Guantánamo Province

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For other uses, see Guantánamo Province (disambiguation).
Guantánamo Province
Location of Guantánamo Province in Cuba
Location of Guantánamo Province in Cuba
Country Flag of Cuba Cuba
Capital Guantánamo
Area 6,167.97 km² (2,381 sq mi)
Population 510,706 (2004[1])
Density 82.8 /km² (214 /sq mi)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
Area code +53-021

Guantánamo is the easternmost province of Cuba. Its capital is also called Guantánamo. Other towns include Baracoa. The province surrounds the important U.S. Navy base at Guantánamo Bay.

Contents

[edit] History

Guantánamo's architecture and culture is distinct from that of the rest of Cuba. The original settlement was done by Catalan families from the Ampurdan region of north-eastern Catalonia, Spain in 1764. British forces had occupied the area for over 40 years and Scot-Irish settlers were a constant preoccupation to the Spanish authorities. In 1805, when the French were forced out of St. Domingue (Haiti) 35,000 French settlers were given lands in Cuba, many French families settled in the Guantanamo area becoming coffee and cacao planters meaning that many buildings are comparable to those of the French Quarter of New Orleans in the U.S. state of Louisiana.

Before the Cuban Revolution of 1959, the Carnivals of Guantanamo were famous in Cuba.

[edit] Geography

The province is only 80 km (50 mi) away from Haiti its closest point, across the Windward Passage and close enough to see lights in Haiti on a clear night. Guantánamo also has a number of immigrants from Jamaica.

The Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa mountains (Sierra de Cristal) dominate the province, dividing both climate and landscape. The northern coast, battered by prevailing winds, is the wettest part of the country, while the south, sheltered and dry, is the hottest. The north is characterized by rainforests, while the south is arid and has many cacti.

[edit] Municipalities

Municipality Population
(2004)		 Area
(km²)		 Location Remarks
Baracoa &0000000000081794.00000081,794 &0000000000000977.000000977 20°21′2″N 74°30′37″W / 20.35056, -74.51028 (Baracoa)
Caimanera &0000000000010562.00000010,562 &0000000000000366.000000366 19°59′42″N 75°09′35″W / 19.995, -75.15972 (Caimanera)
El Salvador &0000000000045662.00000045,662 &0000000000000637.000000637 20°12′35″N 75°13′22″W / 20.20972, -75.22278 (El Salvador)
Guantánamo &0000000000244603.000000244,603 &0000000000000741.000000741 20°08′13″N 75°12′50″W / 20.13694, -75.21389 (Guantánamo) Provincial capital
Imías &0000000000020959.00000020,959 &0000000000000524.000000524 20°04′37″N 74°39′6″W / 20.07694, -74.65167 (Imías)
Maisí &0000000000028276.00000028,276 &0000000000000525.000000525 20°14′36″N 74°09′21″W / 20.24333, -74.15583 (Maisí) La Máquina
Manuel Tames &0000000000014200.00000014,200 &0000000000000526.000000526 20°10′50″N 75°03′5″W / 20.18056, -75.05139 (Manuel Tames)
Niceto Pérez &0000000000017783.00000017,783 &0000000000000640.000000640 20°07′40″N 75°20′31″W / 20.12778, -75.34194 (Niceto Pérez)
San Antonio del Sur &0000000000026509.00000026,509 &0000000000000585.000000585 20°03′25″N 74°48′28″W / 20.05694, -74.80778 (San Antonio del Sur)
Yateras &0000000000020358.00000020,358 &0000000000000664.000000664 20°21′1″N 74°55′27″W / 20.35028, -74.92417 (Yateras) Palenque
Source: Population from 2004 Census.[1] Area from 1976 municipal re-distribution.[2]

[edit] Demographics

In 2004, the province of Guantanamo had a population of 510,706.[1] With a total area of 6,167.97 km² (2,381.5 sq mi),[3] the province had a population density of 82.8/km² (214.5/sq mi).

[edit] See also

Cuba Portal

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Atenas.cu (2004). 2004 Population trends, by Province and Municipality. Retrieved on 2007-10-06. (Spanish)
  2. ^ Statoids (July 2003). Municipios of Cuba. Retrieved on 2007-10-06.
  3. ^ Government of Cuba (2002). Population by Province. Retrieved on 2007-10-02. (Spanish)

[edit] External links

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Flag of Cuba Provinces of Cuba
Current
Historical
Municipalities of Guantanamo