Yara, Cuba facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yara
Municipality
Monument of Taino chief Hatuey in Yara, depicting the moment he was burnt by Spanish soldiers. Bind to a tamarind tree planted in 1907.
Flag
Yara municipality (red) within Granma Province (yellow) and Cuba
Country	Cuba
Province	Granma
Established	1912
Area
• Total	576 km2 (222 sq mi)
Elevation	30 m (100 ft)
Population  (2022)
• Total	53,818
• Density	93.43/km2 (241.99/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
Area code(s)	+53-23
Website	https://www.yara.gob.cu/

Yara is a small town and municipality in the Granma Province of Cuba, located halfway between the cities of Bayamo and Manzanillo, in the Gulf of Guacanayabo. Yara means "place" in the Taíno language.

History

The Taíno Cacique (chief) Hatuey was burnt at the stake in Yara, on February 2, 1512, after he organized a guerrilla war against the Spaniards. Hatuey is known as "Cuba's First National Hero". This action gave birth to one of Cuban mayor's myths; "La Luz de Yara", The Light of Yara.

On October 10, 1868, the beginning of the Ten Years' War in Cuba occurred and is known as El Grito de Yara (The Cry of Yara) and was the beginning of the First Cuban War of Independence.

Yara was established as a municipality in 1912, when Manzanillo was split up.

Geography

The municipality is divided into the barrios of Yara, Yara Arriba, Veguitas, Buey de Gallego, Coco, Caboa, Cabagán, Calambrosio, Canabacoa, Cayo Redondo, José Martí, Los Cayos, Mateo Romás and Sofía.

Demographics

In 2022, the municipality of Yara had a population of 53,818. With a total area of 576 km² (222 sq mi), it has a population density of 93/km² (240/sq mi).

Personalities

• Bartolomé Masó (1830–1907), soldier and politician
• Tete Puebla (born 1940), Cuban politician
• Harry Villegas (1940–2019), Cuban revolutionary
• Huber Matos (1918–2014), Cuban revolutionary military leader, political dissident against Castro's marxist regime, political prisoner, activist and writer