Cuba By: Eli Pagan

Geography: Size of country: 42,803 sq. mi. Havana, 2,686,000 Other large cities: Santiago de Cuba, 554,400; Camagüey, 354,400; Holguin, 319,300; Guantánamo, 274,300; Santa Clara, 251,800. Cuba has three mountain regions: the wild and rugged Sierra Maestra in the east, rising to 6,560 ft (2,000 m) in the Pico Turquino; a lower range, the scenic Sierra de los Órganos, in the west; and the Sierra de Trinidad, a picturesque mass of hills amid the plains and rolling country of central Cuba, a region of vast sugar plantations.

Geography: The climate is hot and humid all year round, divided into a dry season (November to April) and a rainy season (May to October). The dry season is the busiest and prices are higher at this time. September to October is hurricane season. Natural resources: cobalt, nickel, iron ore, copper, manganese, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land.

Government Cuba is a one-party Communist state; the Cuban Communist party (PCC) is the only legal political party. The government is led by Fidel Castro( the office of the president is both head of state and head of government.) Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2006 est.): $45.51 billion; per capita $4,000. Population (2008 est.): 11,423,952 Literacy rate: 97%, Mortality rate: mortality rate: 5.9/1000

History In the early 1800s, Cuba's sugarcane industry boomed, requiring massive numbers of black slaves. The 1901 Platt Amendment allowed the U.S. to intervene in Cuba's affairs, which it did four times from 1906 to Cuba terminated the amendment in The U.S. ended military aid to Cuba in 1958, and on New Year's Day 1959, Batista fled into exile and Castro took over the government. The U.S. initially welcomed what looked like a democratic Cuba, but within a few months, Castro established military tribunals for political opponents and jailed hundreds. Castro disavowed Cuba's 1952 military pact with the U.S., confiscated U.S. assets, and established Soviet- style collective farms. The U.S. broke relations with Cuba on Jan. 3, 1961, and Castro formalized his alliance with the Soviet Union. Thousands of Cubans fled the country.

Society Language: Spanish Religions: Roman Catholic and Santería Dominoes is a popular leisure-time pursuit in Cuba’s capital city of Havana, and sports, particularly baseball, basketball, boxing, swimming, volleyball, and cycling also are among the favorite activities of the city’s people. Cuban weddings are festive, particularly receptions. There is the traditional money dance wherein men must pin money on the bride's dress if they want to dance with her.

Current Issues From baseball to the Bay of Pigs, issues involving Cuba have been hotly debated in the U.S. for more than 40 years. U.S. policy toward Cuba has largely consisted of economic sanctions to isolate the Castro government and bring about political change. In his first major statement on Cuba in May 2001, President Bush asserted that U.S. sanctions are not just a policy tool; they are also a "moral statement." Explore the issues now facing the U.S. and Cuba.