Cuba
Capital: Havana
Size: About 42,430 square miles (109,880 sq km).
Language: Spanish
Currency: Cuban peso
Capital population: Havana has about 2.1 million people.
Population: About 11 million people.See the biggest cities →National animal: Cuban Trogon (the tocororo, whose colors match the flag)
National flower: Butterfly Jasmine (the mariposa, a white flower)
Climate
Warm and tropical, sunny most of the year, with a rainy season in summer. Average highs are about 80F to 90F (27C to 32C).
Main industries
Sugar, tobacco for cigars, coffee, nickel mining, and tourism.
Top places for tourists
Old Havana with its colorful buildings, classic 1950s cars, and long Caribbean beaches like Varadero.
Places of interest
Riding in bright vintage American cars, the fortress guarding Havana harbor, and live music in the streets.
A little history
Reached by Christopher Columbus in 1492, Cuba was a Spanish colony for about 400 years and became fully independent in 1902.
Fun fact
Because old cars could not be replaced for years, many 1950s American cars still drive the streets of Havana, kept running with great care.