Fun Facts About Cuba
The republic of Cuba is a country that comprises of three major islands which are the island of Cuba(the main island), Isla de la Juventud and many other surrounding minor archipelagos. It i a country that is surrounded by the Atlantic ocean, Gulf of Mexico and the Northern Caribbean sea. The country of Cuba has had a troubling history especially politically , which affects the information people know or have of Cuba, but in this article we would be sharing with you interesting fun facts about Cuba that would let you into some of the most beautiful things about the country of Cuba.
There are lots of facts about Cuba that makes the Caribbean country an appealing place to travel to, these wonderful things about Cuba is the reason the country is a tourism hotspot for people from the Americas to those from Europe and other parts of the world.
The very famous and well known city of Havana is the country’s capital and commercial hub, it is a center for some of the beautiful things we know about. To learn some more Cuba facts that wold startle you continue below to the list of interesting facts about Cuba
Interesting Facts About Cuba
- Cuban law mandates that all citizens vote.
- Cuba has one of the highest literacy rates in the world with a literacy rate of 99.98%. Virtually everyone in Cuba is a literate.
- The most popular and liked sport in Cuba is baseball.
- Cuba is a long and narrow country due to the shape and size of the Island of Cuba.
- Cuba is one of the most visited countries in the Caribbean. In 2020, the country welcomed over 1.2 million visitors/tourists to the island.
- Every day, Cuba receives nearly 100,000 barrels of oil from Venezuela.
- Cell phone ownership was prohibited in Cuba until 2008 when the administration of President Raul Castro lifted the restriction.
- You may not be aware that the 45 square miles that the Guantánamo Bay Naval Station resides on are leased by the United States to Cuba for a sum of roughly $4,085 per year. But since 1959, Cuba has refused to accept the payment.
- The island of Cuba looks like a crocodile from the air. It is also known as “El Crocodilo” or “El Caima” in Spanish for this reason.
- Due to the existence of two different currencies in circulation in Cuba, the CUP (Cuban peso) and the CUC (convertible peso). The unit of currency in Cuba is the peso. But the convertible peso’s value is fixed at one to one to the US dollar. According to Latin American Post, the majority of workers receive their pay in CUP, but a lot of goods are sold in CUC, which results in higher prices for consumers.
- The size of Cuba can be compared to Virginia or Tennessee in terms of total area.
- In Cuba, the majority of the 38,000 miles of roads are unpaved.
- The best cigars in the world are thought to originate from Cuba. They are made by hand using locally grown tobacco. Their main crop is sugarcane, which is used to make sugar.
- Cuba has the largest island population of any Caribbean nation. Up to 4000 additional, considerably smaller than Cuba, islands exist in the area. Jamaica is the third-largest island in the Caribbean, with Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic) taking second place.
- After Hispaniola, Cuba is the island with the second-highest population in Cuba and the Caribbean.
- The closest neighbor to Cuba is Haiti, which is located 48 miles to its east. 87 miles to the south is Jamaica.
- Since the 18th century, the Cuban economy has been heavily dependent on the sugarcane crop. Potatoes, bananas, citrus fruits, rice, and other crops are crucial for the nation’s economy.
- The domino game is played as part of Cuban culture.
- In the entire world, Cuba has the highest doctor-to-patient ratio. As a result, numerous Cuban medical professionals are dispatched to nations in need of medical assistance.
- Cuba is home to the smallest hummingbird and frog in the world, the bee hummingbird and the Mount Iberia frog, respectively.
- At least officially, Coca-Cola can no longer be purchased or sold in all but two nations around the world. Long-term US trade embargoes are in place against North Korea and Cuba respectively (Cuba since 1962 and North Korea since 1950).
- The island is the 17th largest in the world.
- Christmas was not recognized as an official holiday in Cuba until 1997.
- In January 1998, Pope John Paul II paid a visit to Cuba.
- Only the communist party is recognized as legitimate in this nation.
- The renowned author Ernest Hemingway penned “The Old Man and the Sea” and “For Whom the Bell Tolls” while he was a resident of Cuba.
- The maximum amount of cigars and rum that visitors from the United States can bring home is $100.
- Cubans pass recipes down from one generation to the next.
- In the 1950s, there were 58 daily newspapers published in Cuba. Today there are only 20.
- To symbolize letting go of the past and welcoming a new beginning with the New Year, burning dolls on New Year’s Eve is a custom in Cuba.
- Spanish rule over Cuba, which Christopher Columbus discovered in 1492, lasted until 1898. Approximately 124,000 Cubans immigrated to the United States between April and September 1980 thanks to Fidel Castro’s free permission to do so.
- The United States has been hostile to Cuba ever since the communists seized power in that country in 1959. However, since Fidel Castro’s resignation, relations between the two nations have improved. On August 14, 2015, the American embassy in Havana reopened.
- Cuba’s highest point, Pico Turquino, is 1,974 m (6,476 ft) above sea level.
- The Communist Party of Cuba has been in charge of the nation since 1965.
- One of the first nations to outlaw the sale of incandescent lighting was Cuba.
- The longest river in Cuba is the Cauto River. It travels 230 miles.
- The Caribbean country with the most people is Cuba. Other nations in the Caribbean include, among others, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Grenada, Belize, Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama, and Mexico.
- Considering that Cuba was a Spanish colony from 1492 to 1898, the United States helped Cuba win its independence from Spain during the Spanish-American War. The United States had temporary control over Cuba from 1898 to 1902. In 1902, Cuba became independent from the United States.
- Diego Velazquez de Cuellar established Baracoa, the first Spanish settlement on Cuba, in 1511.
- The majority of Cuba’s businesses are state-owned. Since the government controls most industries, it also owns and runs the majority of the labor force. Government subsidies for Cubans’ access to healthcare, food, and education
- Fidel Castro resigned as president on February 19, 2008, and on February 24, 2008, the National Assembly of the country elects his brother Raul Castro to fill the vacancy. Castro passed away in November 2016
- Cohiba cigars were smoked by Fidel Castro. Castro was even allegedly the target of a poisoned cigar shipment sent by the CIA in an attempt to assassinate him.
- Fidel Castro, the Cuban dictator, was given a 15-year prison term on October 16, 1953.
- A projected 4.7 million visitors arrived in Cuba in 2017. An increase in American tourists visiting the island nation followed President Barack Obama’s authorization of person-to-person travel. But there was a definite decline in American visitors to Cuba after the Trump administration announced new rules in June 2017. He put limitations on American tourists’ access to Cuba. One of the island’s primary economic drivers is tourism.
- Raul Castro resigned as president of Cuba on April 18, 2018, and Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez took his place.
The above are some of the most interesting fun facts about Cuba that most people do not know even some of those that visit the country are unaware of some of these aforementioned Cuba facts. There are some information probably not included in the above list of facts about Cuba but they would be included in the following section answering frequently asked questions about Cuba facts.
FAQs About Cuba
What are 5 interesting facts about Cuba?
5 interesting facts about Cuba are:
- Cuba has 9 Heritage Sites recognized by UNESCO.
- Baseball is the most popular sport in Cuba.
- Cuba has 99.98% literacy rate, one of the highest in the world.
- The Island of Cuba is the largest Island in the Caribbean.
- Cubans speak Spanish as their official language.
What are 10 facts about Cuba?
10 interesting facts about Cuba are:
- Cubans speak Spanish as their official language.
- World’s smallest cars are found in Cuba.
- The world’s smallest birds are also found in Cuba
- Cuba has 99.98% literacy rate, one of the highest in the world.
- The Island of Cuba is the largest Island in the Caribbean.
- Baseball is the most popular sport in Cuba.
- Cuba has 9 Heritage Sites recognized by UNESCO.
- Cuba has some of the world’s oldest cars.
- Cuba used to have two currencies.
- Cuba is a long and narrow country.
What are 3 things Cuba is known for?
Three things Cuba is known for are;
- Cigars.
- Communism and communist fighters like Che Guevara and Fidel Castro.
- Salsa.
What is Cuba’s national animal?
The Cuban Hutia is Cuba’s national animal.
When was Christmas banned in Cuba?
Christmas was banned in Cuba in the year 1969. The ban was later lifted in the year 1998.
What sport is Cuba known for?
The sport Cuba is known for is baseball which makes it the most popular sport in the country loved by many.
What language is spoken in Cuba?
The official language spoken in Cuba is Spanish, it is often referred to as Cubano due to the slight changes it has experienced in comparison to official Spanish.
Why does Cuba have old cars?
Cuba has old cars because imported cars were banned by the leader of the country Castro, this was after the US placed an embargo on the country.
What is Cuba’s national fruit?
Cuba’s national fruit is the mamey Cuban.
What bird is only found in Cuba?
A bird that is only found in Cuba is the Cuban trogon.
Does Cuba have snakes?
Yes, Cuba has lots of snakes. While there are many snakes in Cuba, it is actually rare to see a specie of venemous snakes Cuba because there are very few of them.
What are 3 popular dishes in Cuba?
Three popular dishes in Cuba are the Ropa vieja(old clothes), Arroz y Frijoles negros(rice and black beans) and Arroz Moros y Cristiano(Moors and Christian Rice).
Are there big cats in Cuba?
No, there are not big cats in Cuba this is due to the lack of presence of large predators of any kind in the Island.