Pinar del Río Province

Pinar del Río is one of the provinces of Cuba. It is at the western end of the island of Cuba.

Pinar del Río Province
Province of Cuba
Coat of arms
CountryCuba
CapitalPinar del Río
Area
 • Total8,884.51 km2 (3,430.33 sq mi)
Population
 (2010-12-31)[1]
 • Total592,851
 • Density67/km2 (170/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
Area code(s)+53-48
Websitewww.Pinar.cu

Geography

The Pinar del Río province is Cuba's westernmost province and contains one of Cuba's three main mountain ranges, the Cordillera de Guaniguanico, divided into the easterly Sierra del Rosario and the westerly Sierra de los Órganos. These form a landscape characterised by steep sided limestone hills (called mogotes) and flat, fertile valleys. One such topographic feature, the Viñales Valley, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The northern coast opens to the great Gulf of Mexico, and is lined by the Colorados Archipelago, a string of cays and isles developed on a reef barrier. The westernmost point of Cuba, Cabo San Antonio, is located on the Guanahacabibes Peninsula, which is a National Park and a Biosphere Reserve.

History

The city was founded by the Spanish as Nueva Filipinas (New Philippines),[2] and the city was renamed Pinar del Río in 1774. The province was founded in 1879.

In 1851 the filibustering Lopez Expedition landed in the province in an effort to seize control of the island, but were defeated by the Spanish Army and their leaders executed.

Economy

The province relies on tobacco farming, with Pinar del Río producing 70% of Cuba's crop, use to make the cigars that are so prized overseas. The best tobacco, used for more expensive cigar brands, is grown in the flat lands of San Juan y Martínez.

Tourism
Viñales Valley

Tourism is also an important part of the province's economy. Though the town of Pinar del Río (the provincial capital) has some places of cultural and historical interest (such as the Cathedral of San Rosendo, a 19th-century construction), most attractions are to be found in rural or natural settings. A major destination is the Viñales Valley, a karstic depression located in the Sierra de los Organos, north of the town of Viñales. Designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999 because of its natural beauty and the traditional agricultural techniques which continue to be used in the cultivation of tobacco and other crops there, the valley is a popular hiking and rock climbing location.

Many of the valley's surrounding hills are dotted with caves which may be explored by visitors and spelunking has become another popular activity in the province (a particularly interesting cave is the Cueva de los Portales, beside the Río Caiguanabo, where Che Guevara set up his staff headquarters and dormitory as commander of the Western Army during the Cuban Missile Crisis).

Accommodations in and near Viñales have also grown in number in response to growing tourism in the region. In addition to casas particulares (licensed bed and breakfasts in private residences), there are a number of hotels some kilometers from the town, such as "La Ermita"[3] and Rancho Horizontes San Vicente.[4]

Another major tourist destination in the province was Las Terrazas, a unique model village located 20 kilometer northeast of Soroa and, from 2011, part of the new Artemisa Province. Surrounded by mountains, the village was founded in 1971 as part of rural development and reforestation project which spans 5,000 ha (12,355 acres). As in other parts of the province, there are several hiking trails which weave through the surrounding mountains. Some companies offer guided hiking tours on a daily basis (in some areas, in fact, a guide is mandatory).

With around 30 diving sites, Pinar del Río is also considered one of Cuba's premier scuba diving destinations. Cayo Levisa,[5] about two kilometers offshore, is known for its copious black coral and excursions to this cay are afforded by tour agencies based in the province. Another hugely popular location is María la Gorda beach,[6] which boasts many nearby dive sites (as close as 200 m (220 yd) from the beach).

An increasing number of tourists also visit the San Diego hot springs, in search of the health benefits reportedly afforded by the warm sulfur-rich waters there. An additional spectrum of health-related services has also become available at this spa, including massages and mud baths.

Municipalities
Dome-like rounded mogotes in Viñales Valley
MunicipalityPopulation
(2004)		Area
(km²)		LocationRemarks
Consolación del Sur87,5001,11222°30′0″N 83°30′55″W
Guane35,89371722°12′2″N 84°05′1″W
La Palma35,42662122°45′22″N 83°33′12″W
Los Palacios38,95078622°34′57″N 83°14′56″W
Mantua26,06591522°17′27″N 84°17′14″W
Minas de Matahambre34,41985822°34′57″N 83°56′57″W
Pinar del Río190,53270822°25′33″N 83°41′18″WProvincial capital
San Juan y Martínez45,06140922°16′0″N 83°50′2″W
San Luis34,08576522°16′59″N 83°46′4″W
Sandino39,2451,71822°04′52″N 84°13′18″W
Viñales27,12970422°36′55″N 83°42′57″W

Source: Population from 2004 Census.[7] Area from 1976 municipal re-distribution.[8]

Until 2011 the municipalities of Bahía Honda, Candelaria and San Cristóbal were part of the province. After the split of La Habana Province into the new provinces of Artemisa and Mayabeque, the three municipios joined Artemisa.

Notable people

Demographics

In 2010, the province of Pinar del Río had a population of 592,042.[7] With a total area of 8,884 km2 (3,430 sq mi),[9] the province had a population density of 67.0/km2 (174/sq mi).

References
  1. "Lugar que ocupa el territorio según la superficie y la población" (PDF). Una MIRADA a Cuba (in Spanish). Oficina Nacional de Estadísticas. Cuba. 2010.
  2. Van Norman, William C. (2005). Shade grown slavery: life and labor on coffee plantations in western Cuba, 1790–1845. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. p. 114. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  3. "Hotel La Ermita, Cuba". Hotel La Ermita, Cuba. 2013-12-01. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
  4. "Hotel Rancho San Vicente, Vinales, Cuba". Cubahotelreservation.com. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
  5. "Cayo Levisa – Cayo Jutias". Hicuba.com. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
  6. "Hotel María la Gorda Pinar del Río, Cuba". Hotelmarialagorda-cuba.com. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
  7. Atenas.cu (2004). "2004 Population trends, by Province and Municipality" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-10-06.
  8. Statoids (July 2003). "Municipios of Cuba". Retrieved 2007-10-06.
  9. Government of Cuba (2002). "Population by Province" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2007-10-02.
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