Guantánamo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Guantánamo
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Main street in front of post office
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Guantánamo municipality (red) within
Guantánamo Province (yellow) and Cuba |
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| Country | Cuba | |
| Province | Guantánamo | |
| Established | 1797 | |
| Area | ||
| • City | 741.4 km2 (286.3 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 46 m (151 ft) | |
| Population
(2022)
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| • City | 222,781 | |
| • Density | 300.487/km2 (778.26/sq mi) | |
| • Urban | 214,036 | |
| Demonym(s) | Guantanamero/ra | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) | |
| Postal code |
95100
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| Area code(s) | +53 21 | |
Guantánamo (UK: /ɡwænˈtænəmoʊ/, US: /ɡwɑːnˈtɑːn-/, Spanish: [ɡwanˈtanamo]) is a city in southeast Cuba. It is also the capital city of Guantánamo Province.
The city of Guantánamo is close to the Caimanera port. This port is near the famous Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, which is a U.S. naval base. The main products grown in the area are sugarcane and cotton. These crops have been important to the local economy for a long time.
Contents
History of Guantánamo
The city of Guantánamo was started in 1797. It was built on the land of a farm called Santa Catalina.
The name "Guantánamo" comes from the Taíno language. It means "land between the rivers".
Geography of Guantánamo
The area around Guantánamo is very interesting. In the north, you can find mountains that are part of the Sierra Maestra range. This area also includes the Alejandro de Humboldt National Park.
To the south, the municipality touches the Windward Passage of the Caribbean Sea. Several rivers flow through the area, such as the Bano, Guantánamo, and Guaso rivers. The city itself is laid out in a square shape. The main highway, the Carretera Central, runs right through its middle.
About 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the city is Guantánamo Bay. This is a very good natural harbor. The United States has used this harbor since 1898. They took control of it from Spain during the Battle of Guantánamo Bay.
In 1903, Cuba leased the bay to the U.S. This was part of an agreement called the Cuban–American Treaty of Relations. Today, it is still the site of a U.S. Navy base. It also includes the Guantanamo Bay detention camp.
People of Guantánamo
In 2022, the city of Guantánamo had a population of 222,781 people. The total area of the municipality is about 741 square kilometers (286 square miles). This means there are about 300 people living in each square kilometer.
Famous People from Guantánamo
Many well-known people were born in Guantánamo. These include several famous athletes:
- Joel Casamayor (boxer)
- Erislandy Lara (boxer)
- Yuriorkis Gamboa (boxer)
- Yumileidi Cumbá (shot putter)
- Jaime Jefferson (long jumper)
- Yargelis Savigne (triple jumper)
- Dayron Robles (hurdler)
- Luis Delís (discus thrower)
Other notable people include:
- Annia Hatch (gymnast)
- Olga Merediz (Broadway and movie actress)
- Diamela del Pozo (musician)
- Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez (cosmonaut, the first person of African descent in space)
- Iliana Hernández (journalist)
- Luis Robert Jr. (Major League Baseball player for the Chicago White Sox)
Getting Around Guantánamo
Travel by Car
The city is connected by the Carretera Central highway. This is a major road in Cuba. Guantánamo is also the eastern end of the A1 motorway. This motorway is still being built. When finished, it will connect Guantánamo all the way to Havana.
Travel by Train
In July 2019, Cuba received new train cars from China. These were the first new cars in over forty years. They are used for the route between Havana and Guantánamo. The train journey takes about 15 hours. A round trip ticket from Havana to Guantánamo costs around 200 Cuban pesos.
Travel by Air
Guantánamo has a commercial airport called the Mariana Grajales Airport. Only one airline, Cubana, flies to this airport. The airport is located near the small villages of Las Lajas and Paraguay.
The Song "Guantanamera"
"Guantanamera" is a very famous Cuban song. Its name means "woman from Guantánamo" in Cuban Spanish. It is also Cuba's most well-known patriotic song.
In 1966, an American group called The Sandpipers released a version of the song. This version, based on an arrangement by Pete Seeger, became a hit around the world. Later, the Cuban superstar singer Celia Cruz also had a very big hit with "Guantanamera".
Gallery
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Hotel Washington (1974)
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The Cathedral
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Plaza de la Revolución
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A sculpture of an ox in the "Zoológico de Piedra" (Stone Zoo)
See also
In Spanish: Guantánamo para niños
