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Cuba, the largest of the Antilles, is an archipelago consisting of a main island named Cuba, the Isle of Youth and about 4,195 keys and islets. Its elongated and narrow shape propitiates circulation of trade winds from the Atlantic, which cool its tropical, humid climate. Only one fourth of the land is mountainous being its main systems: |
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The Guaniguanico mountain range at the west region; the Sierra del Escambray to the south centre of the country; and to the east the Sierra Maestra with its Pico Real del Turquino, climbing to 1,974 meters above sea level, the island's highest point. The remaining territory, plain and fertile, includes immense extensions of sugar plantations (the island's main export line), tobacco (highly appreciated worldwide) and other agricultural products.
The island's has more than 200 rivers of short course and flow impetuously, which hinders navigation. The biggest river is the Cauto, east of the country, with an extension of 250 km of which only 112 are navigable by small crafts. Subsoil is rich in nickel and nature shows a variety of plants and flowers as well as a marvellous diversity of animals. This Caribbean island has more than 280 charming beaches, virgin keys, caverns and caves for exploration, as well as forests and swamps for pleasure trips. Overall surface is 1 220 km. |
