Where in the World? You are on the largest island in the Caribbean, and you are going to be visiting the largest wetlands area in the Caribbean. Crocodiles are long time inhabitants of this swamp, and you’re going to be seeing them close up at the Crocodile Farm where 10,00 of them are being raised for meat and leather. You’re going to be on a close look out for things small too, for the world’s smallest bird, frog and scorpion live here. One thing you’re not going to be worrying about is polio. This country was the first in the world to eradicate the disease. The best beaches have been reserved for tourists. You enjoy them, but you wonder how the people who live here feel about that.

Where on Earth are you? Can you find your place? Cuba

Welcome to Cuba

A Spanish colony for over 350 years, Cuba became an independent country in Cuba is known for its revolutionary leader, Fidel Castro, who took power in Castro received help from the Soviet Union, but when the U.S.S.R’s communist government collapsed in 1989, Cuba’s economy was devastated. Before, Cuba traded sugar for oil and machinery. Castro worked hard to improve people’s lives by training doctors and providing schools, but people were not allowed to speak or travel freely. Today, there are lines for bread and other essentials. Cuba is hoping to develop tourism, but everyone wonders, “What will happen when Castor dies?” How does transition of power work in your country?

The United States has a trade embargo against Cuba, but there is a U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay. How did the U.S. get a naval base in Cuba? After defeating the Spanish in 1898 in the Spanish-American War, a U.S. military government ruled Cuba from 1899 – The Americans left, but with the condition that they could interfere in Cuban affairs and build a naval base. When Castro’s revolutionary forces took over in 1959, relations with the U.S. deteriorated. Many Cubans did not like Castro’s friendship to the Soviet Union and his take-over of privately owned businesses and properties. These Cuban fled to the United States. The U.S. banned trade with Cuba 1961.

Often mistaken for an insect, the Cuban bee hummingbird is about the size of a bumblebee. It is about 5cm long, but half of that is the beak and the tail! It weighs less than one- fifteenth of an ounce (2g). The tiny banana frog measures only 1.1 – 1.2 cm, and the biggest the world’s smallest scorpion ever gets is 6.4 cm long. How does a hummingbird survive the night without food?

Hummingbirds expend lots of energy flying and keeping warm. In order to survive cold nights, hummingbirds go into a deep sleep called torpor. They put their heads against their chests, fluff their feathers to create an insulating pocket of air, and slow their hearts beats. Sometimes their body temperatures may drop more than 17 C.

Since 1970-, school children must spend time working in the fields. This was to make students aware of their social responsibilities and reduce prejudice against manual labor. Is there a prejudice against manual labor?

Cuba is the largest of all islands in the Caribbean. The country also includes more than 4000 other much smaller islands and cays. From the air, the island of Cuba resembles a crocodile or alligator and so Cuba is often referred to in Spanish as "El Cocodrilo" or "El Caimá". Cuba is renown for its music, bands play everywhere in the capital Havana. The main musical form is called son, which is a combination of upbeat rhythms with classical guitar.

Sugar from sugar cane is the main crop grown in Cuba, followed by tobacco which is used in the making of hand-crafted cigars that are famous for being the finest cigars in the world. Nickel is Cuba's most important mineral resource at 21% of total exports in 2011 nearly 4% of the world's production. Baseball is the most popular sport in Cuba by far. The country is also dominant in boxing and has produced a number of Olympic boxing champions. Other sports of interest include basketball, volleyball, cricket, football (soccer) and athletics. The game of dominoes is extremely popular in Cuba.

FAST FACTS - Cuba The official name: The Republic of Cuba Population: 11,275,000 Capital: Havana; 2,189,000 Area:110,860 square kilometers (42,803 square miles) Language: Spanish Religion: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jehovah's Witness, Jewish, Santeria Currency: Cuban peso Life Expectancy: 76 years Literacy Percent:97

Where in the World? It’s your turn: Complete your “Where in the World?” page. 1 – fill in the country and continent. 2 – write a paragraph about Cuba with at least 5 interesting details (important details). 3 – colour in Cuba on the world map.