Cuba is the largest island in the West Indies and one of the most beautiful. With more than 1,600 smaller islands and cays, or coral reefs, it is officially known as the Republic of Cuba. The nearest mainland is southern Florida -145 km away. Cuba is the world’s seventh-largest island and is the largest of the Caribbean Island.

The island of Cuba consists mostly of flatlands, and rolling plains, but mountains in the west and east and across Cuba cover almost a quarter of the total land mass.

Cuba could be the wealthiest island in the Caribbean. It has good fertile land, some minerals, and with its sunshine, its beautiful white beaches, and it elegant palm trees, the nation has the potential for a great tourist industry too. It also has a labour force that is young, healthy, and well educated.

Cuba’s tropical climate, seasonal rainfall, and low-lying land influenced the original vegetation of the island. Today, Cuba is devoted to agriculture, so the vegetation is changing. When Europeans discovered the island of Cuba, much of the land was covered with forests of cedars and pines. Extensive forests now remain particularly in the Sierra Maestra.  There are also large swamps where the land is flooded for much of the year.

Cuba’s national tree is the elegant royal palm, which grows almost 18 m tall. Tens of thousands of royal palms grace the island. The national bird is the Cuban trogon. This brilliant bird is red and blue, with white plumage on its breast. The Cuban trogon is found in most parts of the island, and for Cubans it recalls the colours of their flag.

Cubans are among the most cheerful, patient, resilient, and outgoing people on earth. They are very generous with the little they have, and everyone who visits Cuba comes away with a sense of warmth and admiration for its people. Their greatest exuberance is in their music, much of which drives fro their African roots.