Bay of Pigs

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Map showing the location of the Bay of Pigs.
Map showing the location of the Bay of Pigs.

For the United States invasion at the Bay of Pigs, see Bay of Pigs Invasion.


The Bay of Pigs (Spanish: Bahía de Cochinos, also known as Playa Girón) is an inlet of the Gulf of Cazones on the south coast of Cuba. It is located in the province of Matanzas, east of the Zapata Swamp, south of Jagüey Grande and west of the city of Cienfuegos. The English translation of cochinos as "pigs" might be erroneous, as in all probability here it refers to a species of triggerfish (Balistes vetula)[1], rather than pigs (Sus scrofa).

The bay is the site of the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion, an unsuccessful April 12 1961 United States CIA-backed invasion by 1,200 Cuban exiles and a number of American citizens formed into Brigade 2506 — whom many people believe was directed by President John F. Kennedy — in an attempt to overthrow the government of President Fidel Castro.The attacks first began with bombings of air-fields on Saturday April 15, 1961[2] and by April 19th at 2:30pm the brigade radioed they had nothing left to fight with. The following day, April 20, 1961, Castro declared that the revolution had been victorious.[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.invemar.org.co/redcostera1/invemar/docs/Vol33/BIMC_33_03_Claro.pdf
  2. ^ Bay of Pigs, The Invasion - History of Cuba
  3. ^ < Bay of Pigs, Victory - History of Cuba
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