Viñales
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Viñales | |
Overview of Viñales |
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Density
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693,77 km² (Municipality)
27,129 (Municipality)
39.1 /km²
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Established
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1878
180 m
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| Municipio de Viñales | |
Viñales is a small town and municipality in the north-central Pinar del Rio Province of Cuba.
The town consists mostly of one story wooden houses with porches. In 2004, Viñales reported a population of 27,129, with a 0.69%/year increase.[1]
The municipality is dominated by low mountain ranges of Cordillera de Guaniguanico such as Sierra de los Órganos. Typical outcrops known as mogotes complete the karstic character of the landscape.[2]
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[edit] History
Prior to European settlement, the area had been the home of a remnant Taíno population swelled with runaway slaves.[3]
The area was colonised at the beginning of the 1800s by tobacco growers from the Canary Islands, which settled in the Vuelta Abajo region.
The first settlement in Viñales is documented since 1871, in the form of a ranch belonging to Don Andrés Hernández Ramos.
It was established in 1878 as a typical community, with church, school, hospital and recreation park.[4]
[edit] Economy
Viñales is an agricultural area, where crops of fruit, vegetables, coffee and especially tobacco are grown with traditional methods. Fishing is also an important part of the area's economy.
[edit] Tourism
Tourism centered on the Viñales Valley is developing, the area being protected by constitution since February 1976, and declared a national monument in October 1978. The Viñales Valley has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since November 1999,[5] for the outstanding karst landscape and traditional agriculture as well as vernacular architecture, crafts and music.
Attractions in Viñales include the Museo Municipal, Casa de Caridad Botanical Gardens, Museo Paleontológico, Palenque (a Maroon village)[3] and the nearby caves (Cueva del Indio, Cueva de José Miguel, Cueva de Santo Tomás) in Valle de Viñales National Park,[6] which were refuges for runaway slaves.[3]
 Hotel Horizontes Los Jazmines, outside Viñales, Pinar del Rio, Cuba |
 At a local casa particular, food is prepared from the end of the meal's life to its serving |
 A man rides down the main street in Viñales |
 Viñales Indian caves |
 Downtown Viñales |
 The Viñales Valley |
 A Viñales cafe |
 Local government graffiti: We are from the same house |
[edit] References
- ^ Cuba Demographics - Population trends in Cuba's municipalities
- ^ Cuba Junky - Vinales
- ^ a b c "El Templo de los Cimarrones" Guerrillero:Pinar del Río in Spanish
- ^ Vinales.cu - History
- ^ UNESCO World Heritage - Vinales Valley
- ^ "Valle de Viñales: Monumento Natural de Cuba"
[edit] External links
- Vinales Municipality (Spanish)
