Baconao facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Baconao Biosphere Reserve |
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IUCN Category VI (Managed Resource Protected Area)
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 Baconao Biosphere Reserve
Location in Cuba
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| Location | Cuba |
| Nearest city | Santiago de Cuba |
| Area | 848.57 km2 (327.63 sq mi) |
| Established | 1987 |
| Governing body | El Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología y Medio Ambiente (CITMA) |
Baconao Park is a huge park region in Cuba. It's about 60 kilometers (37 miles) away from the city of Santiago de Cuba. This amazing park covers a large area of 848.57 square kilometers (327.63 sq mi). It's a special place where you can find nature, history, and fun attractions all in one!
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The Story of Baconao Park
The name Baconao comes from a legend about a young native boy. He lived in southern Cuba a long, long time ago. The story says there was a magical tree called bacona. This tree allowed the boy to play beautiful music using lagoon snails.
This young Cuban boy was very good at fishing and swimming. He also loved playing Batos, which was an old Cuban baseball game.
The boy would sit under the bacona tree and play his snail music. Everyone in the village was amazed. They thought his music was a gift from the magical tree. Because of this, they started calling the boy Baconao.
One day, the young boy left the village for a trip. He never came back. The villagers believed that the boy's magic went back into the trees. As time passed, the whole area became known as Baconao.
In 1987, UNESCO declared Baconao a World Heritage Biosphere Reserve. This means it's a very important place for nature and culture.
Cool Places to Explore in Baconao
Baconao Park has many exciting attractions. Besides its wildlife refuges and coffee farms, there's lots to see and do!
The Great Rock (Gran Piedra)
The Great Rock is a giant rock made from a volcano. It is 51 meters (167 ft) long and 25 meters (82 ft) high. It is also 30 meters (98 ft) wide. This huge rock is estimated to weigh over 63,000 tons!
You can climb 459 stone steps to reach the top of the rock. From there, you'll be 1,234 meters (4,049 ft) above sea level. The view is amazing! On a clear night, people say you can even see the lights of Jamaica.
Prehistoric Valley
In the Valle de la Prehistoria (Prehistoric Valley), you'll find dozens of life-size dinosaurs. These amazing sculpted models are made of stone. You can also see other prehistoric creatures. They are hidden among the lush green plants. It's like stepping back in time!
The Historic Farm (Granjita Siboney)
The Granjita Siboney is a farm with a special history. It's the place where a group of people stayed the night before an important event. This event was the attack on the Moncada Barracks on July 26, 1953.
Botanical Garden
There is a beautiful garden called Jardin Ave de Paraiso. It covers 0.45 square kilometers (0.17 sq mi). This garden started in 1860 on an old coffee farm. It has different sections, each with unique scents and colorful plants.
Museum of Terrestrial Transport
This museum is a dream for car lovers! It displays over 2,500 small-scale car replicas. You can see tiny versions of many different vehicles.
The Aquarium
The aquarium at Baconao is 30 meters (98 ft) deep. It has a cool submarine tunnel you can walk through. There's also a Dolphinarium, where you can watch amazing dolphin shows!
Baconao Lagoon
The Baconao Lagoon covers an area of 4 square kilometers (1.5 sq mi). Here, you can find a reproduction of a Taíno Village. It shows how the native people of Cuba used to live. There's also a restaurant nearby that serves delicious seafood.
See also
In Spanish: Baconao para niños
