http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=info+on+cuba&ei=UTF-8&fr=fp-tab-web-t&cop=mss&tab=About CUBA Cuba, the "Pearl of the Antilles," is the largest and from the traveler's perspective the least commercialised Caribbean country. It beckons the jaded traveler with its picturesque colonial towns, intriguing Afro-Cuban culture, rousing revolutionary monuments, almost 300 unblemished beaches, enchanting countryside, and potent rum - even the beer is excellent. Activities such as scuba diving, yachting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and bird watching can be easily arranged through our website. The Cuban people are sincerely friendly and extend the same warm welcome to all guests from all countries.For four centuries Cuba was the main gateway to Spain's vast American empire, and cities such as Havana, Matanzas, Trinidad, Sancti Spiritus, Camaguey, Bayamo, Baracoa and Santiago de Cuba stand as sentinels to bygone colonial glory.Havana, with 2.1 million inhabitants, is the largest city in the Caribbean. Founded on its present site in 1519, it is one of the oldest cities in the Americas.The Spanish built protective fortresses of solid stone to keep out pirates and their European enemies, and these outposts still guard picturesque Old Havana, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, whose charm is truly captivating. The richness of Cuba's culture is well reflected in its many museums, several dozen of which are in Havana.The capital is a world-class artistic center with numerous galleries, theaters and literary centers gracing the quaint colonial streets and squares. Cuba truly is a musical watershed where the rumba, mambo, cha cha cha, son and salsa all originated. Its unspoiled landscape extends well beyond the magnificent coastal beaches and pristine reefs to verdant valleys and rugged mountains.For the individual traveler Cuba is a fascinating smorgasbord of nonstop discovery and experience. It is a surprisingly easy country to visit; one can rent a car or board a train or bus and go anywhere. No special rules or regulations hamper tourists.This is one of the last truly unspoiled countries in the world, practically free of the crime and drug trade present at some other tourist destinations. The hotels are numerous and prices vary from inexpensive to five-star luxury. Visitors can also stay in private homes. For the tourist who wants only a week or two in the sun, Cuba provides various smart resorts, plus glimpses of history in the making. See Beach Resorts for the enticing details.http://www.admiraluno.com/lovecomputer/cubacon/general.htm Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Cuba conventional short form: Cuba local long form: Republica de Cuba local short form: Cuba Data code: CU Government type: Communist state National capital: Havana Administrative divisions: 14 provinces (provincias, singular—provincia) and 1 special municipality* (municipio especial); Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Cienfuegos, Ciudad de La Habana, Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Isla de la Juventud*, La Habana, Las Tunas, Matanzas, Pinar del Rio, Sancti Spiritus, Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara Independence: 20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898; administered by the US from 1898 to 1902) National holiday: Rebellion Day, 26 July (1953); Liberation Day, 1 January (1959) Constitution: 24 February 1976 Legal system: based on Spanish and American law, with large elements of Communist legal theory; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from February 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished; president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of the Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from February 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished; president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of the Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the president of the Council of State, appointed by the National Assembly note: there is also a Council of State whose members are elected by the National Assembly elections: president and vice president elected by the National Assembly; election last held 24 February 1998 (next to be held NA) election results: Fidel CASTRO Ruz elected president; percent of legislative vote—NA; Raul CASTRO Ruz elected vice president; percent of legislative vote—NA Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly of People's Power or Asemblea Nacional del Poder Popular (601 seats, elected directly from slates approved by special candidacy commissions; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 11 January 1998 (next to be held NA 2003) election results: percent of vote—NA; seats—PCC 601 Judicial branch: People's Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo Popular), president, vice president, and other judges are elected by the National Assembly Political parties and leaders: only party—Cuban Communist Party or PCC [Fidel CASTRO Ruz, first secretary] International organization participation: CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS (excluded from formal participation since 1962), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note—Cuba has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer Fernando REMIREZ DE ESTENOZ; address: Cuban Interests Section, Swiss Embassy, 2630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009; telephone: [1] (202) 797-8518 Diplomatic representation from the US: none; note—the US has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer Michael G. KOZAK; address: USINT, Swiss Embassy, Calzada between L and M Streets, Vedado Seccion, Havana; telephone: 33-3551 through 3559 and 33-3543 through 3547 (operator assistance required); FAX: 33-3700; protecting power in Cuba is Switzerland Flag description: five equal horizontal bands of blue (top and bottom) alternating with white; a red equilateral triangle based on the hoist side bears a white five-pointed star in the center Economy GDP: purchasing power parity—$16.9 billion (1997 est.) GDP—real growth rate: 2.5% (1997 est.) GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity—$1,540 (1997 est.) GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 7.6% industry: 34.8% services: 57.6% (1996 est.) Inflation rate—consumer price index: NA% Labor force: total: 4.5 million economically active population (1996 est.) by occupation: services and government 30%, industry 22%, agriculture 20%, commerce 11%, construction 10%, transportation and communications 7% (June 1990) note: state sector 76%, non-state sector 24% (1996 est.) Unemployment rate: 8% (1996 est.) Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA Industries: sugar, petroleum, food, tobacco, textiles, chemicals, paper and wood products, metals (particularly nickel), cement, fertilizers, consumer goods, agricultural machinery Industrial production growth rate: 6% (1995 est.) Electricity—capacity: 3.988 million kW (1995) Electricity—production: 10.105 billion kWh (1995) Electricity—consumption per capita: 924 kWh (1995) Agriculture—products: sugarcane, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice, potatoes and other tubers, beans; livestock Exports: total value: $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.) commodities: sugar, nickel, tobacco, shellfish, medical products, citrus, coffee partners: Russia 18%, Netherlands 14% Canada 13% (1997 est.) Imports: total value: $3.2 billion (c.i.f., 1997 est.) commodities: petroleum, food, machinery, chemicals partners: Spain 14%, Russia 12%, Mexico 9% (1997 est.) Debt—external: $10.5 billion (convertible currency, 1996); another $20 billion owed to Russia (1996) Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $46 million (1997 est.) Currency: 1 Cuban peso (Cu$) = 100 centavos Exchange rates: Cuban pesos (Cu$) per US$1—1.0000 (non-convertible, official rate, linked to the US dollar) Fiscal year: calendar year http://www.historyofcuba.com/history/funfacts/giron.htmIn January 1959 the Cuban revolution triumphed over the U.S.-friendly dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista.
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