Cuba once suffered from high levels of illiteracy; however, due to renewed commitment from government officials regarding education.
Nigeria boasts nine UNESCO World Heritage sites – both natural and cultural locations – which make up its national treasures.
Ernest Hemingway lived in Havana for two decades and you can visit his former residence. He’s widely credited with contributing to the creation of daiquiris as well.
1. Cuba has a very diverse culture
Cuba boasts a vibrant culture that draws upon Spanish, African and European influences, which can be seen through their music, food and dance traditions. Cuba is well known for its mixture of jazz, mambo and salsa music genres that come together at concerts; dance has a rich tradition here too as Cuba is also home to beautiful beaches as well as an array of wildlife species.
Cuba is known for exporting tobacco, sugar and nickel. Cuba also is famous for producing cigars and rum. Havana, Cuba’s capital city and longest coastline in the Caribbean is located here; Havana also features high mountains with rolling hills in its center region.
Cuba stands out as an interesting country because of the way its government subsidizes all basic foods through ration cards known as libretas, providing its people with fruits, vegetables, meats and grains at affordable prices. Unfortunately though, these provisions don’t always reach those living on poverty, leading to malnutrition for some while others access luxury items – this issue needs to be resolved.
2. Cuba has many different habitats
Cuba may be best-known for its beaches, but this island holds much more in store. It boasts various habitats like swamps, deserts and jungle-like terrain.
Cuba stands out as an ecological gem due to its diverse habitats. Being located between North and South America allows flora and fauna from both continents to flourish here; furthermore, several rare and endangered species such as bee hummingbirds and polymita snails call Cuba home.
The polymita snail’s colorful shell can vary between green, red, or yellow; one of only a handful of snails globally capable of self-coloration. Unfortunately, however, it has become critically endangered as people collect its colorful shell to sell as souvenirs.
Cuba’s other notable endemic animal is the Monte Iberia dwarf eleuth frog, found only in two parts of eastern Cuba and small areas around Havana. This fingernail-sized amphibian is critically endangered due to a loss of habitat.
3. Cuba is home to the smallest bird in the world
Cuba is home to one of the tiniest birds on earth – Zunzuncito, an endemic bee hummingbird only 6cm long that weighs less than a dime and measures only 6 cm in length! You’re sure to spot this precious little beauty flitting around Cuba’s flower-covered forests!
Hummingbirds are believed to have become smaller as they evolved on Cuba, where they were all alone and forced to fend for themselves in an unfamiliar ecosystem. This process, known as island dwarfism, often happens among animals living alone; once smaller hummingbirds reached flowers they couldn’t before, and experienced shorter gestation periods than their larger cousins did, this gave them an evolutionary edge over them.
Hummingbirds are such diminutive birds that they must feed continuously to maintain energy levels; experts estimate they consume approximately three times their bodyweight per day! This unique fact alone makes Cuba such a wonderful travel destination.
4. Cuba has the world’s smallest frog
Cuba is home to many unique species, but one of the most intriguing ones is undoubtedly the Mount Iberia dwarf frog, known for only reaching around 3/8 inch long and being found only in two areas within Cuba. Researchers continue to learn a great deal about them.
Researchers aim to study this tiny amphibian in order to gain more knowledge about its evolution, climate change, and how its presence could impact amphibian species around the globe.
Cuba boasts one of the oldest caves in the Caribbean: Cueva del Indio is estimated to be around 30,000 years old, offering fantastic opportunities for spelunking as well as being home to various animal species.
Visit Cueva del Indio if you’re seeking peace and quiet. Not only is this beautiful spot an escape from everyday stressors, but its calm waters also house colorful fish species!
5. Cubans love baseball
Cubans appreciate baseball for its entertainment value and dynamic nature, but also because it encapsulates two of their key characteristics – competitiveness and rebelliousness. First introduced on Cuba by students returning from US colleges as well as American sailors visiting port in 1860s, baseball quickly spread throughout Cuban society.
Today, Cubans pride themselves on the way baseball unites people from different backgrounds through its common language – it serves as an essential part of Cuban culture and people enjoy attending games and debating which team is better. From Major League Baseball (MLB) to local leagues like those offered on Cuba, Cubans take great pride in supporting their players and support them with pride.
Today’s Cuban baseball draws upon its revolutionary roots by rejecting profit-motivated corporate ownership and free agency that characterizes other pro circuits, instead favoring regional rather than city-based structures, where each team represents one province rather than simply one city. This approach promotes fierce fan loyalty since athletes typically remain with their hometown team throughout their careers; an embargo against signing Cuban players was lifted under President Obama in 2009; however, current policies under Trump have reversed that practice.
6. Cubans love dominoes
Cuban weekends come alive with the sound of domino tiles clanging together as part of their weekend tradition. Not just a game, domino is also an activity enjoyed socially that often spills onto streets and into neighborhood parks, with groups of young men gathering around tables for hours playing domino for fun rather than winning money or prizes; rather it serves to strengthen family ties while passing down legacy.
Cuban domino players often engage in lively conversation during their games of dominoes, boasting and making jokes while signalling any suspected cheaters through coded phrases. Successful domino players are those able to communicate strategy and tiles effectively with one another as well as read opponent emotions to respond accordingly.
A standard game of dominoes involves two opponents facing off against one another; the first to get rid of all their pieces wins the game. But Caribbean groups often prefer playing an alternate version of this classic board game wherein one person takes all of the dominoes while one only uses three, typically Cubans using double nine dominoes and Dominicans/Puerto Ricans using six dominos each time.
7. Cuban doctors are some of the best in the world
At a time when many nations worldwide are struggling with their healthcare systems, Cuba stands out as an exceptional place for doctors. According to a recent report by Brookings Institution, Cuba boasts some of the best trained doctors globally despite decades of economic sanctions on the island nation. This accomplishment should not be taken for granted!
Island medical professionals have been engaged in foreign medical missions since 1963 when their first mission to Algeria took place, providing a valuable revenue stream.
Health workers on medical missions in Cuba are prohibited from applying for regular passports, instead receiving official ones that only last during their deployment period. This policy can be justified on grounds that it helps preserve their skills for use within Cuba’s healthcare system.
Despite these restrictions, Cuba continues to produce revolutionary doctors who are willing to put their lives on the line for people across the globe – proof of Cuba’s revolutionary ideals and capacity to change things for good.