuba, which became the first capital of Cuba. Colonization took place in the conditions of struggle with the indigenous population of the island - the Taino Indians, who made up 75% of the population.

The first uprising for gaining independence was suppressed in the city.

The Ten Years' War for Cuban Independence began in the city; the rebels were backed by the US. Hostilities culminated in 1872-73, but then the rebels fought only in eastern provinces, Camaguey and Oriente. In a peace agreement was signed, which eliminated the most unpleasant legislative acts for the inhabitants of the island.

In Cuba, a detachment of Cuban patriots landed under the leadership of José Marti. This event became the starting point of a new war with the Spaniards, during which the Cubans gained control of almost the entire territory of the island, excluding big cities(see Cuban War of Independence).

In the city of the United States began a war with Spain, in which they won. Cuba becomes dependent on the USA. The constitution stipulated the right of the United States to send troops to the territory of the country. This item was canceled in

In the city, as a result of a coup organized by revolutionaries led by Sergeant Fulgencio Batista, the dictator Gherardo Machado y Morales was overthrown and a democratic regime was established.

On March 10, Mr. Fulgencio Batista carried out a coup d'état and established a personal dictatorship.

On July 26, a group of revolutionaries led by Fidel Castro attempted to capture the Moncada barracks. The attempt was unsuccessful, and the participants in the assault ended up in prisons, but this event became the starting point of the Cuban Revolution. In the city, the revolutionaries were amnestied. On December 2, a new group of revolutionaries landed from the Granma yacht in the east of the island and began military operations against the Batista government.

On January 1, the dictator Batista fled Cuba. At that moment, the rebel forces occupied the city of Santa Clara in the center of the island and controlled large areas of the area in the east, although the capital was not in immediate danger, and Batista remained at the disposal of significant military forces. Amid the power vacuum created by Batista's flight, on January 8, the rebel column entered Havana, where it was greeted with popular rejoicing.

In April, Cuban emigrants, with the active support of the United States, landed an armed landing on the southern coast of the island with the aim of organizing a mass protest against the policy of the new government in the future, but the intervention was quickly suppressed, and the expected social explosion did not occur. Subsequently, emigrant organizations repeatedly organized terrorist attacks and small-scale landings on Cuba, but without much result.

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 the Marxist rebels and the Marxist regimes of 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 humanitarian assistance various countries peace. In the late 1980s, more than 70,000 Cubans were abroad on military and humanitarian missions.

Executive power belongs to the Chairman of the State Council (Head of State) and the Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Head of Government).

The ruler of Cuba since 1959, Fidel Castro, announced his resignation from the post of chairman of the State Council and commander-in-chief of the Cuban troops. Castro's address to the people was published on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 by the Granma newspaper. “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 an address by Fidel Castro, published on the newspaper's website.

Economy

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

Weak sides: due to the US embargo, lack of access to important markets and investments. Acute currency deficit. Fluctuations in world prices for sugar and nickel. Sophisticated trade restrictions and a lack of regulation discourage investment. Bad 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 use of the term “underdeveloped” for pre-revolutionary Cuba, which, in his words, causes false associations with truly backward countries, and proposed calling it “medium developed”. On the other hand, the Groningen Growth and Development Centre, having carried out their own retrospective calculations using a special method, obtained data stating that Cuba was inferior to these countries and a number of Latin American ones in the year.

Source	Robin Blackburn	Humberto (Bert) Corzo	NationMaster	Angus Maddison
Units	U.S. dollars	USD PPP	U.S. dollars	geary-khamis dollars
Year	1953-1954	1958	1960	1960	1953	1960
Cuba	360	356	4399	1900	2363	2052
Spain	250	180	396	396	2528	3150
Mexico		284	353	353	2439	3025
Chile		360	551	551	4112	4392
Costa Rica		230	381	381	2353	2605
Japan	254		471	471	2474	3289
USA			2881	2793	10613	11328

According to statistics, in 1951 there were 122 thousand cars in Cuba for 5.5 million people, 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, 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 state-owned economies in the world. In the second half of the 60s. the government is trying to abandon central planning in favor of sectoral planning and is moving towards experiments involving morale incentives and the widespread use of free forced labor. The fall in the level of production and the 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.

The main branch of the Cuban economy is the sugar industry. The capacities of sugar factories in Cuba are 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, in order to attract foreign investment, creates free economic zones (FEZs). In 1996, a law was adopted on the procedure for the creation and functioning of free economic zones. The term of the concession for the right to operate in the SEZ is 50 years. In 1997, three SEZs (Mariel, Havana City and Wahai) began to operate.

Exports nickel, sugar, tobacco, seafood, medical products, citrus fruits, coffee. The main export partners are the Netherlands, Canada, China. In November 2004, during a visit to Cuba by Chinese President Hu Jintao, an agreement was reached that China would invest $500 million in Cuba's nickel industry. In January 2008, Brazilian President Lula da Silva and the head of the Cuban state oil company, who visited Cuba, import oil products, food products, industrial equipment, and chemical products. The main import partners are Venezuela, China, Spain.

The banking system of Cuba 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 media reported on the currency fraud of the top Cuban leadership and the family of F. Castro.

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

In 2008, Cubans were allowed to buy cell phones, computers and DVD players, as well as 19 and 24 inch televisions, electric pressure cookers and electric bicycles, car alarms and microwave ovens (but only for convertible currency).

According to the BBC broadcaster, 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 clothes are given to workers. There is a system of free medical care and free higher and secondary education.

Foreign policy

Russia

From the very beginning of the revolution in Cuba, the attitude of the leadership of the CPSU towards the Island of Freedom 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 base was limited to the legacy of Marx and Engels. Secondly, among other things, Cuba was fundamentally not part of military blocs. Highly appreciating freedom, since the Belgrade Conference (Yugoslavia, September 1-6, 1961), Cuba has been one of the most active participants in the Non-Aligned Movement. It joined the CMEA only in 1972 .

Participation in international organizations

Immediately after the revolution, about 3 thousand doctors left the country. However, this shortcoming was filled 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. Cuba has the lowest infant mortality rate in Latin America. All types of medical care are free.

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 campaign to eradicate illiteracy began. As a result, in 1980 the number of illiterates 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 has doubled (from 717 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.

Currently in Cuba there is a compulsory nine-grade education (the average is 12-grade education). There are 50 higher education centers. 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 also taught there as the main foreign language (faculty of the Pais brothers). The work of this faculty was supervised by the Central Moscow State University. After 1999, English became such. Other universities in Cuba: Agrarian University of Havana.

The science

Art

Cuba in music

Muslim Magomaev . Cuba my love
Guantanamera - song

Cuba in literature

Religion

In Cuba, the church is separated from the state, and the Cuban Constitution guarantees freedom of religion for the people. 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 currents were formed from them, which still exist and are popular today. This is Regla de Ocha (Spanish. Regla de Ocha) or Santeria (Spanish. Santeria), Las Reglas de Palo (Spanish. Las Reglas de Palo) and La Sociedad Secret Abaqua (Spanish. La Sociedad Secreta Abacua). As a result of the historical process, a mixture of Catholic dogmas and African cults was also formed. For example, the Most Pure Virgin of Mercy of Cobra 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

Armed forces

Guard at the mausoleum of José Marti

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

mass media

The daily newspaper of the Island of Freedom "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 a guerrilla struggle against the Batista regime. The newspaper is the official guide and promoter of the policies pursued by the Cuban Communist Party (CCP). Once a week for English language Granma Internacional is released. Also, the press of Cuba is represented by such publications devoted to the problems of economy, tourism, finance, culture, politics, such as Opciones, Bohemia, Juventud Rebelde, Trabajadores.

Notes

As a result of the Spanish American War.
http://www.echo.msk.ru/news/425116.html
http://som.csudh.edu/cis/lpress/devnat/nations/cuba/cuba3.htm
Raul Castro: Between Deng Xiaoping and Gorbachev
Robin Blackburn. The economies oh the Cuban revolution// Fidel Castro's Personal Revolution in Cuba: 1953-1973. Edited with an Introduction by James Nelson Goodsell, The Christian Science monitor. Consulting Editor Lewis hanke, University of Massachusetts, Amherst. New York, 1975, p. 134
"Semidevelopment", "Intermediate stage of development" - Maurice Halperin. The Rise and Decline of Fidel Castro. An Essay in Contemporary History by Maurice Halperin. University of California Press. Berkley/Los Angeles/London., 1972, p. 25

As one of the last strongholds of communism on the planet, the country is of constant interest. While the rest of the world is living in the fast pace of the digital age, Cuba is slowly going its own way, with only a minority having access to the Internet. Dinosaurs of the automotive world, mended and repainted American cars from the 1940s and 1950s, clumsily slink along the dimly lit city streets. In rural areas, ox-carts, omnibuses, Chinese bicycles and cycle rickshaws take the place of automobiles. The dwellings are furnished with furniture antiques inherited from the ancestors, and are lit with energy-saving light bulbs that allow you to save money.

Cuba is inseparable from the international politics of the second half of the 20th century. At the age of six, children become young pioneers - the builders of communism. Across the country, giant posters contain incantations from the country's leadership, such as "Socialismo o Muerte" ("Socialism or death") and "Viva la Revolution" ("Long live the revolution"). Portraits of Che Guevara, the revolutionary martyr of the 1960s, can be found everywhere on the walls of shops, institutions and residential buildings.

Under harsh communist rule, the country has always been bursting at the seams. Its economic condition is directly dependent on the global situation, and the situation is further aggravated by the US trade embargo and the damage caused by hurricanes. Many families continue to live in cramped conditions in dilapidated housing, the monthly income of many Cubans in terms of less than 25 US dollars.

The obvious weakness of the Cuban economy and deprivation Cuban people impossible not to notice. In addition, there is no real freedom of speech, press and movement outside the country on the island, although there are some indulgences under Raul Castro. However, there is not that glaring poverty here, which is striking, say, in Bangladesh, India, Latin American countries. Housing is provided by the state, and you hardly see homeless people sleeping on the streets anywhere in Cuba, and although Cubans do not get all the food they need on coupon books, no one is really starving. All residents of the country have the right to free health care and education. Life expectancy has increased from 57 years in 1958 to 77.7 years in 2011. This is the 57th indicator in the world. The infant mortality rate in Cuba is lower than in the United States and the European Union.

Dilapidation, poverty and restrictions only emphasize the unbending spirit of the Cuban people. These people are characterized by remarkable stamina, patience and love of life, which, it seems, cannot be undermined by any economic hardships. Cubans are extremely friendly and hospitable and always willingly invite guests of the island to their modest homes. Energetic schoolchildren, all in the same uniform, are everywhere: rushing through the streets, playing a stickball game in the yard, riding homemade skateboards, flying kites.

Cuba today

Modern Cuba is slowly but surely beginning to make concessions to certain capitalist benefits, which seemed completely unthinkable under Fidel. Moreover, here they are no longer so aggressive towards their eternal enemy - the United States. A few years ago, in order to somehow strengthen the shaky state economy, Cuba tried to develop tourism, which seriously changed its appearance.

The number of people wishing to visit the poor but proud island of socialism is only growing every year, which, of course, affects state reforms. Gradually, the country acquires the notorious "elements of the sweet life", contrasting with the picturesque ruins that have been preserved since the time of the revolution. So, for example, the ban on the import of foreign cars into the country was recently lifted, thanks to which you can now see quite modern taxis at the Havana airport. The coast of Cuba in recent years has been actively built up with fashionable hotel complexes and spa hotels. And even though the level of service in most of these establishments still gives off a “Soviet flavor”, rest here can be called quite civilized and comfortable.

Paradise Island

For many arriving on the island for the first time, Cuba is striking in its dissimilarity to the rest of the Caribbean. The best Cuban poet Nicolas Guillén compared the island to "a long green alligator". What is long, that's for sure - the distance from the "nose" to the "tail" is 1250 km. Comparable in area to England, Cuba is divided into 14 provinces and has about 450 islands and islets called "cayos", which means "reefs" and "keys".

Given its size, it would take at least a month to get to know the whole country. Most start in the capital, Havana, and then travel to the famous tobacco plantations to the west, after which they visit the sugar cane valleys and the most beautiful colonial cities in the central part of the island. The easternmost region, called Oriente, is known for its high mountains and the second largest and first musical city.

Along the truly Caribbean beaches, mainly the northern coast, a lot of resort hotels. Although many organized tourists still stay closer to the sea, each region of the island has its own charming towns that make people take trips inland.

Cuba's white-sand beaches are delightful, and the long stretches of Varadero coastline in the north are best known. Other beach tourism centers include Guardalavaca, Playa Esmeralda and Coco and Largo Islands. Sailing enthusiasts pay tribute to countless natural harbors, anglers hunt for marlin off the coast, divers explore coral reefs and shipwrecks.

Most tourists prefer a full-service holiday, but the variety of Cuba's attractions also attracts a large number of independent travelers who find a lot of interesting things besides the sea and beaches. At the eastern end of the island rises its highest mountain range, the Sierra Maestro (until 1974 m), the birthplace of many uprisings; in the west, in the province of Pinar del Rio, the green valley of Viña Forest stretches with huge mogotes, steep hills up to 400 m high made of limestone; in the central part of the island are the lush mountains of the Sierra del Escambray and the old sugarcane plantations of the De los Ingenios Valley.

But there are also large and small cities. Havana combines beautiful Spanish colonial architecture with vibrant street life and a range of cultural events and attractions; Trinidad - a shining pearl of the colonial era - attracts with beautiful residential buildings, churches and other buildings on winding cobbled streets; - a colorful cocktail that has absorbed elements of Spanish, French and African cultures.

Climate

Cuba belongs to the zone of tropical trade wind climate. As for the seasons, only two weather seasons can be distinguished in this part of the Caribbean: dry (from October to April) and rainy, accompanied by quite strong hurricanes (from May to September).

Cold is a concept that no Cuban is familiar with. Even in January, the temperature on the island rarely drops below +22 °C. The apotheosis of the heat falls on August, when the thermometer freezes at +28 ° C in the shade. An additional bonus to the ocean winds and tropical stuffiness is high humidity, which often overshadows the first days of travel. But you should not worry about a specific reason: it usually takes no more than a couple of days to get used to the local climatic realities.

Main tourist destinations

What Cuba is truly conducive to is the lazy beach holiday: in fact, the entire coastline of the main island is a continuous beach from the Bounty advertisement with snow-white sand and azure shallow water. If your plans are not only regal reclining on a deck chair and getting a chocolate tan, try to stay longer in the main city of Cuba - Havana. Firstly, you still do not deprive yourself of a pleasant beach relaxation, because the city has snatched off a 20-kilometer piece of the sea coast, equipping it in accordance with the tastes of tourists. And secondly, you can fully enjoy the old architecture that the Cuban capital is famous for.

It is worth stopping by to plunge into the typical Caribbean flavor, gain impressions from exploring the historical part of the city (after all, it was from here that the Spanish colonization of the island began) and dance to the incendiary melodies of street musicians. The cradle of the Cuban revolution, Santa Clara, is mostly visited by those who are constantly haunted by the romanticized image of the ex-commandant Che Guevara. For your information, the remains of the Argentine rebel to this day rest in the local mausoleum. The cigar capital of Cuba, Pinar del Rio, is ready to offer its guests not only excursions to tobacco plantations, but also walks through the most picturesque valleys surrounding the city. You can rewind time and return to the colonial era in Trinidad. Some of the local mansions built by the "sugar kings" are even listed world heritage UNESCO.

Of all the islands of the Cuban archipelago, Cayo Largo, Cayo Caco and Cayo Guillermo are recognized as the most tourist-oriented. The first piece of land is notable for its coral reef and iguanas roaming freely along the coast. There is practically no local population on Cayo Largo, but there are plenty of hotels and bars with visiting staff, as well as clean municipal beaches. It is best to escape from the blues and relieve stress on Cayo Coco. The main feature of the island is a cave disco organized for tourists on Tuesdays. From Cayo Coco, you can cross the sandy dam to the neighboring island - Cayo Guillermo, whose main bait is considered to be living here pink flamingos. It's a paradox, but the Cubans themselves are very much not allowed here, unless they work in one of the island hotels, so enjoy the fantastic sunsets and all the benefits of the system all inclusive only overseas guests can visit Cayo Guillermo.

Attractions and entertainment in Cuba

The main historical sights of Cuba are concentrated in Havana and several other large cities. In the capital, first of all, you should pay attention to the Old Havana area with its cathedral St. Christopher, Prado Boulevard and Colon Cemetery, dotted with pretentious marble monuments. Contemplation of the Havana Capitol (a recognizable copy of the Washington one) will also give a pleasant experience. It is also interesting to wander around the old city squares, bordered by old colonial-style mansions. Plaza de Armas, Plaza Vieja, Plaza de la Catedral, Plaza de San Francisco - all these paved spots are included in the mandatory minimum tourist program.

The tiny town of Remedios is well worth a visit for its Carnival Museum, the Alejandro Garcia Cuturla Music Museum, and the Church of St. John the Baptist. People go to Pinar del Rio to see the Guash Palace, go to a performance at the Milanes Theater and watch the production process of real Cuban cigars at the Francisco Donatien tobacco factory. In Matanzas, Vigia Square, San Severino Castle and Montserrat Chapel are considered must-sees.

Cuba is not Cuba without a mention of old Hemingway. Here the writer is loved, honored, but not missing the opportunity to earn a little on his fame. If you are also not indifferent to the work of old Ham, look at the Finca Vigia estate in the vicinity of San Francisco de Paula (Havana district), to which the genius gave 20 years of his life.

For ecotourists in a country with 14 national parks and more than two dozen biosphere reserves, the possibilities are almost limitless. The most famous and most visited protected natural areas are the Bacanao, Desembarco del Granma, Sierra del Rosario and Topes de Collantes parks.

It is difficult to ignore the Cuban resorts, the most major of which is Holguin. Rest here, though expensive, but fun and prestigious. In addition, the resort has the most beautiful beach country - Playa Esmeralda. Cheaper and less ostentatious, Varadero has made a name for itself with a vibrant nightlife. Regulars of this paradise- party fans, sex tourists and just lovers of all-inclusive holidays. Well, travelers who do not belong to any of the above categories can be advised to look into Varadero for an excursion to the Jose Smith sugar factory, where the production of the rum legend, Havana Club, was first launched.

All sights of Cuba

Divers in Cuba live freely without exaggeration. If you wish, you can go in search of underwater adventures directly from the beaches of Havana, Varadero and Santiago de Cuba. Transparency sea water almost everywhere is high, and the bottom is replete with coral thickets and interesting finds. But it is better, of course, to choose less crowded places, tested by experts. These include the islands of Cayo Coco, Cayo Largo, Juventud and Jardines del Rey. You can also chase exotic fish near the coral reef in the province of Cienfuegos.

There is no shortage of experienced instructors on Liberty Island, but most of them speak only Spanish and a little less English. Russian-speaking diving gurus are found only in Varadero and Jardines del Rey. It is also possible to get training in primary diving skills in Cuba, but it is unlikely that you will be able to acquire a certificate of a more advanced level (PADI).

It is not necessary to bring diving equipment with you. Almost all Cuban diving centers have their own material and technical base: sometimes thoroughly shabby, but quite functional. On average, dive rates range from 30 (daylight hours) to 40 (at night) CUC.

Holidays to celebrate with Cubans

Communist holidays are still in trend on Liberty Island. Here, the First of May and the Day of the Cuban Revolution (January 2) are still celebrated with great pomp. On July 26, a wave of parades and demonstrations in honor of the Day of the National Uprising covers the country. On October 10, all Cuban patriots do not go to work, but gather at the monument to Carlos Manuel Cespedes to lay flowers and express their deep gratitude to the “father of the motherland”.

Despite the fact that the vast majority of local residents are zealous Catholics, Christmas in Cuba is celebrated quietly, modestly and without traditional gifts. But on New Year in large cities unimaginable festive chaos reigns, accompanied by intoxicating parties and concerts.

Features of the national mentality

The indigenous population of Cuba lives mostly in poverty, but carefree and cheerful. All these tales about dancing in the middle of the street, amazing talkativeness of locals, prehistoric Cadillacs and Buicks, carefully inherited, as well as generous compliments towards white European women have a very real basis. The average Cuban behaves like a typical careless dreamer who dreams all his life about how one day he will get rich, but at the same time he will not agree to leave his usual comfort zone for any treasure. But there is a sacred meaning in such a way of life: to strain yourself in a country where there is a general leveling and revolutions break out from time to time, it is more expensive for yourself. Although scolding their regime in front of the Cubans is a kind of mauvais ton. Despite the fact that local residents have a meager salary, receive food on coupons and pay exorbitant prices for white sugar, which they themselves produce, outwardly they look quite content with such an existence.

As for the attitude towards tourists, then, of course, for most Cubans they are just fat wallets, from which, if possible, you need to shake out the maximum. If not everyone, then very many are engaged in a divorce for money on Liberty Island: starting from the state that put into circulation a special tourist currency, ending with petty scammers who deliberately provoke accidents in order to defraud a naive traveler of financial compensation. Recently, such an unprecedented phenomenon as the financial stratification of society has begun to be observed in the country: Cubans, involved in the tourism sector and having the opportunity to receive tips in addition to their main income, have become a real elite.

Religion

Catholicism in Cuba is closely intertwined with Afro-Cuban religions, in particular with such as Santeria. Tourists have the opportunity to experience many aspects of these religious practices. In the early 1960s, the government stripped the Catholic Church of much of its power and influence, but masses are still held in churches throughout the island, and since the pope's visit to Cuba in 1998, Catholic services and ceremonies have become more widespread.

Language

The entire population of Cuba speaks Spanish. Recently, in connection with the development of the tourism industry, various courses of study have begun to gain popularity among the islanders. foreign languages, mostly European. In particular, the staff of luxury hotels and taxi drivers overwhelmingly speak good English. But since there is still a long way to go before mass mastering the language of Shakespeare, it is better to get a paper or electronic Russian-Spanish phrase book before the trip.

Food in Cuba

Spanish, Creole and African motifs are closely intertwined in Cuban cuisine. A favorite side dish here is rice, which often includes black beans or beans. It is served most often with pork or chicken, since beef in Cuba is a pleasure available only to the elite. It is worth trying the Creole ajiaco, which is a meat stew with vegetables and spices. By the way, it is better to look for the most peppery and spicy dishes in the vicinity of Santiago de Cuba.

In some establishments, you can also taste exotic meats (crocodiles, turtles). Quite popular types of dishes include huevos habaneros (a local variety of omelet with spicy sauce), chicharrones (crispy pork skin chips), pulpet meatloaf and the invariable lobsters, which are inaccessible to a simple Cuban, but are in great demand among the tourist fraternity. For dessert, you should take maduros (fried bananas), caramel cream dulce de leche (an analogue of domestic boiled condensed milk) and churros cookies, which are fried right on the street. In addition, Cuba has an abundance of fruits, so you can meet them not only in the form of desserts, but also as a side dish for meat dishes.

Of the drinks, it is worth appreciating Cuban rum and, of course, the legendary daiquiri, the favorite cocktail of John F. Kennedy and Papa Ham. Tourists drink guarapo cane juice more out of curiosity than pleasure. But local beer enjoys a good reputation. Coffee in Cuba is brewed the strongest, generously flavored with sugar, and sometimes splashing a couple of drops of rum into a cup.

In most hotels where breakfast or three meals a day is provided, the cuisine is more Europeanized. Usually the morning starts with a buffet with all the consequences. If you are looking for a typical Cuban tavern, welcome to the pubs in private houses (paladares), which have recently been actively replaced by classic restaurants.

Money

Theoretically, the currency of the country is the Cuban peso. In fact, there are two types of money in circulation: for the indigenous population, this is the same Cuban peso (CUP), and for tourists, it is a convertible peso or cookie (CUC). 1 cookie is 57.43 rubles, exactly 1 US dollar or 1.18 euros (for 2017).

It is most profitable to exchange euros (no commission) or Canadian dollars in local banks. The worst thing is to convert American currency, since the commission for its exchange can reach up to 20% of the amount. Money exchange is made at the airport, hotels and banks. The latter are open from Monday to Friday from 8:30 to 15:00, and from 12:00 to 13:30 establishments are closed for a traditional siesta.

The resort areas of the island accept credit cards. Not so long ago, Cuba lifted the ban on the "plastic" of American banks, but failures in the conduct of payment transactions with Mastercard still occur. Protection from such awkward situations will be a supply of cash, which will be gladly accepted in any institution.

It is customary to give tips on Liberty Island. In restaurants, this can be the traditional 10% of the bill. There will be enough change in the bars (in cookies). Porters, maids and street musicians are given no more than 1 cookie.

On a note: before leaving, try to lower all cookies in stores, or have time to exchange them at Havana airport. Otherwise, you risk returning home with a pile of useless pieces of paper - convertible pesos are not changed anywhere else.

Travel budget

Compared to the rest of Latin America and other developing countries, Cuba may be surprisingly expensive, but staying on the island will cost you no more than holidays in other Caribbean islands.

Road

Air tickets can become the main item of expenditure, especially for residents of Europe and Asia. It is cheaper to travel during the off-season, from mid-December to mid-April, and with a full service fee.

Accommodation

Car rent

You can rent a car in Cuba in any major city, but keep in mind that gasoline here is expensive: about 1.20-1.40 CUC / l. To rent a car, you must be 21 years old and have at least one year of driving experience. To conclude a lease agreement, a passport and an international driver's license will be enough.

The rental price is from 45 to 150 cookies per day with no mileage limit. Usually the tourist pays the rent, as well as a mandatory deposit of 150-300 CUC (can be in cash). You will need to buy insurance on the spot, even if you pre-paid for the rental before arriving in the country. If you take the car in one place and want to return it to another, you will have to pay the cost of the return trip. If your vehicle is damaged, you must pay the first few hundred dollars needed to repair it, unless you can prove that the damage was not your fault. Before you accept the car, inspect it for dents and scratches.

Useful information: even while driving a rented car, it is unlikely that you will be able to disguise yourself as a real amigo on Cuban roads. Cars in the country are identified by the color of the numbers: yellow ones belong to private owners, blue ones belong to government agencies, and red ones are given out to tourists.

Cuba(Spanish Cuba), the official name is the Republic of Cuba (Spanish República de Cuba), unofficial since 1959 - Freedom Island) - Island state in the northern Caribbean. The country occupies the territory of the island of Cuba as part of the Greater Antilles, Isle of Youth and many smaller islands. Cuba is separated from North America by the Strait of Florida to the north and the Yucatan Strait to 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 Youth, as well as on the adjoining about 1600 small islands and coral reefs belonging to the Greater Antilles group. The coast 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, stretching from west to east for 1250 km, is often compared to a lizard, whose body is facing the Atlantic, and the tail is located at the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico. In the south, Cuba is washed by the waters of 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 Florida Strait is 180 km, to the island of Haiti through the Windward Strait - 77 km, to the island of Jamaica through the Strait of Colon - 140 km, to Mexico through the Yucatan Strait - 210 km.

Relief

The relief of Cuba is predominantly flat. Hills and mountains occupy about a third of the territory. The highest mountain range Sierra Maestra stretches along the southeast 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 poorly populated.

In Cuba, karst is developed everywhere, in connection with this, many caves are known, including large ones. So, in the west, the cave of Santo Tomas has an extensive network of underground galleries. total length 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 shores are usually low, sometimes swampy, in many cases overgrown with mangroves. Often there are sandy beaches that 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 terms of 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 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) 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 amount of precipitation, which usually falls in the form of showers, is 1400 mm, but dry years also occur frequently.

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

Cuba is subject to the action of 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 rains and strong winds that can cause great damage to the economy and the population of the island. The rivers in Cuba are short and shallow. Forests, covering about 10% of the territory, have been preserved only in mountainous and swampy areas. The fauna of the land is relatively poor. At the same time, in the waters surrounding Cuba there are valuable commercial fish, molluscs, lobsters, shrimps, and sponges.

Administrative division

Cuba is a unitary state. For political and administrative purposes, the national territory is divided into 14 provinces and the special municipality of Isle of Youth.

Isla de la Juventud (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)

Transport

The island of Cuba has a railway (Cuban Railway, Ferrocarriles de Cuba) and a network of roads. Maritime and air communications have been established with other countries. Cuba's leading airline, Cubana de Aviación, has offices in 32 countries around the world.

Connection

In 2003, there were 2 ISPs operating on the island. National domain.cu.

Today, Cuba has a single mobile operator - ETECSA under the brand name Cubacel. An interesting fact is that until 2008 the use of mobile services for ordinary residents of the country was prohibited. Mobile services were only allowed to be used foreign citizens and top government officials. After Raul Castro abolished the rules for using mobile phones in the country, the national telecom operator - the company ETECSA - from April 14, 2008 began to provide communication services for ordinary citizens. Cuba currently operates the GSM 900 standard, 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 the tribes of Siboney, Arawak Indians, Guanachanabeys and Indians who had migrated from Haiti. But as a result of the 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, more than 1 million African slaves were imported by the Spaniards, their descendants make up 40% of the population. For the same reason, between 1853 and 1874, more than 125,000 Chinese were imported from Asia. Until now, in Havana, "China Town" has been preserved. In addition, Indian slaves were imported, but in small quantities, from the Yucatan, Central and South America. In the same period, 850,000 immigrants arrived from Spain, mostly Galicians, Castilians, Navarrese, Catalans, although it should be noted that not all of them remained to live in Cuba. They are collectively called the Gallego (Galicians). From the end of the XVIII century. a large stream of French from Haiti and Louisiana also arrived here. A fairly intense flow of immigrants was also from Germany, Italy and Britain. At the beginning of the 20th century, many Americans settled in Cuba, who created their colonies on about. Pinos (present. Isle of Youth). There were very strong waves of immigration to Cuba during and after the first and second world wars, primarily Jews moved here.

Data on the racial composition of Cuba is 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 for Cuban Studies at the University of Miami, 68% of Cubans are blacks and mulattos. Minority rights group International claims that 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 Velasquez 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 conditions of struggle with the indigenous population of the island - the Taino Indians, who made up 75% of the population.
In 1823, the first independence uprising was put down.
In 1868, the Ten Years' War for Cuban Independence began; The rebels were backed by the US. Hostilities culminated in 1872-1873, but then the rebels fought only in the eastern provinces, 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 landed in Cuba under the leadership of José Marti. This event was the starting point of a new war with the Spaniards, during which the Cubans gained control over almost the entire territory of the island, excluding major cities (see War of Independence of Cuba).
In 1898, the United States began a war with Spain, in which they won. Cuba becomes dependent on the US. The constitution stipulated the right of the United States to send troops to the territory of the country. This clause was abolished in 1934.
In 1933, as a result of a coup organized by revolutionaries led by Sergeant Fulgencio Batista, the dictator Gherardo Machado y Morales was overthrown and a democratic regime was established.
On March 10, 1952, Fulgencio Batista carried out a coup d'état and established a personal dictatorship.
On July 26, 1953, a group of revolutionaries led by Fidel Castro attempted to take over 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 landed from the Granma yacht in the east of the island and began military operations against the Batista government.
On January 1, 1959, the dictator Batista fled Cuba. At that moment, the rebel forces occupied the city of Santa Clara in the center of the island and controlled large areas of the area in the east, although the capital was not in immediate danger, and Batista remained at the disposal of significant military forces. Amid the power vacuum created by Batista's flight, on January 8, the rebel column entered Havana, where it was greeted with popular rejoicing.

As a result of the victory of the revolution, the government of the "left" orientation, headed by Fidel Castro, received power in Cuba, which then leaned towards the path of building socialism and is in power to this day. The ruling and only permitted party of the country is the Communist Party of Cuba. The government of Fidel Castro carried out agrarian reform, the nationalization of industrial assets, launched broad social transformations, which alienated many groups of the population, the result of the same process was the mass emigration of dissatisfied people, 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 an armed landing on the southern coast of the island with the goal of organizing a mass uprising against the policy of the new government in the future, but the intervention was quickly suppressed, and the expected social explosion did not occur. Subsequently, emigrant organizations repeatedly organized terrorist attacks and small-scale landings on Cuba, but without much result.

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 the Marxist rebels and the Marxist regimes of 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 70,000 Cubans were abroad on military and humanitarian missions.

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

Castro reacted negatively to the perestroika policy in the USSR and even banned the distribution of a number of Soviet publications in Cuba (Moscow News, Novoye Vremya, 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 basically stabilized, and the country's economic condition is currently assessed by international organizations as quite satisfactory.

On February 19, 2008, through the Granma newspaper, Fidel Castro announced his resignation from the post of chairman of the State Council and commander-in-chief of the Cuban troops. “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.

Certain fears for the political stability of Cuba among observers are caused by the process of transfer of power from Fidel Castro to his heirs.

State structure

Public administration- republic. The legislature 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 currency deficit. Fluctuations in world prices for sugar and nickel. Sophisticated trade restrictions and a lack of regulation discourage investment. Bad 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 use of the term "underdeveloped" for pre-revolutionary Cuba, which, in his words, caused false associations with truly backward countries, and suggested calling it "medium developed." On the other hand, the Groningen Growth and Development Centre, having carried out their own retrospective calculations using a special method, received data stating that Cuba in 1958 was inferior to these countries and a number of Latin American ones.

In 1960, a massive nationalization of the private sector was carried out. Currently, Cuba has one of the most state-owned economies in the world. In the second half of the 1960s. the government has been trying to abandon central planning in favor of sectoral planning and is moving towards experiments involving morale incentives and the widespread use of free forced labor. The fall in the level of production and the 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 block in Cuba, the basis of the industry is being created.

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 has shrunk by a third. Economic collapse was averted by opening up 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 care.

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

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 Cuba's 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 an industrial oil plant in Cuba.

Cuba imports ($14.5 billion in 2008) oil products, foodstuffs, 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 banking system of Cuba 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. The Western media reported on the currency fraud of the top Cuban leadership and the F. Castro family.

Since 1962, a card system has been operating in Cuba, products are issued according to the same norms for the whole country. According to Cuban experts, at present, the population receives from 40 to 54 percent of the minimum required calories from products distributed by cards. Milk is given free of charge by the state to children under 6 years of age or purchased by the population in the market. During all the post-revolutionary years, there was a black market in Cuba. A number of goods, the distribution of which by cards is carried out irregularly or intended only for beneficiaries, are still purchased on the black market.

In 2008, Cubans were allowed to buy cell phones, computers, and DVD players, as well as 19- and 24-inch televisions, electric pressure cookers and electric bicycles, car alarms, and microwave ovens (but only with 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.

Foreign policy

Panama

August 23, 2004 - President of Panama Mireya Moscoso announced the recall of the Panamanian ambassador from Cuba in response to a warning made on August 22 by the Cuban Foreign Ministry about its readiness to break off diplomatic relations with Panama if its authorities pardon 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 break in 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 an exemplary punishment of the terrorists" who were preparing an 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 leadership of the CPSU towards the Island of Freedom was ambiguous, in a sense similar to the position regarding the SFRY. First, neither the Castro brothers nor their associates were formally Leninists. Their theoretical base was limited to the legacy of Marx and Engels. Secondly, among other things, Cuba was fundamentally not part of military blocs. Highly appreciating freedom, Cuba, starting from the Belgrade Conference (Yugoslavia, September 1-6, 1961), was one of the most active participants in the Non-Aligned Movement. She 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, in particular, was caused by the cessation of economic assistance to Cuba and the reduction of the Soviet (Russian) military presence on the island. Soviet military bases were placed 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, since November 2008, there has been a revival of interest in building relations between Russia and Cuba that are economic, political, scientific and social in 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, which the Cuban authorities later abandoned. In January 2002, a prison for suspected international terrorism was established at the base, where the first 20 people accused of participating in hostilities on the side of the Taliban were brought from Afghanistan.

In relation to Cuba in 1961, the United States introduced an embargo regime, any ties with Cuba were prohibited, US sanctions against Cuba continue to operate as of 2008; this blockade is regularly condemned by the UN General Assembly.

However, now the US share in Cuba's 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 the overthrow of the government of Fidel Castro. The operation was part of the Mongoose operation, developed by the US government at 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, imitation of hostile actions under a false flag, state-organized acts of terror. However, Kennedy rejected the project.

In 2001, the United States was sentenced to long terms imprisonment of five Cuban agents ("Cuban Five"). According to them, they transmitted information about the upcoming 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. Participates 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 6,000 doctors in Cuba, that is, 1 doctor per 1,000 people, which was equal to France. However, unlike developed countries, Cuba did not have a system of health insurance and cheap or free social medicine. Therefore, for example, the infant mortality rate was 100-110 per 1,000, which corresponded to the level of the most backward countries of Western Europe—Spain and pre-war Italy.

Immediately after the revolution, about 3 thousand doctors left the country. However, this shortcoming was filled 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. A 2009 CIA estimate put the average life expectancy in Cuba at 77.45 years. Cuba has the lowest infant mortality rate among Latin American countries. All types of medical care are free.

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

Education

In 1961, a massive campaign to eradicate illiteracy began. As a result, in 1980 the number of illiterates was only 2%, and in 1990 Cuba became a country of complete literacy. A public secondary and higher school was created. During the 1960s, the number of students doubled (from 717,000 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.

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

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

culture

Painting

Independent Cuban painting arose only in late XIX century. In the 1930s, artists who visited Europe got acquainted with modern artistic trends there and brought them to Cuba. So, Marcelo Pogolotti used cubism to create images on topics related to the poverty of the Cuban people. The most famous Cuban artist, Wifredo Lam, painted in a surrealist style. Mario Carreño was greatly influenced by the work of Mexican muralists. Jorge Arche is known for his portraits, similar in style to those of other Latin American artists of the 1930s.

The science

Illiteracy was virtually eradicated in Cuba in 1961. Education here is free at all levels - from elementary school to higher education - and is compulsory up to the end of the ninth grade. 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 been made available to everyone. Now there are about 700,000 people with higher education in the country. Out of every seven Cuban workers, one has a diploma from a higher educational institution.

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

There are more than 170 research institutes in Cuba.

After the victory of the Revolution, up to the present day, about 630 thousand people graduated from higher educational institutions in various specialties in Cuba, 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. Kindergarten services are used by 135,000 working mothers.

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

There are 9,487 elementary schools, 1,943 secondary schools and 48 institutions of higher education 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 framework of the national education system.

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

Religion

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

With the arrival of black slaves on the island, various beliefs of African origin spread. Over time, three main currents were formed from them, which still exist and are popular today. 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 Secret Abakua (Spanish: La Sociedad Secreta Abacu). As a result of the historical process, a mixture of Catholic dogmas and African cults was also formed. For example, the Most Pure Virgin of Mercy of Cobra 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 of it allows you to constantly replenish national teams in various types sports that brought important world and Olympic awards to the small Caribbean island. Cuba is the birthplace of world famous athletes. Baseball, boxing, athletics and volleyball stand out among the sports.

Armed forces

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

The Cuban constitution indicates that the president of the country is the supreme commander 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 daily newspaper of the Island of Freedom "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 a guerrilla struggle against the Batista regime. The newspaper is the official guide and promoter of the policies pursued by the Cuban Communist Party (CCP). Once a week, Granma Internacional is published in English. Also, the press of Cuba is represented by such publications devoted to the problems of economy, tourism, finance, culture, politics, such as Opciones, Bohemia, Juventud Rebelde, Trabajadores.

The name of the country comes from "akoba", which in the language of local Indians means "land, land".

Cuba Square. 110860 km2.

Cuban population. 11.39 million people (

Cuba GDP. $77.15 billion (

Location of Cuba. Cuba is a state located on the very large island West and several nearby islands. In the north it is washed by the Strait of Florida, in the southwest - by the Yucatan Strait, in the east - by the Windward Strait, in the south -.

Administrative divisions of Cuba. The state is divided into 14 provinces and the special municipality of Isle of Youth.

Form of government in Cuba. Republic.

Head of State of Cuba. Chairman of the State Council.

Supreme Legislature of Cuba. The National Assembly, which elects the Council of State.

Supreme executive body of Cuba. Council of Ministers.

Major cities in Cuba. Santiago de Cuba, Camaguey, Holguin, Guantanamo, Santa Clara, Cienfuegos, Matanzas.

State language of Cuba. Spanish.

Religion in Cuba. 55% - atheists, 40% -, 3% - Protestants.

Ethnic composition of Cuba. 65% - descendants of Europeans, 20% - mulattoes, 12% - Africans, 1% - Chinese.

Fauna of Cuba. Of the mammalian representatives of the animal world, the hutia and the sand tooth should be distinguished. there is a huge number of bats, almost 300 species of birds, including the vulture, quail, finches, macaws, hummingbirds. More than 700 species of fish and shellfish live in coastal waters. Numerous insects, among which are very dangerous - sand flea and the malarial mosquito.

Rivers and lakes of Cuba. The largest is Cauto.

Sights of Cuba. In Havana - National Museum, Colonial Museum, Museum of Anthropology, Moro Castle, Santa Clara Monastery, La Fuerza Fortress, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, City Hall, America's largest zoo; in Santiago de Cuba - Museum of Natural History; In Cardenas, the Oscar M. de Rojas Museum; in Camagüey - a large number of churches and mansions of the colonial period. On the shore of the bay is the world's largest aquarium.

Useful information for tourists

As souvenirs from Cuba, you can bring black coral and jewelry from it, products from tortoise shell (especially bracelets and hairpins). Don't forget to buy one or two bottles of unique Cuban rum and real Cuban cigars. When purchasing products from crocodile skin ask the seller for an export license, otherwise this souvenir will be confiscated during customs control. A good gift from Cuba would also be a tumbadora or bongo - drums musical instruments. Another gift is the guayabera, a shirt worn by officials in the tropics. You will probably have to use the foreign exchange shops, as pesos can only buy books and medicines.

In Cuba, it is customary to pay a tip in the amount of 5-15% of the cost of services. The porter, the maid at the hotel are given 1 dollar.

Motto: "Patria o Muerte"
"Fatherland or Death" Hymn: "La Bayamesa" date of independence December 10, 1898 (dated) Official language Spanish Capital Largest cities Havana, Santiago de Cuba Form of government one-party socialist republic First Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Raul Castro The president Miguel Diaz-Canel Territory 104th in the world Total 110,860 km² Population Score (2013) ▼ 11,061,886 people (77th) Census (2015) ▲ 11,239,004 people Density 102 people/km² GDP (PPP) Total (2010) $114.1 billion (67th) Per capita $9900 HDI (2018) ▲ 0.777 (high; 73rd) Currency pesos (CUP, 192)
convertible peso (CUC, 931) Internet domain .cu ISO code CU IOC code CUB Telephone code +53 Time Zones -5 car traffic on right

Cuba(Spanish) Cuba), official name - Republic of Cuba(Spanish) Republic of Cuba), unofficial since 1959 Liberty Island- an island nation in the northern part of the Caribbean. The country occupies the territory of the island of the same name as part of the Greater Antilles, Isle of Youth and many small islands. It is separated from Cuba by the Florida Strait to the north and the Yucatan Strait to the west. The country has been a member of the UN since 1945.

The capital and largest city is .

Etymology

The name "Cuba" has its origin in the now dead languages of the Taino Indians who inhabited the Greater Antilles. The exact meaning of the name is unclear, there is a point of view that it can mean "a place where fertile land is abundant" ( Cubao), or " beautiful place» ( coabana).

There is also a hypothesis that Christopher Columbus named the island in honor of the village of Cuba in the Beja region.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Cuba

Geographical position

Relief of Cuba

Minerals

Cuba ranks third in the world (after New Caledonia and Australia, 2007) in terms of nickel reserves, the extraction of which began in 1943 and increased significantly in the period after the 1959 revolution, when, with the assistance of the USSR, mining equipment was modernized and a mining and processing plant was built.

Cuba has large cobalt reserves and ranks third in the world in terms of its mining and production.

Also, Cuba has large deposits of copper ores (in the provinces of Oriente and Pinar del Rio), manganese ores (in the province of Oriente), chromites (in the province of Camagüey), kaolins (on the island of Pinos), iron ore, asbestos, rock salt, phosphorites. There are no coal deposits.

In 1984, oil and gas fields were discovered in the west of the country. In 2006, the development of an oil and gas field began to the north of the island, not far from the coast of Florida. According to some reports, oil reserves on the Cuban shelf exceed 5 billion barrels (Havana insists on a figure of 20 billion barrels), and gas reserves - 300 billion m³. The total proven oil reserves for 2010 are 178.9 million barrels, natural gas - 70.9 billion m³.

Climate

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 is 22-24°C in winter and 28-30°C in summer. The average annual rainfall, usually in the form of showers, is 1400 mm, but dry years also occur frequently.

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

Cuba is subject to the action of 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 to the side. Cyclones are accompanied by torrential downpours and strong winds capable of causing great damage to the economy and population of the island (see Cuban hurricane (1910)). The rivers in Cuba are short and shallow. Forests, covering about 10% of the territory, have been preserved only in mountainous and swampy areas. The fauna of the land is relatively poor. At the same time, in the waters surrounding Cuba there are valuable commercial fish, molluscs, lobsters, shrimps, and sponges.

Administrative division

Main article: Administrative divisions of Cuba

Cuba is a unitary state. The national territory for political and administrative purposes until 2011 was divided into 15 provinces and the special municipality of the island of Youth, the provinces were divided into municipalities. On January 1, 2011, the decision to divide the province of Havana into the provinces of Artemisa and Mayabeque came into force, and the number of provinces increased to 16. The provinces, in turn, are divided into 169 municipalities.

Pinar del Rio (Spanish) Pinar del Rio )
Artemis (Spanish) Artemisa )
(Spanish) Ciudad de La Habana )
Mayabeque (Spanish) Mayabeque )
Matanzas (Spanish) Matanzas )

Cienfuegos (Spanish) Cienfuegos )
Villa Clara (Spanish) Villa Clara )
Sancti Spiritus (Spanish) Sancti Spiritus )
Ciego de Avila (Spanish) Ciego de Avila )
Camaguey (Spanish) Camaguey )

Las Tunas (Spanish) Las Tunas )
Granma (Spanish) Granma )
Holguin (Spanish) Holguin )
Santiago de Cuba (Spanish) Santiago de Cuba )
Guantanamo (Spanish) Guantanamo )
Isle of Youth (Spanish) Isla de la Juventud )

The representative bodies of the provinces - the provincial assemblies of people's power, are elected by the municipal assemblies of people's power, the executive bodies of the provinces - executive committees provincial assemblies of people's power are elected by the provincial assemblies of people's power.

The representative organs of municipalities, the municipal assemblies of people's power, are elected by the population; the executive organs of municipalities, the executive committees of the municipal assemblies of people's power, are elected by the municipal assemblies of people's power.

Transport

Railroad map of Cuba

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

Bridge in Cuba connecting the province of Matanzas with the province of Mayabeque

Population

Main article: Cubans

The demographic curve of Cuba. FAO data, 2005.

Since the Spanish colonists needed a lot of labor, primarily to work on plantations, they began to import slaves from (mainly Yoruba, Ashanti, Ewe, Kongo). Over 350 years, more than 1 million African slaves were imported by the Spaniards, their descendants make up 40% of the population. In addition, Indian slaves from Yucatan were imported in small quantities, and. In the same period, 850,000 “Gallego” immigrants arrived from, mostly Galicians, Castilians, Navarrese, Catalans, but not all of them remained to live in Cuba. From the end of the XVIII century. a large stream of French from Haiti also arrived here. A rather intense flow of immigrants was also from Italy and Britain.

On June 3, 1847, the first 200 Chinese were imported to the island, later, between 1853 and 1874, more than 125,000 Chinese were imported from Asia. Until now, "Chinatown" has been preserved.

At the beginning of the 20th century, many Americans settled in Cuba, who created their colonies on the island of Pinos. There were very strong waves of immigration to Cuba during and after the First and Second World Wars, primarily Jews moved here.

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

Data on the racial composition of Cuba is contradictory. According to official data from the 2002 census, the population of Cuba consists of whites - 65.1% (7,271,926), mulattoes - 24.8% (2,778,923), blacks - 10.1% (1,126,894), 1% - Chinese (113,828). According to the Institute for Cuban Studies at the University of Miami, 68% of Cubans are blacks and mulattoes. The International Minority Rights Group claims that 51% of the population is mulatto.

In September 2012, the total population of Cuba was 11,163,934 according to the census.

Matanzas

Population aging

According to the British magazine The Economist, Cuba is the only Latin American country whose population is decreasing. Cuba's population aging is also the highest in the region. According to The Economist, this is due to a sharp decline in the birth rate. Thus, the average number of children per woman decreased from five in 1963 to 1.9 in 1978 and 1.5 between 2004 and 2008. On the other hand, good health care has led to an increase in the number of elderly people. As a result of these processes, in 2008, for the first time in the history of the country, the proportion of the population under 14 years of age equaled the proportion of those over 60 years old - approximately 18% each. According to The Economist, this circumstance threatens the sustainability of Cuba's pension system. The trend towards an aging population is also visible in the example of the country's leadership: the average age of members of the Cuban Politburo is over 70 years.

Story

Main article: History of Cuba

Until the end of the 16th century, Cuba was inhabited by Indian tribes, first by the Guanahatabeys (in the 6th century BC), and later by the Arawaks. The Indians were engaged in hunting and farming.

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 conditions of struggle with the indigenous population of the island - the Taino Indians, who made up 75% of the population. Columbus reported on the millionth killed Indian. The population of Cuba in the 15th century was about 1,800,000 people.

In 1823, the first uprising for independence from Spain was put down.
In 1868, the Ten Years' War for Cuban Independence began; the rebels were supported. Hostilities culminated in 1872-1873, but then the rebels fought only in the eastern provinces, Camagüey and Oriente. In 1878, a peace agreement was signed, eliminating the most unpleasant legislative acts for the inhabitants of the island.
In 1895, a detachment of Cuban patriots landed in Cuba under the leadership of José Marti. This event was the starting point of a new war with the Spaniards, during which the Cubans gained control over almost the entire territory of the island, excluding major cities (see War of Independence of Cuba).
In 1898, they started a war with, in which they won (see Spanish-American War). Cuba becomes dependent on . The constitution stipulated the right to send troops to the territory of the country. This clause was abolished in 1934.
In 1933, as a result of a coup organized by revolutionaries led by Sergeant Fulgencio Batista y Saldivar, the dictator Gerardo Machado y Morales was overthrown and a democratic regime was established.
On March 10, 1952, Fulgencio Batista carried out a coup d'état and established a personal dictatorship.
On July 26, 1953, a group of revolutionaries led by Fidel Castro attempted to take over 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. These events were immediately followed by political repression (see the article Repression under Batista). In 1955 the revolutionaries were granted amnesty. On December 2, 1956, a new group of revolutionaries landed from the Granma yacht in the east of the island and began military operations against the Batista government.
On January 1, 1959, the dictator Batista fled Cuba. At that moment, the rebel forces occupied the city of Santa Clara in the center of the island and controlled large areas of the area in the east, although the capital was not in immediate danger and a significant military force remained at the disposal of Batista. Amid the power vacuum created by Batista's flight, on January 8, the rebel column entered Havana, where it was greeted with popular rejoicing.

In April 1961, Cuban emigrants, with the active support of the United States, landed an armed landing on the southern coast of the island with the goal of organizing a mass uprising against the policy of the new government in the future, but the intervention was quickly suppressed, and the expected social explosion did not occur. Subsequently, emigrant organizations repeatedly organized Act of terrorism and small-scale landings on Cuba, but without much result.

From the early 1960s to the early 1990s, Cuba was an ally of the USSR and actively supported the Marxist rebels and the Marxist governments of 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 70,000 Cubans were abroad on military and humanitarian missions. At the same time, the USSR provided it with significant financial, economic and political support, often acting as a coordinator of foreign policy and determining participation in various armed conflicts.

Castro reacted negatively to the policy of Perestroika in the USSR and even banned the distribution in Cuba of a number of Soviet "pro-Yeltsin" publications (Moskovskiye Novosti, Novoye Vremya, etc.).

After the collapse of the USSR, the economic situation of Cuba deteriorated significantly (in 1990-1993, GDP decreased by 33%), and analysts predicted the imminent fall of the Castro government, but by 1994 the situation had basically stabilized, and the country's economic condition was currently assessed by international organizations as quite satisfactory.

On February 19, 2008, through the Granma newspaper, Fidel Castro announced his resignation from the post of President of the State Council and Commander-in-Chief of the Cuban troops. “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.

On this moment The President of the State Council is Miguel Diaz-Canel.

November 25, 2016 at 22:29 Cuban time, after a long illness, Fidel Castro died.

April 10, 2019 entered into force new constitution country that was adopted in a constitutional referendum. It establishes the post of President of the Republic of Cuba, who runs for a term of 5 years with the right to re-election for a second term, and also recognizes the right of citizens to private property and engage in small business.

State structure

According to the form of government, Cuba is a socialist republic of a parliamentary type.

The majority of deputies in parliament represent the Communist Party of Cuba.

Executive power is exercised by the Chairman of the Council of State (Head of State), who in practice is both the General Secretary of the Central Committee (CC) of the Communist Party of Cuba and the Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Head of Government) - the Second Secretary of the Central Committee, respectively.

The government consists of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers. The government is formed by the Parliament of the Republic, called the National Assembly of People's Power. He also appoints the head of the State Council. Thus, the National Assembly is the highest body of state power in Cuba.

Administratively, the republic is divided into 16 provinces, which include 169 municipalities. One of the municipalities - Khuventud - reports directly to the central authorities, the rest - to local administrative structures.

Legal system

The highest court is the People's Supreme Court, appointed by the National Assembly of People's Power, the courts of appeal are the provincial courts, appointed by the provincial people's power assemblies, the courts of first instance are the municipal courts, appointed by the municipal people's power assemblies.

Economy

Beach in Cuba near the city of Varadero

Main articles: Economy of Cuba, US sanctions against Cuba And Cuban peso

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

Weak sides: due to the US embargo, lack of access to important markets and investments. Acute currency deficit. Fluctuations in world prices for sugar and nickel. Complicated trade restrictions discourage investment. Bad infrastructure. Shortage of fuel, fertilizers and spare parts.

In the period after 1960, the colossal damage economic development Cuba was hit by an economic blockade imposed by the US government. According to official figures from the Cuban government, as of early December 2010, direct damage from the economic blockade amounted to 104 billion US dollars (and taking into account the depreciation of the dollar against gold in the period after 1961 - 975 billion US dollars).

According to the British weekly The Economist, the main cause of Cuba's economic problems is low productivity caused by a lack of incentives to work. In an article on the Cuban economy, the magazine writes:

sugarcane plantations

The American embargo is annoying, but the main problem with the Cuban economy is that Fidel's paternalistic state has eliminated both incentives to work and punishments for idleness. Therefore, Cubans are not particularly overworked in their official jobs. People spend their working time in conversations and long telephone conversations.

Original text (English)

The American embargo is an irritant, but the economy’s central failing is that Fidel’s paternalist state did away with any incentive to work, or any sanction for not doing so. So most Cubans do not work very hard at their official jobs. People stand around chatting or conduct long telephone conversations with their mothers. They also routinely pilfer supplies from their workplace: that is what keeps the informal economy going.

Cuba ranks 4th-5th among the countries of Latin America (ranks higher) and 67th in the world according to the UN classification in terms of Human Development.

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 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 use of the term "underdeveloped" for pre-revolutionary Cuba, which, in his words, caused false associations with truly backward countries, and suggested calling it "medium developed." On the other hand, the Groningen Growth and Development Centre, having carried out their own retrospective calculations using a special method, received data stating that Cuba in 1958 was inferior to these countries and a number of Latin American ones.

Source	Robin Blackburn	Humberto (Bert) Corzo	NationMaster	Angus Maddison
Units	U.S. dollars	USD PPP	U.S. dollars	geary-khamis dollars
Year	1953-1954	1958	1960	1960	1953	1960
Cuba	360	356	4399	1900	2363	2052
Spain	250	180	396	396	2528	3150
Mexico		284	353	353	2439	3025
Chile		360	551	551	4112	4392
Costa Rica		230	381	381	2353	2605
Japan	254		471	471	2474	3289
USA			2881	2793	10613	11328

According to statistics, in 1951 there were 122 thousand cars in Cuba for 5.5 million people, 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, 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.”

Combine harvester KTP-1 for mechanized harvesting of sugar cane, developed at the Lyubertsy plant of agricultural engineering. A. V. Ukhtomsky in the second half of the 1970s to work in Cuba and subsequently produced under license in the city of Holguin.

In 1960, a massive nationalization of the private sector was carried out. Currently, Cuba has one of the most state-owned economies in the world. In the second half of the 1960s. the government tried to abandon central planning in favor of sectoral planning. Extensive experiments were carried out with the moral stimulation of labor and the use of non-monetized compulsory labor. The fall in the level of production and the avoidance of work 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 industry is being created in Cuba.

According to the CIA handbook, in 2010 real GDP growth was 1.5%.

View of the valley with tobacco plantations, Viñales, Cuba.

Exports ($3.3 billion in 2010) - sugar, nickel, tobacco, seafood, medical products, citrus fruits, coffee. The main export partners are China (26%), Canada (20%), Spain (7%), the Netherlands (5%).

Cuban cigars

Cuba imports ($10.3 billion in 2010) - oil products, food, industrial equipment, chemical products. The main import partners are Venezuela (31%), China (15%), Spain (8%), USA (7%).

It plays an important role in Cuba's foreign trade, which, in exchange for the services of Cuban doctors, teachers and trainers, supplies Havana with cheap oil under the Petrokaribe program (part of the oil is then resold by the Cuban authorities). In 2011, trade between the two countries reached $8.3 billion. At the beginning of 2013, there were 36 Cuban-Venezuelan enterprises in the field of energy, transport, communications, tourism, agriculture, construction, and the mining industry.

The Cuban banking system consists of the Central Bank of Cuba, 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. The Western media reported on the currency fraud of the top Cuban leadership and the F. Castro family.

Since 1962, a card system has been operating in Cuba, products are issued according to the same norms for the whole country. According to Cuban experts, at present, the population receives from 40 to 54 percent of the minimum required calories from products distributed by cards. Milk is given free of charge by the state to children under 6 years old or purchased by the population in the market. During all the post-revolutionary years, there was a black market in Cuba. A number of goods, the distribution of which by cards is carried out irregularly or intended only for beneficiaries, are still purchased on the black market.

In 2009, about 100,000 passenger cars were registered in the country, of which 60,000 were old American cars that were on the island before the revolution.

The average monthly salary in Cuba in January 2011 was 300-350 pesos (23-25 pesos per dollar). However, domestic prices for domestically produced goods can differ significantly from the global average. There is a developed system of free services and state benefits. For example, free clothes are given to workers. There is a system of free medical care, free higher and secondary education.

Reform 2010

In October 2010, the government of the country significantly increased the number of permitted types of business activities by adopting laws and regulations governing private business.
Cuban President Raul Castro appealed to his fellow citizens to support his radical program of economic change, saying that "the future of the revolution hangs in the balance." According to him, the reforms, which provide for a significant increase in the role of private enterprise, are aimed at saving the socialist system, and not at returning to capitalism. R. Castro noted that the ruling Communist Party should correct its past mistakes and abandon the negative attitude towards small private business.

Private business

At the end of May 2016, the Cuban authorities announced the legalization of private small and medium-sized businesses.

Foreign policy

Main article: Cuban foreign policy

The largest cooperation to date is with Venezuela.

Sino-Cuban relations.

Venezuela

The basic agreement on cooperation between the two countries was signed under Hugo Chavez in 2000. And already in 2009, 98,000 Cubans worked in Venezuela. In 2011, an undersea cable was laid from Venezuela to Cuba, providing the island with Internet.

EU

In 1993-2003, the European Union provided Cuba with a small support of about 145 million euros (including about 90 million euros in humanitarian aid). In 2003, the EU imposed sanctions against Havana, which obligated European countries, within the framework of the “common position”, to limit bilateral government visits, reduce participation European states in cultural ties with Cuba, they suggested intensifying contacts with the opposition to the authorities, inviting Cuban dissidents to events at their embassies in Cuba and other countries, etc. The sanctions were partially lifted in 2005, and in 2008 they were finally canceled.

Panama

August 23, 2004 - Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso announced the recall of the Panamanian ambassador from Cuba in response to a warning issued by the Cuban Foreign Ministry on August 22 that it was ready to break off diplomatic relations with Panama if its authorities pardon 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 does not mean a break in 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 an exemplary punishment of the terrorists" who were preparing an 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."

Mexico

Bahamas

On October 3, 2011, an agreement was signed between Cuba and on the definition maritime border between the two states.

USSR / Russia

Fidel Castro with Russian President V.V. Putin, 2000

From the very beginning of the revolution in Cuba, the attitude of the leadership of the CPSU towards the Island of Freedom was ambiguous, in a sense similar to the position regarding the SFRY. First, neither the Castro brothers nor their associates were formally Leninists. Their theoretical base was limited to the legacy of Marx and Engels. Secondly, among other things, Cuba was fundamentally not part of military blocs. Highly appreciating freedom, since the Belgrade Conference (Yugoslavia, September 1-6, 1961), Cuba has been one of the most active participants in the Non-Aligned Movement. She 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.

mass media

The only public broadcaster in Cuba and the only broadcaster of Cuba in general is ICRT ( Instituto Cubano de Radio and Television- "Cuban Institute of Radio and Television"), established on May 24, 1962. Includes:

radio stations
- Radio Progreso, launched in 1929, network partners - CMHA, CMIB, CMFC, CMMB, CMKB, CMLA, CMJB, CMAB, CMGB.
- Radio Reloj, launched 1947
- CMBF Radio Musical Nacional, launched 1948
- Radio Rebelde, launched 1959
- Radio Havana Cuba, international radio station, launched in 1961
- Radio Enciclopedia, launched 1962
- Radio Taíno, launched in 1985
- Provincial radio stations - Radio Ciudad de La Habana, Radio Metropolitana, Radio COCO, Radio Cadena Habana (all 3 in Havana), Radio Guamá, Radio Artemisa, etc.
TV channels
- Cubavisión (before nationalization in 1960 CMQ-TV, Canal 6), launched in 1962
- Tele Rebelde (formerly Canal 2), launched 1982
- Canal Educativo, launched in 2001
- Canal Educativo 2, launched in 2004
- Multivision, launched in 2008
- provincial TV channels
- Cubavision Internacional

Previously there were also CMQ and RHC-Cadena Azul radios (launched 1939).

culture

José Maria Heredia (1803-1839), the author of love, philosophical and civic-patriotic poems, stood at the origins of national Cuban literature. Its popular so far in Cuba" Anthem of the Exile”(1825), riddled with bitterness and sorrow for the homeland oppressed by tyrants, ends with the foreknowledge of its inevitable liberation. The end of the 19th century was marked by the creative heritage of one of the founders of modernism in literature, a patriot, " apostle» Cuban Revolution Jose Marti. After the First World War, against the background of the growth of patriotic sentiments in the 1920-1930s, the “ second Republican generation"of Cuban poets and prose writers, which combines a variety of literary movements. In the novel " Sacred spring» A. Carpentier, one of the famous prose writers of this generation, gives a broad picture of revolutionary changes in the world over the decades of the twentieth century.

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

In popular culture

Cuba in music

Santiago de Cuba

Guantanamera is a famous Cuban song, the unofficial anthem of Cuba.
Muslim Magomayev - Cuba, my love.
Flame (group) - "We say this."
Hasta Siempre, Comandante - "Nathalie Cardon" - "Buena Vista Social Club" - "Panteon Rococo"
Night snipers - "Cuba".
Jah Division - "Cuban".
Forbidden drummers - "Cuba is near."
Daniele Silvestri - Cohiba.
Camila Cabello - "Havana"

Cuba in literature

Ernest Hemingway. The Old Man and the Sea
Graham Green. Our man in Havana

Cuba in cinema

Godfather 2
Havana (dir. Sydney Pollack)
Havana I love you
I am Cuba (dir. Mikhail Kalatozov)
Ocean (2008, dir. Mikhail Kosyrev-Nesterov)
Dirty Dancing 2: Havana Nights
Zombie SlayerDir. Alejandro Bruges.

Cuba in video games

Driver 2
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2, Soviet campaign begins in Cuba, Operation Red Dawn
The Godfather II
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
Call of Duty: Black Ops
Corsairs III

Religion

In Cuba, the church is separated from the state. The country's constitution guarantees freedom of religion to the people. The most common religion is Catholic.

Cubans are quite religious. Catholic churches exist throughout the country, masses are celebrated daily and solemn services are held on national or local religious holidays. Members of the Cuban Communist Party are not prohibited from attending churches. There are also 96,000 members of the religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses in the country.

With the arrival of black slaves on the island, various beliefs of African origin spread. Over time, they formed the main currents that exist and are still popular. This is La Regla de Ocha Ifa (Spanish. La Regla de Ocha-Ifá) or Santeria (Spanish. Santeria Cubana), Regla Palo Monte (Spanish. Regla Palo Monte) and La Sociedad Secret Abakua (Spanish: La Sociedad Secreta Abakuá), as well as other currents that have now disappeared or are on the verge of extinction, for example, La Regla Iyessa (Spanish. La Regla Iyessa) and La Regla Arara (Spanish. La Regla Arara). As a result of the historical process, a mixture of Catholic dogmas and African cults was also formed. For example, the Most Pure Virgin of Mercy of Cobra 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.

October 19, 2008 in Havana consecrated the first in Cuba Orthodox church- Cathedral of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God.

See also Islam in Cuba

Sport

Sport in Cuba is available to everyone and this mass nature of it allows you to constantly replenish national teams in various sports, which brought important world and Olympic awards to the small Caribbean island. Cuba is the birthplace of world famous athletes. Baseball, boxing, athletics and volleyball stand out among the sports.

As of August 18, 2016, the Cuban national team has won the most medals of all time in baseball.

Armed forces

Guard at the mausoleum of José Marti

Main article: Armed Forces of Cuba

revolutionary armed forces Cuba ( Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias - FAR) are the main armed formation of Cuba, providing its national defense.

In accordance with the constitution, the president of the country is the supreme commander in chief and determines the structure of the armed forces.

The armed forces of Cuba include the following types of troops:

Ground troops
Air Force and Air Defense.

mass media

The daily newspaper of the Island of Freedom "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 a guerrilla struggle against the Batista regime. The newspaper is the official guide and promoter of the policies pursued by the Cuban Communist Party (CCP). Once a week, Granma Internacional is published in English. The Cuban press is also represented by such publications devoted to the problems of economy, tourism, finance, culture, politics, as Opciones, Bohemia, Juventud Rebelde, Trabajadores.

Cuban emigration

New Jersey

Mostly, Cubans fled to the United States, as President John F. Kennedy declared that "any Cuban who sets even one foot on the shores of the United States is automatically entitled to political asylum in this country." Now, only 150 kilometers from Cuba, there are 1.5 million Cubans who have created a “little Cuba” here.

In 1965, relatives of Cuban emigrants who had previously left Cuba were allowed to leave the port of Kamarioka. In the two months that the port was open, more than 250,000 people left the country.

In 1980, Fidel Castro opened the port of Mariel to everyone who wanted to emigrate from Cuba.

On October 16, 2012, the 1976 Migration Law was amended and entered into force on January 14, 2013. If earlier a resident of Cuba needed a special permit to leave, the so-called. exit visa and to process documents for a trip abroad, it was necessary to pay about $ 300), and such categories of citizens as doctors were “not allowed to travel abroad” in principle, then from January 14, 2013, an adult Cuban for a trip abroad needs only a valid passport, air ticket and (if necessary ) visa of the country of destination. Restrictions on leaving Cuba are reserved only for famous athletes, "secret carriers", those under investigation, as well as those whose profession is "vital for the state." According to press reports, the Cuban government hopes that the citizens who left will later return to their homeland, having acquired new skills and brought money to the country's economy.

In general, from 1959 to January 2013, about 2 million Cuban citizens emigrated from the country, 86% of emigrants live in the United States.

The symbol of Cuba is a flower mariposa(Hedychium coronarium).
In Cuba, the activities of Masonic lodges have never been banned or persecuted. This is the only country of the socialist camp where Freemasonry has been preserved. As of 2009, about 28,000 Cubans were members of the Grand Lodge of Cuba.
In Havana, there is a state rock club "Maxim Rock", which is the center of the informal movement of Cuba. In order for a local band to receive a share of the proceeds from concert ticket sales, they must audition with a national rock agency and receive approval. The rest of the proceeds from the events go to the budget. The lyrics of Cuban rock musicians should not raise questions from censors: for example, they are forbidden to criticize the authorities.

Notes

As a result of the Spanish-American War.
World Atlas: Maximum detailed information/ Project leaders: A. N. Bushnev, A. P. Pritvorov. - Moscow: AST, 2017. - S. 84. - 96 p. - ISBN 978-5-17-10261-4.
ZV Ivanovsky, Institute of Latin America (Russian Academy of Sciences). Latin America and Caribbean: political institutions and processes. - Moscow: "Nauka", 2000. - S. 192-195. - 446 p. - ISBN 5-02-008362-3.
census.gov. country rank. Countries and Areas Ranked by Population: 2013 (indefinite) (unavailable link). U.S. Department of Commerce (2013). Retrieved May 9, 2013. Archived from the original on May 9, 2013.
2015 Cuban census data (indefinite) (unavailable link). Retrieved April 25, 2017. Archived from the original on January 7, 2017.
Cuba (indefinite) . The World Fact book. CIA.
Human Development Indices and Indicators(English) . United Nations Development Program (2018). - Human Development Report on the website of the United Nations Development Program. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
http://chartsbin.com/view/edr
The Dictionary of the Taino Language (plate 8) Alfred Carrada (indefinite) (unavailable link). Retrieved June 24, 2016. Archived from the original on February 19, 2009.
Dictionary - Taino indigenous peoples of the Caribbean Dictionary -- (indefinite) (unavailable link). Retrieved June 24, 2016. Archived from the original on April 30, 2008.
Augusto Mascarenhas Barreto: O Português. Cristóvão Colombo Agente Secreto do Rei Dom João II. Ed. Referendo, Lissabon 1988. English: The Portuguese Columbus: secret agent of King John II, Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN 0-333-56315-8
da Silva, Manuel L. and Silvia Jorge da Silva. (2008). Christopher Columbus was Portuguese, Express Printing, Fall River, MA. 396pp. ISBN 978-1-60702-824-6.
Cuba // Baptism of the Lord - Swallow. - M.: Great Russian Encyclopedia, 2010. - S. 197. - (Great Russian Encyclopedia: [in 35 volumes] / editor-in-chief Yu. S. Osipov; 2004-2017, v. 16). - ISBN 978-5-85270-347-7.
Great Soviet Encyclopedia. / editorial board, ch. ed. B. A. Vvedensky. 2nd ed. T.23. M., State scientific publishing house "Big Soviet Encyclopedia", 1953. pp. 578-584
Countries of the world: a brief political and economic reference book. M., Politizdat, 1988. pp. 397-400
Ivette E Torres. "The Mineral Industry of Cuba". U.S. Geological Survey. 1997
E. A. Grinevich, B. I. Gvozdarev. Washington vs. Havana: The Cuban Revolution and US Imperialism. M., "International Relations", 1982. pp. 40-42
Countries of the world: a brief political and economic reference book. M., "Republic", 1993. pp. 224-226
Wayne S. Smith. After 46 years of failure, we must change course on Cuba // The Guardian, November 1, 2006
CIA The World Fact Book. Cuba (English)
Cuba to host a number of events dedicated to the 165th anniversary of the arrival of the first Chinese immigrants to the island
Raul Castro: Between Deng Xiaoping and Gorbachev
A barrier for Cuba's blacks - New attitudes on once-taboo race questions emerge with a fledgling black movement (indefinite) . Retrieved April 27, 2010. Archived from the original on August 21, 2011.
World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Cuba: Afro-Cubans (indefinite) .
World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Cuba: Overview (indefinite) . (English)
In Cuba, announced the preliminary results of the census // "Rossiyskaya Gazeta" of December 4, 2012
The Economist Hasta la vista, baby
The Economist "Revolution in retreat"
Gleb Kuznetsov. The funeral of Castro is another funeral of the USSR
Brundenius, Claes. Revolutionary Cuba at 50: Growth with Equity revisited Latin American Perspectives Vol. 36 no. March 2, 2009 pp.31-48
Fidel Castro resigns as leader of Cuba, RIA Novosti (February 19, 2009). Retrieved 18 October 2009.
Miguel Diaz-Canel became the new leader of Cuba, RIA Novosti
To the 50th anniversary of the American trade and economic blockade of Cuba // Foreign Military Review, No. 3 (780), 2012. p.104
“Edging towards capitalism. Why reforms are slow and difficult” The Economist, 24 March 2012
Robin Blackburn Archived September 24, 2008 at the Wayback Machine. The economies oh the Cuban revolution// Fidel Castro's Personal Revolution in Cuba: 1953-1973. Edited with an Introduction by James Nelson Goodsell, The Christian Science monitor. Consulting Editor Lewis hanke, University of Massachusetts, Amherst. New York, 1975, p. 134
"Semidevelopment", "Intermediate stage of development" - Maurice Halperin. The Rise and Decline of Fidel Castro. An Essay in Contemporary History by Maurice Halperin. University of California Press. Berkley/Los Angeles/London., 1972, p. 25
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CUBA'S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP)
TSB, 2nd ed., vol. 23, p. 581.
Area Handbook for Cuba. Washington, 1976. p.185
Cuba // Encyclopedia "Round the World".
Cuba at the World Facebook
China to invest $500 million in Cuban economy, BBC (November 24, 2004). Retrieved 18 October 2009.
Victoria Kutuzova. Now and Brazil, Expert Online (January 28, 2008). Archived from the original on January 31, 2008. Retrieved 18 October 2009.
Bueno Latina. Cuba to increase nickel production
Ivanovsky ZV Internal and foreign policy of Venezuela in the conditions of crisis // Latin American historical almanac. - 2014. - T. 14. - No. 14. - S. 240
Message from Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz.
http://www.explan.ru/archive/2001/04/s3.htm Archived December 8, 2008 at the Wayback Machine Alexander Trushin. NEP in Cuban. Echo of the planet. Socio-political weekly ITAR-TASS.
Mass Media: Personal computers first sold in Cuba
Bueno Latina. Cuba began reform
Economic reform will save Cuban socialism // BBC Russian Service, December 19, 2010
“In Cuba, it was decided to legalize small and medium-sized businesses”
“We do not call our policy reforms”
Dabaghyan E. Foreign Policy of Venezuela at the Beginning of the 21st Century: Main Directions // Bulletin of Moscow University. Series 25: International Relations and World Politics. - 2012. - No. 1. - P. 100
Budaev A. V. “Soft Power” of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela: Myths and Reality // Public Administration. Electronic Bulletin. - 2015. - No. 50. - P. 96
Cuba: New Perspectives for European Business | euronews, world
Institute of Europe RAS (indefinite) (unavailable link). Retrieved June 1, 2015. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015.
Maritime boundary delimitation agreements and other material (indefinite) .
UN General Assembly urges US to end blockade of Cuba for 16th time
UNGA Resolution A/RES/62/3 of October 30, 2007 "Need to end the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba" (unavailable link), adopted by 184 votes in favor, 4 against, with one abstention
Obama announced the resumption of US relations with Cuba. LifeNews, 20:46 / 12/17/2014.
The United States and Cuba officially announced the normalization of relations. Russia Today, 17.12.2014, 20:59.
TASS: International panorama - Obama makes historic visit to Cuba
25,000 Ukrainian children received free treatment in Cuba - this is an unprecedented program in world practice // Censor.net, March 13, 2012
Human rights in Cuba
CUBA DOES NOT TRADE AND DOES NOT SELL ITS REVOLUTION WHICH COST THE BLOOD AND VICTIMS OF MANY OF ITS SONS// Interview of Fidel Castro to Federico Mayor]
TSB, 2nd ed., Vol. 45, p. 501
TSB, 2nd ed., v.23, p. 583
100 per 1000 in 1951 - TSB, 2nd ed., vol. 18, p. 565
111 per 1000 in 1932 - TSB, 1st ed., vol. 30, p. 270
CIA - The World Factbook - Country Comparison: Infant mortality rate
Neonilla Yampolskaya. "Fidel Castro is already here!" // news agency "Rosbalt" dated October 5, 2007
BBC News "Free Medicine Island"
CIA - The World Factbook
TSB, 1st ed., vol. 35, p. 358
TSB, 2nd ed., v.23, art. "Cuba"
Area Handbook for Cuba. p. 149
Cuba // Big Encyclopedia (in 62 vols.). / editorial board, ch. ed. S. A. Kondratov. Volume 24. M., TERRA, 2006. pp. 358-375
E.O. PODOL.// Establishment of the Russian Academy of Sciences Institute of Sociology RAS.
UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Public expenditure on education as % of GDP(English) . Retrieved March 25, 2011. Archived from the original on August 21, 2011.
« In 1992, CENIAI began uucp data transmission. About twice a week, they receive a dial-up call from Toronto for two-way transfer of mail and news. Their Canadian partner is Web, a part of the Association for Progressive Communications»
Larry Press, Joel Snyder. A Look at Cuban Networks
Fiber optic cable Venezuela-Cuba reached the Cuban coast // RIA Novosti on February 9, 2011
Test tests of the Internet cable are being held in Cuba // RIA Novosti of January 24, 2013
On June 3, the first 118 Internet cafes appeared in Cuba // news service "RuNews24" dated June 5, 2013
Cuban authorities allowed citizens to buy mobile phones Archived March 17, 2013 on the Wayback Machine // RBC March 28, 2008
The fee for connecting to mobile communications in Cuba has decreased from $120 to $65 // RIA Novosti, December 12, 2008
Subichus B. Yu. From the history of Cuban literature - /Culture of Cuba - M .: Nauka, 1979. - 336 p.
Carpenter A. Sacred spring. - / translation by R. Soshina and N. Trauberg - M .: Raduga, 1982. - 480 p.
Elementos tangibles en la práctica de la variante cruzada del espitismo en la ciudad de Matanzas. - Lic. Andres Rodriguez Reyes (indefinite) (unavailable link). Retrieved September 21, 2019. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
Article dedicated to Cuba on the site "Pink Slon" (indefinite) (unavailable link). Date of treatment December 15, 2013. Archived from the original on October 31, 2013.
Los Iyessa. Por Israel Moliner Castañeda. Ediciones Olokum. Volume IV
La Regla Iyessa (indefinite) (unavailable link). Retrieved September 21, 2019. Archived from the original on December 15, 2013.
Cuba: La Regla Arara
Leonid Velekhov. Cuba opposite Cuba// Around the World, No. 12 (2843), December 2010
Anna Papchenko. Roads of the revolution. 50 years later // Around the World, No. 2 (2821), February 2009
« Fidel Castro allowed the free exit of Cubans through the port of Mariel and in six months 125,000 refugees arrived in Florida»
Sergey Guriev, Oleg Tsyvinsky: Immigration is not an economic, but a political problem // Vedomosti, October 23, 2012
Sara Rainsford. Dreams come true: Cubans get passports for the first time // BBC Russian Service, January 15, 2013
"Exit visas" canceled in Cuba // RIA Novosti, January 14, 2013
Grandes Maestros de la Gran Logia de Cuba de A. L. y A. M
Tiwy.com - Masonic secrets of the island of Freedom - Natalia Laidinen
GLs Information
How Cuban Metalists Live (indefinite) . hitkiller.com.

Literature

Larin E. A. Cuba of the end of the 18th - the first third of the 19th century / Ed. ed. dr ist. Sciences N. M. Lavrov. Institute of World History of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR .. - M .: Nauka, 1989. - 272 p. - 1300 copies. - ISBN 5-02-008962-1.

Physical and geographical characteristics

Geographical position

Relief

Minerals

Climate

Administrative division

Transport

Connection

Population

Story

Economy

Foreign policy

Russia

Participation in international organizations

Education

The science

Art

Religion

Sport

Armed forces

mass media

Notes

Cuba today

Paradise Island

Climate

Main tourist destinations

Attractions and entertainment in Cuba

Holidays to celebrate with Cubans

Features of the national mentality

Religion

Language

Food in Cuba

Money

Travel budget

Road

Accommodation

Car rent

Etymology

Geography

Geographical position

Minerals

Climate

Administrative division

Transport

Population

Population aging

Story

State structure

Legal system

Economy

Reform 2010

Private business

Foreign policy

Venezuela

EU

Panama

Mexico

Bahamas

USSR / Russia

mass media

culture

In popular culture

Religion

Sport

Armed forces

mass media

Cuban emigration

see also

Notes

Literature

Read also