View source for Geography of Cuba

{{short description|none}}
{{Country geography 
|name= the Archipelago of Cuba
|map = Cuba_Nasa.jpg
|continent = [[North America]]
|region = [[Caribbean Sea]]
|coordinates = {{coord|22|00|N|80|00|W|type:country}}
|area ranking = 104th
|km area = 110860
|percent land = 99.06
|km coastline = 5746 
|borders = 28,5 km² with {{flag2|United States}} at [[Guantanamo Bay Naval Base]]
|highest point = [[Pico Turquino]] <br /> {{convert|1974|m|feet}}
|lowest point = [[Caribbean Sea]] <br /> 0 m 
|longest river =[[Cauto River]] 
|largest lake = 
|exclusive economic zone = {{convert|350,751|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}
}}

'''[[Cuba]]''' is an [[Archipelago|island nation]] in the [[Caribbean Sea]]. It comprises an [[archipelago]] of islands centred upon the [[geographic coordinates]] 21°3N, 80°00W. Cuba is the principal island, surrounded by four main archipelagos: the [[Colorados Archipelago|Colorados]], the [[Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago|Sabana-Camagüey]], the [[Jardines de la Reina]] and the [[Canarreos]]. Cuba's area is {{convert|110,860|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} with a land area of {{convert|109820|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} according to the [[CIA]], which makes it the eighth-largest [[island country]] in the world. The main island (Cuba) has {{convert|5746|km|mi|abbr=on}} of coastline and {{convert|28.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} of land borders—all figures including the U.S. Navy's [[Guantanamo Bay Naval Base]]. Its official area is {{convert|109,884|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}.

Cuba lies west of the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the [[Gulf of Mexico]], south of the [[Straits of Florida]], northwest of the [[Windward Passage]], and northeast of the [[Yucatán Channel]]. The main island (Cuba), at {{convert|104338|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, makes up most of the land area<ref name=stoner>Stoner, K. Lynn. "[http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761569844_14/Cuba.html Cuba]" ''Encarta Online Encyclopedia''. 2005. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091029160558/http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761569844_14/Cuba.html |date=29 October 2009}} 31 October 2009.</ref> and is the [[List of islands by area|17th-largest island in the world]] by land area.

The island is {{convert|1250|km|mi|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|191|km|mi|abbr=on}} across its widest points and {{convert|31|km|mi|abbr=on}} across its narrowest points.<ref name=stoner/> The largest island outside the main island is the [[Isla de la Juventud]] is (Isle of Youth) in the southwest, with an area of {{convert|2204|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}.<ref name=stoner/>

The main island consists mostly of flat to rolling plains. At the southeastern end is the [[Sierra Maestra]], a range of steep mountains whose highest point is the [[Pico Turquino]] at {{convert|1974|m|ft}}.

[[Havana]] is the largest city and capital; other major cities include [[Santiago de Cuba]] and [[Camagüey]]. Better-known smaller towns include [[Baracoa]], which was the first Spanish settlement on Cuba, [[Trinidad, Cuba|Trinidad]], a UNESCO world heritage site, and [[Bayamo]].

==Physical geography==
[[File:La2-demis-cuba.png|upright=1.5|thumb|Geography of Cuba]]
[[File:Sierra Maestra panorama1.jpg|thumb|[[Sierra Maestra]] ]] 
[[File:Valle vinales 1.jpg|thumb|[[Viñales Valley]] ]]
Cuba is located {{convert|78|km|mi|abbr=on}} west of [[Haiti]] across the [[Windward Passage]], {{convert|22.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of [[The Bahamas]] ([[Cay Lobos]]), {{convert|150|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of the [[United States]] ([[Key West, Florida]]), {{convert|210|km|mi|abbr=on}} east of [[Mexico]], and {{convert|148|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of [[Jamaica]]. It was made in three stages.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Iturralde-Vinent |first1=M.A. |last2=García-Casco |first2=A. |last3=Rojas-Agramonte |first3=Y. |last4=Proenza |first4=J.A. |last5=Murphy |first5=J.B. |last6=Stern |first6=R.J. |title=The geology of Cuba: A brief overview and synthesis |journal=[[GSA Today]] |volume=26 |issue=10 |pages=4–10 |date=2016 |doi=10.1130/GSATG296A.1 |doi-access=free|hdl=2445/122345 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>

Cuba is the largest country by land area in the Caribbean. Its main island is the [[List of islands by area|17th-largest island in the world]] by land area. The island rises between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean. It is bordered on the north by the [[Straits of Florida]], on the northeast by [[Nicholas Channel]] and the [[Old Bahama Channel]]. The southern part is bounded by the [[Windward Passage]] and the [[Cayman Trench]], while the southwest lies in the Caribbean Sea. To the west, it reaches to the [[Yucatán Channel]], and the northwest is open to the [[Gulf of Mexico]].

About 4,195 islands, islets and [[cay]]s make up the country. The southern coast includes such [[archipelago]]s as [[Jardines de la Reina]] and the [[Canarreos]]. The northeastern shore is lined by the [[Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago]], which includes [[Jardines del Rey]] and is composed of approximately 2,517 cays and islands.<ref name=mapping>{{cite journal |last1=Menéndez |first1=Leda |last2=Guzmán |first2=José Manuel |last3=Capote |first3=René Tomas |last4=González |first4=Armando Vicente |last5=Rodríguez |first5=Lázaro |title=Variabilidad de los bosques de manglares del archipiélago Sabana-Camagüey: Implicaciones para su gestión |url=http://www.mappinginteractivo.com/plantilla-ante.asp?id_articulo=874 |url-status=dead |journal=Mapping Interactivo: Revista Internacional de Ciencias de la Tierra |volume=100 |date=March 2005 |access-date=16 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060522045637/http://www.mappinginteractivo.com/plantilla-ante.asp?id_articulo=874#0 |archive-date=22 May 2006 |issn=1131-9100}}</ref> The [[Colorados Archipelago]] is developed on the northwestern coast.
{{see also|List of islands of Cuba}}

===Terrain===
Cuba's terrain is mostly flat or rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in the southeast. The lowest point is the Caribbean Sea at 0&nbsp;m ([[sea level]]) and the highest point is [[Pico Turquino]] at {{convert|1974|m|ft|abbr=on}}, part of the [[Sierra Maestra]] mountain range, located in the southeast of the island.

Other mountain ranges are [[Sierra Cristal National Park|Sierra Cristal]] in the southeast, [[Escambray Mountains]] in the center of the island, and [[Sierra del Rosario]] in the northwest. White sand beaches (most notably in [[Varadero]]<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVvZCNcBy_Y Varadero – YouTube]</ref>), as well as [[mangrove]]s and marshes can be found in the coastal area. The largest is the [[Zapata Swamp]], with over {{convert|4520|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}. A recent global remote sensing analysis suggested that there were 675&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> of tidal flats in Cuba, making it the 38th-ranked country in terms of tidal flat area.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Murray |first1=N.J. |last2=Phinn |first2=S.R. |last3=DeWitt |first3=M. |last4=Ferrari |first4=R. |last5=Johnston |first5=R. |last6=Lyons |first6=M.B. |last7=Clinton |first7=N. |last8=Thau |first8=D. |last9=Fuller |first9=R.A. |title=The global distribution and trajectory of tidal flats |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-018-0805-8 |journal=[[Nature (journal)|Nature]] |volume=565 |issue=7738 |pages=222–225 |date=2019 |pmid=30568300 |s2cid=56481043 |doi=10.1038/s41586-018-0805-8|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Cuba has negligible inland water area. The largest natural water mirror is [[Laguna de Leche]] at {{convert|67.2|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, while the man-made [[Zaza Reservoir]], at {{convert|113.5|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, is the largest inland water surface by area in the country.

=== Geology ===
{{main|Geology of Cuba}}

===Climate===
[[File:Koppen-Geiger_Map_v2_CUB_1991–2020.svg|thumb|upright=2|Köppen climate classification zones of Cuba]]
{{climate chart
|Casa Blanca, [[Havana]]
|19|26|64
|19|26|69
|20|28|46
|21|29|54
|22|30|98
|23|31|182
|24|31|106
|24|32|100
|24|31|144
|23|29|181
|21|28|88
|20|27|58
|source=Climate Charts<ref>[http://www.climate-charts.com/Locations/c/CU78325.html#data Cuba Climate data]</ref>
|float=right
}}

Most of Cuba has a [[tropical savanna climate]] (''Aw'' according to the [[Köppen climate classification]]), although areas on the windward slopes of the Sierra Maestra and Sierra del Rosario have either a [[tropical monsoon climate]] or a trade-wind [[tropical rainforest climate]], whilst a [[hot semi-arid climate]] occurs in the Guantánamo Bay area because of a rain shadow from the Sierra Maestra. In most areas, the [[dry season]] lasts from November to April and the [[wet season|rainy season]] from May to October.

The climate is tropical, though moderated by trade winds. In general (with local variations), there is a drier season from November to April, and a rainier season from May to October. The average temperature is {{convert|23.1|°C|1}} in January and {{convert|27|°C|1}} in July.
[[File:Show Your Stripes change in temperature graphic for All of Cuba with bars with labels.png|thumb|Temperature change in Cuba, each bar represents the average temperature over that year.]]
[[Climate change]] in Cuba is causing an increase in temperature, [[rising sea levels]] and shifting precipitation patterns, with an overall decrease in rainfall predicted. These will severely impact industries key to the economy, including agriculture, forestry and tourism. As rainfall is Cuba's only water source, water security is an issue. Warmer temperatures may affect the health of the population, causing an increase in cardiovascular, respiratory and viral diseases.<ref>{{Cite web |last=World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal |title=Cuba |url=https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/country/cuba |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org |language=en}}</ref> A temperature rise of 2°C above preindustrial levels can increase the likelihood of extreme [[Tropical cyclone|hurricane]] rainfall by three times in [[Cuba]].<ref name=":03">{{cite news |last1=BERARDELLI |first1=JEFF |date=29 August 2020 |title=Climate change may make extreme hurricane rainfall five times more likely, study says |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/climate-change-may-make-extreme-hurricane-rainfall-five-times-more-likely-study-says/ |access-date=30 August 2020 |agency=CBC News}}</ref> Cuba's climate [[Climate change mitigation|mitigation]] and [[Climate change adaptation|adaptation]] plans include renewable energy generation and [[nature-based solutions]], such as restoring mangrove ecosystems.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Republic of Cuba |url=https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/NDC/2022-06/Cuban%20First%20NDC%20Summary%20%28Updated%20submission%29.pdf |title=SUMMARY OF THE FIRST NDC UPDATED (2020-2030)  REPUBLIC OF CUBA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-10 |title=Small Island Developing States are on the frontlines of climate change – here's why {{!}} UNDP Climate Promise |url=https://climatepromise.undp.org/news-and-stories/small-island-developing-states-are-frontlines-climate-change-heres-why#:~:text=Cuba%20is%20restoring%20ecosystems%20within%20mangroves%20and,erosion,%20and%20channel%20freshwater%20to%20coastal%20areas. |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=climatepromise.undp.org |language=en}}</ref>

Cuba lies in the path of [[hurricanes]], and these destructive storms are most common in September and October. The experience of hurricane damage has shaped Cuba's [[disaster risk reduction]] policies, contributing to a low mortality rate compared with neighbouring countries.<ref name="Gustav">{{cite journal |last1=Cederlöf |first1=Gustav |date=2025 |title=Disaster Risk Reduction and the Cuban Exception: Infrastructural and Ideological Power after Hurricane Flora (1963) |journal=Annals of the American Association of Geographers |pages=1–17 |doi=10.1080/24694452.2025.2473660|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="Kirk">{{cite book |last1=Kirk |first1=Emily J. |last2=Story |first2=Isabel |last3=Clayfield |first3=Anna |date=2021 |title=Disaster preparedness and climate change in Cuba: Management and adaptation |location=Lanham, MD |publisher=Lexington Books}}</ref> Tornadoes are somewhat rare in Cuba; however, on the evening of 27 January 2019, a very rare strong [[Fujita scale|F4]] tornado [[2019 Havana tornado|struck the eastern side of Havana]], Cuba's capital city. The tornado caused extensive damage, destroying at least 90 homes, killing four people and injuring 195.<ref>{{cite news |title=Havana tornado: Cuba's capital hit by rare twister |date=28 January 2019 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-47025852 |publisher=[[BBC News]] |access-date=28 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.startribune.com/the-latest-resident-havana-looks-like-a-horror-movie/504962142/ |title=The Latest: Havana hit by Category F3 tornado - StarTribune.com |website=[[Star Tribune]] |access-date=5 February 2019 |archive-date=29 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129181446/http://www.startribune.com/the-latest-resident-havana-looks-like-a-horror-movie/504962142/ |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Guy |first=Jack |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/28/americas/cuba-tornado-dead-scli-intl/index.html |title=Cuba tornado: 4 dead and 195 injured |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=28 January 2019 |access-date=11 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Cappucci |first=Matthew |title=A deadly tornado plowed through Havana on Sunday night. Here's how it happened. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2019/01/28/deadly-tornado-plowed-through-havana-sunday-night-heres-how-it-happened/?noredirect=on |access-date=29 January 2019 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=28 January 2019}}</ref> By 4 February, the death toll had increased to six, with 11 people still in critical condition.<ref>{{cite news |title=Death Toll Rises to Six From Rare Havana Tornado |url=https://www.wunderground.com/cat6/Death-Toll-Rises-Six-Rare-Havana-Tornado?cm_ven=cat6-widget |access-date=5 February 2019 |work=Weather Underground |date=4 February 2019}}</ref>

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = Havana (1961–1990, extremes 1859–present)
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes 
|Jan record high C = 32.4
|Feb record high C = 33.0
|Mar record high C = 35.3
|Apr record high C = 37.0
|May record high C = 36.2
|Jun record high C = 35.4
|Jul record high C = 36.6
|Aug record high C = 37.7
|Sep record high C = 38.2
|Oct record high C = 39.6
|Nov record high C = 34.0
|Dec record high C = 33.2
|year record high C = 39.6
|Jan high C = 25.8
|Feb high C = 26.1
|Mar high C = 27.6
|Apr high C = 28.6
|May high C = 29.8
|Jun high C = 30.5
|Jul high C = 31.3
|Aug high C = 31.6
|Sep high C = 31.0
|Oct high C = 29.2
|Nov high C = 27.7
|Dec high C = 26.5
|year high C = 28.8
|Jan mean C = 22.2
|Feb mean C = 22.4
|Mar mean C = 23.7
|Apr mean C = 24.8
|May mean C = 26.1
|Jun mean C = 27.0
|Jul mean C = 27.6
|Aug mean C = 27.9
|Sep mean C = 27.4
|Oct mean C = 26.1
|Nov mean C = 24.5
|Dec mean C = 23.0
|year mean C = 25.2
|Jan low C = 18.6
|Feb low C = 18.6
|Mar low C = 19.7
|Apr low C = 20.9
|May low C = 22.4
|Jun low C = 23.4
|Jul low C = 23.8
|Aug low C = 24.1
|Sep low C = 23.8
|Oct low C = 23.0
|Nov low C = 21.3
|Dec low C = 19.5
|year low C = 21.6
|Jan record low C = 6.0
|Feb record low C = 11.9
|Mar record low C = 10.0
|Apr record low C = 15.1
|May record low C = 15.4
|Jun record low C = 20.0
|Jul record low C = 19.0
|Aug record low C = 20.0
|Sep record low C = 20.0
|Oct record low C = 18.0
|Nov record low C = 14.0
|Dec record low C = 10.0
|year record low C = 6.0
|Jan rain mm = 64.4
|Feb rain mm = 68.6
|Mar rain mm = 46.2
|Apr rain mm = 53.7
|May rain mm = 98.0
|Jun rain mm = 182.3
|Jul rain mm = 105.6
|Aug rain mm = 99.6
|Sep rain mm = 144.4
|Oct rain mm = 180.5
|Nov rain mm = 88.3
|Dec rain mm = 57.6
|rain colour = green
|Jan humidity = 75
|Feb humidity = 74
|Mar humidity = 73
|Apr humidity = 72
|May humidity = 75
|Jun humidity = 77
|Jul humidity = 78
|Aug humidity = 78
|Sep humidity = 79
|Oct humidity = 80
|Nov humidity = 77
|Dec humidity = 75
|Jan rain days = 5
|Feb rain days = 5
|Mar rain days = 3
|Apr rain days = 3
|May rain days = 6
|Jun rain days = 10
|Jul rain days = 7
|Aug rain days = 9
|Sep rain days = 10
|Oct rain days = 11
|Nov rain days = 6
|Dec rain days = 5
|unit rain days = 1.0 mm
|Jan sun = 217.0
|Feb sun = 203.4
|Mar sun = 272.8
|Apr sun = 273.0
|May sun = 260.4
|Jun sun = 237.0
|Jul sun = 272.8
|Aug sun = 260.4
|Sep sun = 225.0
|Oct sun = 195.3
|Nov sun = 219.0
|Dec sun = 195.3
|year sun =
|Jand sun = 7.0
|Febd sun = 7.2
|Mard sun = 8.8
|Aprd sun = 9.1
|Mayd sun = 8.4
|Jund sun = 7.9
|Juld sun = 8.8
|Augd sun = 8.4
|Sepd sun = 7.5
|Octd sun = 6.3
|Novd sun = 7.3
|Decd sun = 6.3
|yeard sun = 7.8
|source 1 = [[World Meteorological Organisation]],<ref name= WMO >
{{cite web
|url=http://worldweather.wmo.int/131/c00280.htm
|title=World Weather Information Service – Havana
|access-date= June 26, 2010
|publisher= Cuban Institute of Meteorology|date=June 2011
}}</ref> Climate-Charts.com<ref name = "Relative Humidity" >{{cite web
|url = http://www.climate-charts.com/Locations/c/CU78325.php
|title = Casa Blanca, Habana, Cuba: Climate, Global Warming, and Daylight Charts and Data
|access-date = June 26, 2010
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110623233609/http://www.climate-charts.com/Locations/c/CU78325.php
|archive-date = June 23, 2011
|url-status = dead
}}</ref>
|source 2 = Meteo Climat (record highs and lows),<ref name = meteoclimat>
{{cite web
| url = http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/index.php?page=stati&id=2061
| title = Station La Havane
| publisher = Meteo Climat
|language = fr
| access-date = May 2, 2017}}</ref> [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]] (sun)<ref name = DWD>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_783250_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von Havanna (La Habana, Obs. Casa Blanca) / Kuba
| work = Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world
| publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst
| language = de
| access-date = July 29, 2017}}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}

{|class="wikitable"
|+Average Sea Temperature in Havana
|-
!Jan
!Feb
!Mar
!Apr
!May
!Jun
!Jul
!Aug
!Sep
!Oct
!Nov
!Dec
|-
|{{convert|23|°C|°F|abbr=on}}
|{{convert|23|°C|°F|abbr=on}}
|{{convert|24|°C|°F|abbr=on}}
|{{convert|26|°C|°F|abbr=on}}
|{{convert|27|°C|°F|abbr=on}}
|{{convert|28|°C|°F|abbr=on}}
|{{convert|28|°C|°F|abbr=on}}
|{{convert|28|°C|°F|abbr=on}}
|{{convert|28|°C|°F|abbr=on}}
|{{convert|27|°C|°F|abbr=on}}
|{{convert|26|°C|°F|abbr=on}}
|{{convert|24|°C|°F|abbr=on}}
|}

{{Clear}}

=== Maritime claims ===
Cuba makes maritime claims that include a [[territorial sea]] of {{convert|12|nmi|km mi|1|lk=in}} and an [[exclusive economic zone]] of {{convert|350,751|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} with {{convert|200|nmi|km mi|1}}.

===Extreme points===
[[File:CubaOMC.png|450px|thumb|Places in Cuba.]]
{{geoGroup}}

Extreme points in Cuba are:

{|class=wikitable
|-
!Point!!Name!!Location!!Remarks
|-
!North (on-shore) 
|Punta Hicacos || <small>{{coord|23.205364996518945|-81.14309760226082}}</small> || On [[Hicacos Peninsula]]
|-
!North (off-shore) 
| [[Cayo Cruz del Padre]] || <small>{{coord|23.277666130750777|-80.90271748882353}}</small> || Part of [[Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago]]
|-
!East 
| [[Cape Maisí]]|| <small>{{coord|20|12|32|N|74|08|01|W|scale:30000_region:CU|name=Punta Maisi|format=dec}}</small> || Near [[Maisí]]
|-
!West 
| [[Cape San Antonio, Cuba|Cape San Antonio]]|| <small>{{coord|21|51|39|N|84|57|25|W|scale:30000_region:CU|name=Cabo San Antonio|format=dec}}</small> || On [[Guanahacabibes Peninsula]]
|-
!South
| [[Cape Cruz]]|| <small>{{coord|19|49|37|N|77|40|30|W|scale:30000_region:CU|name=Cape Cruz|format=dec}}</small> || Near [[Niquero]]
|-
!Highest point 
| [[Pico Turquino]] || <small>{{coord|19|59|22|N|76|50|09|W|type:mountain_region:CU_scale:30000|name=Pico Turquino|format=dec}}</small> || Part of [[Sierra Maestra]], {{convert|1974|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|-
!Lowest point 
| [[sea level]] || &nbsp;|| Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean
|-
! Largest city 
| [[Havana]] || <small>{{coord|23|08|00|N|82|23|00|W|type:city_region:CU_scale:30000|name=City of Havana|format=dec}}</small> || National capital, population 2,130,431 
|-
! Oldest city 
| [[Baracoa, Cuba|Baracoa]] || <small>{{coord|20|20|55|N|74|30|38|W|type:city_region:CU_scale:30000|name=Baracoa|format=dec}}</small> || Founded in 1511
|}

==Natural resources==
{{main|Economy of Cuba}}
{{see also|Agriculture of Cuba}}
[[File:Tobacco field cuba1.jpg|thumb|A [[tobacco]] field in [[Pinar del Río Province|Pinar del Río]]]]
[[Natural resource]]s include [[cobalt]], [[nickel]], [[iron ore]], [[copper]], [[salt]], [[timber]], [[silica]], [[oil]] and [[petroleum]]. At one time the whole island was covered with forests, and there are still many cedar (''[[Cedrela odorata]]''), chechem (''[[Metopium brownei]]'')<!-- Text originally stated "rosewood", but that term is ambiguous and usually refers to species of Dalbergia. While several Dalbergia species are native to Cuba, none are useful as timber. Unless useful Dalbergia species are commercially grown, my best guess is that "rosewood" refers to Metopium brownei.-->, mahogany (''[[Swietenia mahagoni]]''), and other valuable trees. Large areas were cleared to grow more [[sugarcane]], and so few trees remained that timber had to be imported.

The most important Cuban mineral economic resource is [[nickel]]. Cuba has the second-largest nickel reserves in the world after Russia.<ref name="usgs.gov-Cuba97">https://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/country/1997/9509097.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012091655/https://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/country/1997/9509097.pdf |date=2017-10-12 }} The Mineral Resources of Cuba 1997</ref> [[Sherritt International]], a Canadian energy company, operates a large nickel mining facility in [[Moa, Cuba]]. Another leading mineral resource is [[cobalt]], a byproduct of nickel mining operations. Cuba ranks as the fifth-largest producer of refined cobalt in the world.

Cuba has historically been dependent on oil imports.<ref name=NerurkarSullivan>Neelesh Nerurkar & Mark P. Sullivan, [https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R41522.pdf Cuba's Offshore Oil Development: Background and U.S. Policy Considerations], [[Congressional Research Service]] (28 November 2011).</ref> As of 2011, Cuba had [[proven reserves]] of a mere {{convert|0.1|Goilbbl|m3}} of [[crude oil]] and 2.5 trillion cubic feet of [[natural gas]], and mostly used oil for [[power generation]].<ref name=NerurkarSullivan/> In 2010, Cuba produced 51,000 barrels of [[crude oil]] a day (Kb/d) in 2010 in onshore or shallow near-shore development, "mostly heavy, sour (sulfur-rich) crude that requires advanced refining capacity to process."<ref name=NerurkarSullivan/> Offshore exploration in the North Cuba Basin had revealed the possibility of an additional {{convert|4.6|Goilbbl|m3}} of technically recoverable crude oil, 0.9 billion barrels of [[natural gas liquids]], and 9.8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.<ref name=NerurkarSullivan/> As of 2011, Cuba had six offshore petroleum development projects with foreign oil companies [[Petrovietnam]] (Vietnam), [[Petronas]] (Malaysia), [[PDVSA]] (Venezuela), [[Sonangol]] (Angola), [[ONGC]] (India), [[Repsol]] (Spain), and [[Statoil]] (Norway).<ref name=NerurkarSullivan/>

Sugarcane was [[Cuban sugar economy|historically the most important part of the Cuban economy]],<ref>{{cite journal |last=Pollitt |first=Brian H. |title=The Rise and Fall of the Cuban Sugar Economy |journal=Journal of Latin American Studies |volume=36 |issue=2 |pages=319–348 |date=2004 |jstor=3875618 |doi=10.1017/S0022216X04007448}}</ref> and large areas are still dedicated to its cultivation; in 2018, Cuba produced an estimated 1.1–1.3 million tonnes of raw sugar.<ref name=Frank>Marc Frank, [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-food-cuba-sugar/cuban-raw-sugar-production-headed-toward-30-percent-decline-idUSKBN1HN24L Cuban raw sugar production headed toward 30 percent decline], [[Reuters]] (April 16, 2018).</ref> The importance of the sugar harvest has declined, with tourism, tobacco, nickel, and pharmaceuticals surpassing sugar in economic importance.<ref name=Frank/>

Extensive [[irrigation]] systems are developed in the south of [[Sancti Spíritus Province]]. [[Tobacco]], used for some of the world's cigars, is grown especially in the [[Pinar del Río Province]].

==Administrative subdivisions==
Cuba is divided into [[Provinces of Cuba|15&nbsp;provinces]] and one special municipality. Provinces are further subdivided into [[Municipalities of Cuba|168&nbsp;municipalities]].<ref>Fifth United Nations Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names, Vol. II, published by the United Nations, New York, 1991</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Geography of Cuba}}
*[http://www.wdl.org/en/item/4394 Map of the Complete Island of Cuba] from 1639

{{Geography of North America}}
{{North America topic|Climate of}}
{{Cuba topics}}
{{World's largest islands}}

[[Category:Geography of Cuba| ]]