Granma in Cuba
Which sounds like a nickname for that in English? The term for grandmother, i.e. grandma, is the name of the province of Granma in the southeast of the country Cuba.
The city of Bayamo serves as the capital of the province.
Geography of the Province of Granma
According to Behealthybytomorrow, the landscape of the Province of Granma is very different. The eastern part borders on the Gulf of Guacanayabo, the west includes a very large part of the Sierra Maestra. The Pico Turquino, which rises 1,974 meters above sea level, lies on the border with the neighboring province of Santiago de Cuba. This mountain is also the highest point in the province.
History of the Granma Province
During the Spanish colonial era, Granma was part of the Oriente Province. The revolutionaries from Mexico landed on the coast of Granma in 1959 with Fidel Castro. The yacht that Fidel Castro was on was named Granma. It is considered to be one of the most important arenas when talking about the Cuban revolution. This is how the province was later named after the revolutionary’s former yacht. This makes Granma the only province in the country that is not named after its own capital.
The capital of Granma
The capital of Granma is Bayamo. Since the region is named after the yacht of the revolutionary Fidel Castro, the capital has a different name than the province. This is not common in Cuba. The city is located in the north of the Sierra Maestra and has about 220,000 residents.
Bayamo went down in history: in 1868 the Battle of Bayamo took place here during the struggle for Cuban independence. The song La Bayamesa is one of the most popular chansons in the entire country and has been the Cuban national anthem since 1902. The model for this was provided by the rebel Pedro Figueredo, who was also involved in the struggle for independence.
Famous people from Bayamo
The poet Pablo Milanés comes from the capital of the province of Granma. He also achieved great fame as a singer and ensured that the region also received international attention. The Cuban freedom fighters are of course very important for the entire country. One of the most famous is Carlos Manuel de Céspedes. He is one of the founders of the Cuban nation and came from Granma. Rolando Urios is mainly known to sports fans. The handball player is a Cuban-Spanish sports idol.
Sights of Granma
The province of Granma is home to the Desembarco del Granma National Park. The national park is located at the point where the Caribbean merges with the North American plate. It is considered one of the most beautiful in the country and is visited by thousands of visitors every year. The entire area was designated as a world natural heritage site. It covers an area of 26,180 hectares of land and 6,287 hectares of lake area. Here you will find the largest and most beautiful marine terrace system in Cuba.
The multifaceted landscapes, with the lake areas and different terrain levels are a wonderful sight that you should enjoy. Here Cuba is still really original. The coastal landscape is under strict protection.
This is exactly where Fidel Castro landed in 1959. He reached the plate with his yacht Granma. The name of the national park is derived from this memory of the event at that time, because Desembarco del Granma means nothing other than landing of the Granma.
Guantanamo in Cuba
Everyone can see the pictures in which prisoners in orange overalls are treated inhumanely by their guards and how animals are locked in kennels. Anyone who mentions the name of the province of Guantánamo immediately sees the prison that made and will cause so many headlines.
Guantánamo is located in the southern part of eastern Cuba and is a province of the country. The town of the same name Guantánamo serves as the capital.
The history of the province of Guantánamo
Historically the province has strong similarities with the province of Oriente, to which Guatánamo belonged during the Spanish colonial era. The well-known and feared Guantánamo Bay, which as a US naval base also bears the name Guatánamo Bay Naval Base, is located south of the provincial capital.
Guantánamo Bay Base was created when the United States of America captured the area during the Spanish-American War in 1898. In 1903 leased the American government took over the Guantanamo area. The American government interprets the lease agreement a little differently than the Guantánamo Province does. Because according to the American leasing party, the contract can only be dissolved if both, i.e. Cuba and the United States of America, agree to the dissolution. In the meantime, however, the current American President Obama is trying to ensure that the treaty and, above all, the prison to be resolved. However, it is not that simple. Because although here the prisoners of the Americans in the prison camp are considered convicts in the war on terror, as the Americans say, the repeal of the treaty is proving to be difficult. This was namely extended in 1934 for a further 99 years. The prison has a reputation for being one of the most inhuman in the world. The situation there is said to have worsened since the terrorist attacks of September 11th.
The capital Guantánamo
In Guantánamo you can often find educated citizens. The city has several universities and is an internationally recognized and respected university city. The capital is not far from the infamous Guatánamo Bay.
Over 208,000 people live and work in the city and area of Guantánamo. Many of them are students or migrant workers who have found work in agriculture or tourism.
Economy of the province of Guatánamo
As in large parts of the country, the population here mainly lives from the cultivation of sugar cane. This plant finds optimal growth conditions here. The production and manufacture of sugar is one of the main sources of income in the region. EvenCotton thrives here excellently. Cotton is grown here as the second most important agricultural product and prepared for export. Although some of the tourists who visit Cuba make a short stop here, the province cannot make a living from tourism. This forms only a small part of the economic income of Guatánamo.
Sights of Guatánamo
Of course, tourists and onlookers come here to take a look at the American prison camp. But many also appreciate the capital’s landmarks. One of the most important of these is the Fama. This is a sculpture that includes a trumpet. The Palacio Salcines is the location of an impressive art collection.