Play

Havana

Capital of CubaHavana lies on the north coast of Cuba, facing the Straits of Florida, south of the Florida Keys. The city spreads west and south from a bay that ships enter through a narrow inlet.

Why it's the capital

Havana was first founded in 1514 on Cuba's south coast and moved to its present site on the north coast in 1519. Ships from all over Spain's American lands brought goods to its bay, where fleets gathered before sailing to Spain. The port grew so fast that it overtook Santiago de Cuba and became the island's capital.

Fun facts

  1. The name Havana may come from Habaguanex, the chief of a local Taíno people about whom little else is known.
  2. In 1837 Cuba's first railway was built in Havana, which made Cuba the first Spanish-speaking country with a railway.
  3. After British forces captured Havana in 1762, Spain got the city back in a peace treaty by giving Florida to Britain.

Finding it on the globe

Find the Florida Keys and go straight south across the water to Cuba. Havana is on the north coast, in the western part of the long island.

Sources: Wikipedia: Havana