Havana

Havana is the capital of Cuba. It was founded in 1515 by Diego Velázquez on behalf of the Spanish Empire.http://www.oldhavanaweb.com/ It is the most populous city in Cuba and the center of the nation's political and commercial activity.http://www.cuba-culture.com/Areas/Havana-Habana.html It served as an important hub of trans-Atlantic trade throughout the colonial period, felicitating the trafficking of rum, weapons, gold, and slaves.http://www.cuba-culture.com/Areas/Havana-Habana.html Although the majority of Havanans self-identify as white, there are significant black, mulatto, and mestizo demographic elements in Havana and throughout Cuba. http://www.indexmundi.com/cuba/demographics_profile.html

There is a purported romance particular to Havana and its history, which tourism officials emphasize to great effect.http://www.cuba-culture.com/Areas/Havana-Habana.html This is owed in part to the trove of ancient, colonial-era architecture that remains throughout the city. Notable structures include a number of fortresses, built by the Spanish for control and defense of the city, and many aristocratic townhouses.http://www.oldhavanaweb.com/category/1/2 .

The first European known to have explored the area now encompassing Havana was Sebastian de Ocampo, who arrived in 1509 on behalf of Spain. In 1510, conquistadors arrived via Hispaniola and conquered the island.http://www.worldtravel360.net/havana-the-port-city.html Throughout the 16th century, Havana was periodically forced to defend itself from Dutch, French, and English naval forces.http://www.worldtravel360.net/havana-the-port-city.html In 1553 the city was significantly fortified and the governor's residence, which had formally been in Santiago de Cuba, was relocated to Havana, making it the capital of the colony. http://www.worldtravel360.net/havana-the-port-city.html

In 1634, the Spanish monarchy, by royal decree, dubbed the city of Havana, "Key of the New World and Safeguard of the Western Indies," affirming its preeminence among Caribbean colonies.http://www.oldhavanaweb.com/ In 1665 Havana was further ennobled by the permission, again obtained through royal grace, to use its own legally recognized coat of arms. It consisted of three stylized turrets, representing three prominant colonial fortresses built by the Spanish to defend the city (namely, La Real Fuerza, Morro, and La Punta).http://www.oldhavanaweb.com/ In 1762, the British Empire. then at war with Spain, attacked and conquered Havana. They occupied the city for 11 months and transformed what had been a more closed society into a cosmopolitan one, encouraging trade with Britain's North American colonies and importing vast numbers of slaves.http://www.jstor.org/stable/1904889

The increasing hegemony of the United States included a great deal of economic investment in Havana. In 1898, the USS Maine was deployed to Havana's bay to protect American interests, which had grown increasingly precarious due to Cuban rebels and their fight for independencehttp://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/spanam/events/maineskg.htm It was destroyed by an explosion soon after arrival. This sparked the Spanish-American War, which resulted in Cuba's independence from Spain.http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/spanam/events/maineskg.htm

In 1959, Fidel Castro seized power from the incumbent head of state, Fulgencio Batista. Castro enjoyed massive local support as well as funds, technical advisers, and supplies from the Soviet Union.http://www.economist.com/node/12851254?story_id=12851254 Cuba became the first and only country in the Americas to join the Soviet bloc. Havana businesses, especially those with ties to foreign investors, were affected adversely by the Nationalization Laws of 1959 and 1960.http://www.cubaheritage.org/articles.asp?lID=1&artID=236 While the collapse of the Soviet Union left Cuba impoverished and isolated, it caused no serious crisis in the people's faith in Castro's regime.http://www.economist.com/node/12851254?story_id=12851254

Havana is located on the northern coast of Cuba.http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/257242/Havana The Almendares River flows north through the city, and serves as its chief water supply.http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/16803/Almendares-River The city includes three natural harbors: Guanabacoa, Atares, and Marimelena.http://www.worldtravel360.net/havana-the-port-city.html Havana's urban layout is comprised of three sections. "Old Havana" includes the original colonial architecture and is the center of the city's commercial activity, culture, and nightlife. "Vedado," the newer and more modern quarter, is the result of Havana's expansion in 1859. Finally, a number of affluent residential subdistricts exist on the city's periphery, distinct from Old Havana and Vedado http://www.webhavana.com/en/vedado_habana_down_town.html

Havana has many places of historical and cultural interest. These include:

• The Museum of the Revolutionhttp://www.worldtravel360.net/havana-the-port-city.html

• The Museum of Colonial Arthttp://www.worldtravel360.net/havana-the-port-city.htmlhttp://www.worldtravel360.net/havana-the-port-city.html

• "La Rampa," is Vedado's most fashionable neighborhood, encompassing 5 blocks full of bars, cafes, clubs, and discotheques. It draws tourists and young people alike. .http://www.webhavana.com/en/vedado_habana_down_town.html

• The Necropolis Cristóbal Colón (Christopher Columbus Cemetery) is an enormous, mostly above-ground graveyard, with over 500 major major mausoleums and containing dozens of memorials and assorted monuments.http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Caribbean_and_Central_America/Cuba/Provincia_de_Ciudad_de_La_Habana/Havana-1652304/Things_To_Do-Havana-The_Necropolis_Cristobal_Colon_Havanas_Cemetery-BR-1.html

• The Jose Miguel Gomez Monumenthttp://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/3a204/

A number of notable figures were born in Havana, including:

• Dave Lombardo: Musicianhttp://www.last.fm/music/Dave+Lombardo
• Roberto C. Goizueta: Former CEO of Coca Colahttp://www.cnn.com/US/9710/18/goizueta.obit.9am/
• Carlos Gutierrez: Former United States Secretary of Commercehttp://www.latinbusinesschronicle.com/app/article.aspx?id=3112
• Rafael Palmeiro: Baseball playerhttp://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/palmera01.shtml