Guantánamo Province facts for kids

Quick Facts
Capital:	Guantánamo
Area:	6,167.97 km²
People:	507,118
Population Density:	82.22 per km²
Map
Isla de la Juventud Pinar del Río La Habana Ciudad de La Habana Matanzas Cienfuegos Villa Clara Sancti Spíritus Ciego de Ávila Camagüey Las Tunas Granma Holguín Santiago de Cuba Guantánamo

Coat of Arms of Guantánamo Province

Guantánamo is a province located at the eastern end of Cuba. Its main city is also named Guantánamo. Another important town in the province is Baracoa. This province is well-known because it surrounds the U.S. Navy base at Guantánamo Bay.

The buildings and culture in Guantánamo are quite special and different from the rest of Cuba.

A Mix of Cultures

Guantánamo's unique style comes from its history. The first European settlers arrived in 1764. They were Catalan families from a region in northeastern Spain.

Later, around 1805, many French families moved to the Guantánamo area. They came from Saint-Domingue (which is now Haiti) after being forced to leave. These French settlers started growing coffee and cacao. Because of them, many buildings in Guantánamo look similar to those in the French Quarter of New Orleans in the United States.

Before the Cuban Revolution, the Carnivals in Guantánamo were very famous across Cuba. They were big, colorful celebrations!

Geography and Neighbors

Guantánamo is very close to Haiti, only about 80 km away across the Windward Passage. On a clear night, you can even see lights from Haiti! The province also has many people who have moved there from Jamaica.

The Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa mountains, also known as the Sierra de Cristal, run through the province. These mountains create two very different areas. The northern coast gets a lot of wind and rain, making it the wettest part of Cuba. This area is covered in rainforests.

In contrast, the southern part of the province is protected by the mountains. It is very dry and hot, with many cacti growing there.

Towns and Cities

Map of Cuba with the city of Guantánamo highlighted

Guantánamo Province is made up of several municipalities, which are like local districts or towns. Here are some of them:

• Baracoa
• Caimanera
• El Salvador
• Guantánamo
• Imías
• Maisí (La Máquina)
• Manuel Tames
• Niceto Pérez
• San Antonio del Sur
• Yateras (Palenque)

Related Topics

• Guantanamera: A very famous Cuban song.
• Parque Nacional Alejandro de Humboldt: A beautiful national park partly located in Guantánamo Province.

See also

In Spanish: Provincia de Guantánamo para niños