Cuba Is an Island Country Cuba is a nation of islands Most Cubans live on the main island Many smaller islands lie off the coast Most of them are uninhabited Cuba is the largest country in the Caribbean Sea Its total area is 42 803 square miles 110 860 sq km Maestra Sierra Cristal and Escambray are a few of the largest Forests of evergreens and ferns grow on mountain slopes Pico Turquino is the tallest peak at 6 650 feet 1 999 m Mountains and hills make up one third of Cuba Lowland plains cover the rest of the country Fresh water sources are limited in Cuba The country does not have many lakes or rivers Streams tend Several mountain ranges are scattered across Cuba Sierra The capital city of Havana is located on the northwest side of the island
It's a two day hike to reach the top of Pico Turquino the tallest peak in Cuba to dry up in the summer The country is surrounded by salt water The Atlantic Ocean lies to the northeast The Gulf of Mexico is to the west The southern coast is on the Caribbean Sea Cuba has many sandy beaches Palm trees dot the white sand shores Coral reefs are common Reefs stretch for thousands of miles along the south shore 48 Number of miles 77 km to Haiti the closest neighboring country THE CORAL REEFS OF CUBA Cuba has some of the healthiest coral reef ecosystems on Earth Pollution has harmed many reefs around the world Cuba's are thriving Fish and marine life flourish among the reefs Scientists believe this is because Cuba has not developed its coastal areas Also the land has not been over farmed Cuba is made up of a group of islands Mountains forests and lowlands are common landscapes Three bodies of salt water surround Cuba Coasts feature sandy beaches and coral reefs 5
Many Animals Thrive in Cuba's Warm Climate Cuba is in a tropical zone But it experiences a subtropical climate Trade winds come in from the ocean So do sea breezes The Gulf Stream currents warm the nearby waters Most days are hot and sunny The average temperature is between 68 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit 20 35°C usually occur between June and November Heavy rains and strong winds cause flooding and damage Most of Cuba's rain falls during hurricane season The average annual rainfall is 52 inches 1 320 mm Severe weather blows in from the surrounding waters Hurricanes are the most destructive storms They Cuba has many native animals The bee hummingbird is the smallest bird in the world It lives only in the forests and valleys The Cuban Hutia is another species The bee hummingbird weighs less than a US penny
To help control the invasive lionfish Cuba holds an annual fishing tournament to reduce the populations of animal known only to that country It is a large rodent that lives in the forests The colorful Cuban trogon is the national bird It is found all over the main island Bats mongoose crocodiles and snakes also make their homes in Cuba 700 Approximate number of species of fish and crustaceans in Cuba's coral reefs The waters surrounding Cuba are home to many fish A few species are the angelfish barracuda and snapper Manatees whales dolphins and sharks swim along the coasts Cuba experiences a subtropical climate Hurricanes typically strike between June and November The bee hummingbird and the Cuban Hutia are found only in Cuba Fish and other animals swim along the coasts The lionfish is a recent invader of the Caribbean Sea It has poisonous prickly spines that fan out across its fins This predator eats large numbers of small fish around coral reefs It scares away larger species including sharks
