Cienfuegos Bay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cienfuegos Bay |
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| Jagua Bay (Bahia de Jagua) | |
Cienfuegos Bay as seen from Jagua Fortress
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 Cienfuegos Bay
Location in Cuba
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| Coordinates | 22°08′02″N 80°28′51″W / 22.13389°N 80.48083°W |
| Native name | Bahia de Cienfuegos (Spanish) |
| Ocean/sea sources | Caribbean Sea |
| Basin countries | Cuba |
| Max. length | 22 kilometres (14 mi) |
| Max. width | 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) |
| Surface area | 88.46 square kilometres (34.15 sq mi) |
| Settlements | Cienfuegos, Cuba Jagua |
Cienfuegos Bay (also called Bahia de Cienfuegos in Spanish) is a large bay in the Caribbean Sea. You can find it on the southern coast of Cuba, in Cienfuegos Province. This bay has been a busy harbor for ships for a very long time. It is home to two of Cuba's most important ports. One of these is the city of Cienfuegos, which is the capital of the province.
Contents
Exploring the Bay's Past
Early Visits and Settlements
The famous explorer Christopher Columbus visited Cienfuegos Bay in 1494. This was during his second trip to the Americas. Later, people started to build permanent homes there. The first settlements began in the year 1738.
Protecting the Bay: Jagua Fortress
To keep the bay safe, a strong fort was built. This fort is called the Jagua Fortress. King Philip V of Spain ordered it to be built in 1742. Its main job was to protect the bay from pirates. These pirates used to sail along the Caribbean coast. They sometimes used the bay as a hiding spot on their way to the city of Cienfuegos.
See also
In Spanish: Bahía de Cienfuegos para niños
