A Caribbean Mystery: Cuba Trivia Quiz

Answer: Cuba contains the highest point in the entire Caribbean, at the peak of Pico Duarte

Pico Duarte is the highest point in the Caribbean; unfortunately, it's in the Dominican Republic, not Cuba. With a land area of more than 42,000 square miles (110,000 square kilometers), Cuba is easily the largest island in the Caribbean, and most of the land area comes directly from territory on the central island. Because of Cuba's width, it extends much farther west than the rest of the Greater Antilles (which also include Hispaniola, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico). Cuba is only 90 miles away from the southern tip of Florida.

It is the closest country in the Caribbean other than the Bahamas, which is really located at the edge of the Caribbean Sea in the Atlantic Ocean.

Answer: Nickel

Although nickel is the most important natural resource that Cuba exports, the country also is the fifth-largest exporter of cobalt, a byproduct when mining the nickel. Cuba was once covered in large forests of valuable timber, but they were cleared to build sugarcane plantations as early as the sixteenth century, so wood is actually imported into the country.

There is some petroleum available on Cuba's northern shore as well, although it's low quality.

Answer: Santiago

Santiago de Cuba is often overlooked by outsiders, but the city is steeped in a rich history. Founded on June 28, 1514 by Spain, it was the base for Hernan Cortes' expedition to conquer the Aztecs in 1518 and de Soto's exploration of the American Southeast in 1538. Haitian immigrants added cultural diversity to the city by the eighteenth century, adding to Spanish and African influences.

In 1898, Santiago was the site of the Americans' victory at San Juan Hill, where then-military officer Theodore Roosevelt led the Rough Riders over the Cubans.

In 1953, the Cuban Revolution began when Fidel Castro and a small band of rebels attacked a Santiago barracks. On January 1, 1959, Castro proclaimed the victory of the Revolution from a balcony in City Hall.

Answer: Isla de la Juventud

Isla de la Juventud (literally "Isle of Youth" in English) is the large island that you can see south of Cuba's western "hook". The island's population is administered directly from Cuba's central government because it isn't a part of any of the country's particular provinces. Throughout its history, the island has been called variously "Isla de Cotorras" (Isle of Parrots), "Isla de Tesoros" (Isle of Treasures), and "Isla de Pinos," or the Isle of Pines. Fidel Castro was imprisoned on the Isla de la Juventud between 1953 and 1955 by Fulgencio Batista after his failed attack in Santiago.

Answer: Los Roques

Los Roques is an archipelago north of Venezuela in the southern Caribbean. Colorados, Jardines de la Reina, Canarreos, and Sabana-Canaguey are the four major island groups that surround Cuba's main island. Colorados is on the northwest coast and is notable mainly for its fishing industry. Jardines de la Reina (Gardens of the Queen) was named by Christopher Columbus after Queen Isabela and is located south of the island.

The Canarreos are farther west and include the Isla de Juventud. Sabana-Camaguey is on the northern coast and incorporates the famous Cayo Coco beach resorts.

Answer: Cigars

Cuban cigars are world-renowned, and up to 70% of Cuba's tobacco is produced in the Pinar del Rio. The most acclaimed tobacco is grown in the city of San Juan y Martinez at the very end of the island's "hook". In addition to tobacco, the Pinar del Rio's economy is bolstered by tourism.

The Vinales Valley was designated a World Heritage Site in 1999 because of geological wonders, especially hills of limestone often called mogotes. These cliffs are found almost exclusively in the Caribbean and most often in Cuba. Scuba diving off the western coast in the Gulf of Mexico is also popular.

Answer: Guantanamo Bay

"Guantanamo" comes from a native Taino word meaning "between rivers" and actually refers also to the specific province of Cuba in which the bay is located. Guantanamo is most famous for the American detainment facility that opened to POWs from the conflicts in the Middle East in January 2002, and controversy over release of prisoners and conditions in the facility made an important topic in the 2008 presidential election. US President Obama signed a memorandum on December 15, 2009, ordering the preparation of a holding facility in Illinois in which the detainees would be transferred as Guantanamo was phased out.

Answer: Bellamar Caves

The Bellamar Caves are believed to have been formed 300,000 years ago and apparently weren't discovered until 1861. Unsurprisingly, they became a major tourist destination soon after that discovery, because the caves' natural beauty is equally impressive as Cuba's sandy beaches. One of Bellamar's most impressive attractions is a natural formation dubbed "The Fountain of Youth," and visitors are allowed to drink the fountain's water.

Answer: Windward Passage

The Windward Passage lies between Cuba in the east and Hispaniola, the large Caribbean island containing the countries of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, in the west. The passage is so narrow that Cubans can see the lights in Haitian houses at night, and vice versa.

Cuba borders several other bodies of water in the Caribbean. The Straits of Florida separate the country from the southern tip of the United States, and the Nicholas Channel separates Cuba from the Bahamas. The Yucatan Channel is the narrow strait between the easternmost tip of the Yucatan Peninsula and western Cuba.

Answer: Varadero

Varadero is a popular tourist destination for its magnificent beaches, which were visited by the likes of Al Capone and Irenee du Pont. Although very few tourists come from the United States, Varadero attracts visitors from the rest of Latin America and parts of Europe.

The Hicacos Point Natural Park ecological preserve is also located on the peninsula and contains caves, lakes, and the remains of the oldest Spanish salt factory in the Americas, La Calavera.