Havana
Havana (Spanish: La Habana ) is the capital city of Cuba. Its population was 2.1 million in 2012.[2] It is at 23°8′N 82°23′W and is a little more than 100 miles south-southwest of Key West, Florida in the United States.
La Habana | |
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Coordinates: 23°08′N 82°23′W / 23.133°N 82.383°WCoordinates: 23°08′N 82°23′W / 23.133°N 82.383°W | |
Country | Cuba |
Province | La Habana |
Settled by Europeans | 1515a |
City status | 1592 |
Municipalities | 15 |
Government | |
• Type | Mayor-council |
• Mayor | Marta Hernández (PCC) |
Area | |
• Capital of Cuba | 728.26 km2 (281.18 sq mi) |
• Land | 2,555.055 km2 (986.512 sq mi) |
• Water | 9,830.521 km2 (3,795.585 sq mi) 19.23% |
• Urban | 987.2546 km2 (381.1811 sq mi) |
• Metro | 852.12 km2 (329.01 sq mi) |
Elevation | 59 m (194 ft) |
Population (2012) Official Census[2] | |
• Capital of Cuba | 2,106,146 |
• Density | 2,892.0/km2 (7,490/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC-5 (UTC−05:00) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (UTC−04:00) |
Postal code | 10xxx–19xxx |
Patron Saints | Saint Christopher |
a Founded on the present site in 1519. |
Havana is a very old city. It was created in 1515 by Spanish explorers. Due to its important location it became a springboard for the Spanish conquest of the Americas. Also, it became a stopping point for Spanish ships returning to Spain filled with treasure. King Philip II of Spain granted Havana the title of City in 1592. Walls as well as forts were built to protect the old city. The sinking of the U.S. battleship Maine in Havana's harbor in 1898 was the immediate cause of the Spanish–American War.
Havana Media
A panoramic view of Havana, Cuba from atop the Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña.
Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar, governor of Cuba who moved Havana's location in 1514
Havana Cathedral, 1748–1777
Havana Harbor entrance in 1841 by Bibliographisches Institut.
Raising the Cuban flag on the Governor General's Palace at noon on May 20, 1902.
Paseo del Prado, Havana, in 1909.
References
- ↑ "How Obama's US-Cuba deal could shape Havana's future". Lonely Planet. Archived from the original on 10 January 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "2012 Official Census" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-25. Retrieved 2015-01-05.
Other websites
Media related to Havana at Wikimedia Commons