Portal:Cuba/Did you know

...that the Santísima Trinidad (pictured), a first-rate ship of the line and for many years the biggest warship in the world, was built and completed in Havana in 1769?

...that the Cauto River is the longest river in Cuba at 213 miles?

...that Wifredo Lam was a Cuban artist who became close friends with Pablo Picasso in Paris during the 1930s, before forming close ties with André Breton and the Surrealist movement in Marseille in the 1940s?

... that a Cuban sandwich is grilled and made with ham, pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, mustard, and Cuban bread?

...that a year after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Cuban economy entered what became known as the Special Period, and was restricted to importing and utilizing only around 10% of the crude oil of the previous year?

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Archive of available Did you know... entries

Subpage	DYK
1	...that Castillo de los Tres Reyes Magos del Morro (pictured), a fortress which guards the entrance to Havana bay in Havana, was named after the biblical Magi?
2	...that at twelve years old, Fidel Castro wrote a letter (pictured) to U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt expressing his admiration and asking for a $10 bill?
3	...that Pinar del Río Province provides 70% of Cuba's tobacco crop (pictured)?
4	... that the United States, aided by Cuban forces, captured Guantánamo Bay (pictured) from the Spanish on June 10, 1898, during the Spanish–American War?
5	...that a view from the Plaza Mayor (pictured) in Trinidad, Cuba, is featured on the 25 centavo convertible peso coin?
6	... that Baracoa in eastern Cuba (pictured) is located on the spot where Christopher Columbus landed in Cuba on his first voyage, and is not only the oldest Spanish settlement in Cuba but also its first capital?
7	... that Casas particulares (pictured) are private family establishments that provide paid lodging, usually on a short-term basis, for tourists and other visitors to Cuba?
8	...that Colon Cemetery in Havana (pictured) has a 75-foot-high monument dedicated to firefighters, and two monuments dedicated to baseball players from the Cuban League?
9	...that in 2005, Hurricane Dennis (pictured) left 16 people dead in Cuba and cost $1.4 billion in damages?
10	...that Carlos Manuel de Céspedes (pictured) is known as Padre de la Patria, (English:Father of the Homeland) in Cuba, having declared the nation's independence from Spain in 1868?
11	...that Hernán Cortés (pictured), the Spanish conquistador, spent several years in Cuba raising funds to conquer the South American mainland?
12	... that the University of Havana (pictured) was founded in 1728?
13	...that between July 2005 and July 2006, Cubana de Aviación transported 35,000 passengers from London's Gatwick Airport to José Martí International Airport in Havana, using a Boeing 747-400 (pictured)? Actually, that's an Ilyushin IL-96. Don't know if that's just the wrong picture, or if they really used an IL-96 for this feat.
14	...that the CIA began to recruit and train anti-Castro forces for the Bay of Pigs Invasion in the Sierra Madre mountains on the Pacific coast of Guatemala?
15	... that Spanish general Valeriano Weyler (pictured) devised a reconcentration plan for Cubans in 1897 that is believed to be the origin of the tactic of concentration camps used during the 20th century?
16	...that the Santísima Trinidad (pictured), a first-rate ship of the line and for many years the biggest warship in the world, was built and completed in Havana in 1769?
17	...that the Hotel Nacional de Cuba in Havana (pictured) played host to Winston Churchill, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Ernest Hemingway, Ava Gardner as well as prominent members of the American mafia?
18	...that Cuban physician Carlos Finlay (pictured) was the first to theorize in 1881 that a mosquito was the way by which yellow fever was transmitted?
19	...that soon after the Cuban Revolution of 1959, Fidel Castro pledged to underwrite the debts of the Havana Sugar Kings baseball team, by playing an exhibition contest between his own pickup squad Los Barbudos ("The Bearded Ones") and a military police team?
20	...that John Lennon Park is a public space in the Vedado district in Havana, that contains a lifesize bronze sculpture of the former Beatles member (pictured)?
21	...that competitions for the design of José Martí Memorial (pictured) in Havana, Cuba started in 1939, but the design that was finally constructed in 1953 was a variation on a design that had come in third in the fourth competition?
22	...that the Carretera Central is an east-west highway spanning the length of the island of Cuba?
23	...that a CPA is a type of agricultural cooperative that exists in Cuba today?
24	...that Ubre Blanca was the name of a cow in Cuba recognized by The Guinness book of Records for holding the world record for milk production in a single day, and is honored by a marble statue in her home town of Nueva Gerona?
25	...that Raúl Martínez was a Cuban painter, designer and graphic artist best known for colorful pop-art portraits of leading Cuban political figures including José Martí and Camilo Cienfuegos?
26	...that in 1869 the Spanish colonial authorities banned Baseball in Cuba because Cubans began to prefer baseball to viewing bullfights, the Spaniards' national sport?
27	...that there was, on average, one aircraft hijacking incident every eleven days in 1969 involving flights from United States being forcibly redirected to Cuba?
28	...that the Cauto River is the longest river in Cuba at 213 miles?
29	...that the Tres is a 3-course, 6-string chordophone, rather like a guitar, that is unique to Cuban music?
30	...that JMWAVE was the codename for a United States covert operations and intelligence gathering station in Miami, Florida created in 1961 to overthrow the government of Fidel Castro?
31	...that actor César Romero, most famous for playing The Joker in the Batman TV series, always claimed with pride that he was Cuban national hero José Martí's grandson? But that no firm evidence has been provided to support his claim?
32	...that Organopónicos are urban Hydroponic units in Cuba that provide on the average 215 grams of organic vegetables per day to Cuban city dwellers?
33	...that Antonio Guiteras, a leading politician in Cuba during the 1930s and Minister of the Interior under President Ramón Grau San Martín, was assassinated in Matanzas Province in 1935?
34	...that the Cuban night lizard is less than 4 cm long and lives exclusively in the west corner of the southern-most coast of Cuba?
35	...that in 1766, Santiago de Cuba was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake?
36	...that when the Banking sector in Cuba came under the control of the new regime after the Cuban Revolution of 1959, Fidel Castro asked if there were an economista in the room during an inaugural meeting? And that Che Guevara put his hand up mistakenly believing the request was for a communista, and subsequently became President of the National Bank of Cuba?
37	...that El Benny is a Cuban film released in 2006, based on the life of the famous Cuban musician Benny Moré and featuring new versions of his songs performed by musicians including Chucho Valdes, Juan Formell, Haila and Orishas?
38	...that Pico Turquino in the Sierra Maestra mountains is the highest point in Cuba at 6,749 feet?
39	...that Cabildos were African ethnic associations created in Cuba in the late 1500s based on the Spanish guilds or fraternities?
40	...that Mirta Diaz-Balart, Fidel Castro's first wife, is the aunt of current U.S. Republican congressmen Lincoln Diaz-Balart and Mario Diaz-Balart, both of whom are prominent members of the anti-Castro Cuban-American lobby?
41	...that Wifredo Lam was a Cuban artist who became close friends with Pablo Picasso in Paris during the 1930s, before forming close ties with André Breton and the Surrealist movement in Marseille in the 1940s?
42	...that Carlos Varela is a singer-songwriter of nueva trova, who used to perform in Havana's parks and private patios until Silvio Rodríguez "discovered" him, bringing his music to international prominence?
43	...that the Cuban National Center for Sex Education is a government-funded body headed by Mariela Castro, daughter of Raúl Castro, which advocates tolerance of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and transgender issues on the island?
44	...that La Coubre was a French vessel carrying munitions from the port of Antwerp in 1960, which exploded while it was being unloaded in Havana harbor leaving at least 75 dead?
45	...that Tomás Gutiérrez Alea was a Cuban filmmaker who wrote and directed more than 20 features, documentaries, and short films, and is known for his sharp insight into post-Revolutionary Cuba?
46	...that the Isle of Youth, off the southern coast of the main island of Cuba, is the largest of the 350 islands in the Canarreos Archipelago, and is a special municipality of Cuba?
47	...that the National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba contains 609 members elected from single-member electoral districts for a term of five years?
48	... that Kid Chocolate became Cuba's first world boxing champion in 1931. On his retirement in 1938, he had a record of 135 wins, 9 losses and 6 draws? And that he was later recognized by the International Boxing Hall Of Fame?
49	...that Cubavision International broadcasts throughout the world?
50	...that Perucho Figueredo was a Cuban poet, musician, and freedom fighter who wrote the Cuban national anthem, La Bayamesa, in 1867?
51	...that Guaracheros de Regla was the name of a carnival comparsa of Havana?
52	...that at a performance in Havana, the Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers dedicated their song "You Love Us" to Cuban boxing legend Félix Savón?
53	...that Energy Crisis and The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil is a documentary film which details Cuba's efforts to recover from the economic crisis of the 1990s known as the Special Period?
54	...that Rationing in Cuba was instated on March 12, 1962, a month after the imposition of the United States embargo against Cuba, and remains to this day?
55	...that the oldest known son is "Son de la Má Teodora", a traditional Cuban musical piece which has been traced back to the 1570s?
56	...that in 1900, the Cuban baseball league began admitting black players, thus some of the best players from the Northern American Negro Leagues relocated to Cuba to play in the integrated teams?
57	... that the Cuban convertible peso was introduced as one of two official currencies in Cuba to replace the US dollar, which was removed from circulation in 2004?
58	... that Cachao López is credited with popularizing the Cuban musical form Mambo, and won his latest Grammy award in 2005 at the age of 87?
59	...that the Guanajatabey were indigenous inhabitants of Cuba, that lived on the island since at least 1000 B.C.? And that they were forced to the western point of the island by the arrival of the Ciboney people?
60	...that Arsenio Rodríguez, a Cuban musician and top band leader who developed the son montuno in the 1920s, was blind for most of his life having been kicked by a horse as a child?
61	...that Baconao, a large park region, located about 20 kilometers away from the city of Santiago de Cuba, was declared a World Heritage Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO?
62	... that Havana's International Book Fair takes place annually over a month, beginning in Havana's La Cabaña fortress before extending to other cities across the nation, ending in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba?
63	...that Santa María del Mar is one of a chain of beaches called the Eastern Beaches (Spanish: Playas del Este) which extend for 15 miles along the north coast of Havana province? And that it is a very popular spot for tourists?
64	...that Cuban politician Carlos Lage Dávila is current executive Secretary of the Council of Ministers of Cuba, and has been described as Cuba's de facto prime minister?
65	... that the Latin American School of Medicine in Havana enrolled between 10,000 and 12,000 students from up to 29 countries in 2006?
66	...that Gerardo Machado, who was President of Cuba 1925-1933, was a butcher by trade and had only three fingers on his left hand?
67	...that the Godfrey-Milliken Bill, was a Private Member's Bill introduced in the Canadian parliament by MPs Peter Milliken and John Godfrey to parody and attack the Helms-Burton Act devised by the United States, which aimed to tighten the United States embargo against Cuba?
68	...that Operation Verano was the name given to a summer offensive in 1958 by forces acting for President Fulgencio Batista, against rebels led by Fidel Castro during the Cuban Revolution?
69	...that Havana Club is sold outside Cuba in conjunction with the Pernod Ricard drinks company, but is not sold in the United States due to the ongoing embargo on Cuban products?
70	...that the habanera is a musical genre from Cuba with a characteristic "Habanera rhythm"? And that it is one of the oldest mainstays of Cuban music and the first of the dances from Cuba to be exported all over the world?
71	...that Henry Reeve, a Brigadier General in the Cuban rebel army during the Ten Years' War (1868-1878), was born in Brooklyn, New York?
72	...that the Communist Party of Cuba has held five Party Congresses, the first was held in 1975 and further conferences were in 1980, 1986, 1991 and 1997?
73	... that a Cuban sandwich is grilled and made with ham, pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, mustard, and Cuban bread?
74	...that groups opposed to Fidel Castro initiated seven terrorist attacks in Los Angeles during 1975 against various targets including a radio station that had just announced the showing of a Cuban film, "Lucia."?
75	...that Narciso López fled Cuba for New York City in 1848 after a failed attempt to create a revolt among Cuban planters, and attempted three times to raise filibuster expeditions to invade Cuba from the U.S.?
76	...that there are about 1,500 known Jews living in Cuba, mostly residing in Havana?
77	...that the International School of Havana was founded in 1965 by Phyllis Powers, a British expatriate, to educate the children of diplomatic staff?
78	...that Eastern Cuban cuisine forms the basis of criollo cooking, which shares a great deal of recipes with other Caribbean cuisines, but has the distinctive difference of making almost no use of peppers?
79	...that Gaia is an arts centre in Havana, set up as a not-for-profit collaboration between Cuban and international artists?
80	...that the first Cuban National Series of baseball took place in 1961-2 and was played between just four teams?
81	...that Guamá was a Taíno rebel chief who led a rebellion against Spanish rule in Cuba in the 1530s?
82	...that the music for the song Guantanamera is regularly attributed to José Fernández Díaz in the 1920s, but that pianist Herminio "El Diablo" García Wilson also claimed to have written the song? And that the matter was only resolved decades later, when García's heirs lost their case at the Supreme Court of Cuba?
83	...that Philip Bonsal was the last United States Ambassador to Cuba, having been withdrawn in 1960 after serving barely a year in office, amidst worsening relations between Cuba and the United States?
84	...that the Center of molecular immunology is a cancer research institution located on the west side of Havana, that focuses on the research and production of new biopharmaceutical products for the treatment of cancer and other nontransmissible diseases?
85	...that Cubana de Aviación's Tropicana Special flights, which began in 1956, ferried club customers from Miami to the Tropicana Club in Havana and returned them to Florida at 4am the following morning?
86	...that José Raúl Capablanca was a Cuban world-class chess player in the early to mid-twentieth century. He held the title of world chess champion from 1921 to 1927.
87	...that Cuban Olympic athlete Alberto Juantorena's second name literally is Danger, and he is the only man to win an Olympic gold medal in both the 400 metres and 800 metres track events?
88	...that Palo is a religion in Cuba derived from Bantu practices in Africa?
89	...that Cupet is Cuba's state oil company and extracts around 80,000 barrels per day of heavy crude oil?
90	...that Cayo Coco is a Cuban island off the north coast of Ciego de Ávila Province, that is linked to the mainland by an artificial causeway some 27km long?
91	...that the Council of State of Cuba is a 31 member body elected by the National Assembly of People’s Power, that has the authority to exercise most legislative power between the biannual sessions of the National Assembly?
92	...that a year after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Cuban economy entered what became known as the Special Period, and was restricted to importing and utilizing only around 10% of the crude oil of the previous year?
93	...that Sociolismo is an informal term used in Cuba to describe the reciprocal exchange of favors by individuals?
94	...that rights to oil and natural gas in the Straits of Florida were divided between the United States and Cuba by a 1977 treaty, and that geological studies project substantial reserves?
95	...that the Coat of arms of Cuba depicts a key charging a blue sea between two rocks, symbolizing Cuba’s geographical position as the key to the Gulf of Mexico?
96	...that ballerina Alicia Alonso now directs the Ballet Nacional de Cuba, and in June 2002 was designated a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador?
97	...that Women in Cuba currently hold 35% of the parliamentary seats in the Cuban National Assembly ranking sixth of 162 countries behind Rwanda, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark on issues of female participation in political life?
98	...that there have been five Cuban constitutions since the nation attained its independence from Spain?
99	...that Cuban priest Félix Varela was beatified by Pope John Paul II a century and a half after his death, and if canonized, would be the first Cuban-born Saint of the Catholic church?
100	...that Oswaldo Payá is considered Cuba's most active political dissident, and is the founder member of the Christian Liberation Movement in Cuba?
101	...that Radio Rebelde is a Cuban Spanish language radio station set up by Che Guevara in 1958 that continues to broadcast 24 hours a day?
102	...that the 16th-century Castillo de la Real Fuerza in Havana is the oldest stone fortress in the Americas?
103	...that a Comparsa is the band which plays a conga during a Cuban Carnival celebration?
104	... that Juan Gualberto Gómez was the most conspicuous Afro-Cuban activist leader during the Cuban War of Independence?
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