| Geography and Climate |
Cuba is located in Caribbean, it's an island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Florida. Area comparatively slightly smaller than Pennsylvania. Total land boundary is 29 km, border countries are US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 29 km
note: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and thus remains part of Cuba.
Cuba has a tropical climate; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April); rainy season (May to October). Terrain consists mostly of flat to rolling plains with rugged hills and mountains in the southeast. Elevation extreme has the lowest point in Caribbean Sea 0 m and
highest point in Pico Turquino 2,005 m. Natural resources are cobalt, nickel, iron ore, copper, manganese, salt, timber, silica, petroleum. Land use: arable land: 24%, permanent crops: 7%,
permanent pastures: 27%, forests and woodland: 24%, other: 18% (1993 est.), Irrigated land: 9,100 sq km (1993 est.). Natural hazard in the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to October (in general, the country averages about one hurricane every other year); droughts are common.
Environment—current issues: pollution of Havana Bay; overhunting threatens wildlife populations; deforestation
Geography—note: largest country in Caribbean
Ref. Anonymous, 1999 |