Sancti Spíritus Province

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Sancti Spíritus Province
Location of Sancti Spíritus Province in Cuba
Location of Sancti Spíritus Province in Cuba
Country Flag of Cuba Cuba
Capital Sancti Spíritus
Area 6,736.51 km² (2,601 sq mi)
Population 463,009 (2004) [1]
Density 68.73 /km² (178 /sq mi)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
Area code +53-41
none Trinidad, Valley de los Ingenios and Escambray Mountains

Sancti Spíritus is one of the provinces of Cuba. Its capital is the identically named Sancti Spíritus. Another major city is Trinidad.

The southern coast of the province is flat, but the western portion of Sancti Spíritus province is mountainous. The southeast has numerous mangroves and swamps. The northern coast contains significant wetlands and protected areas such as the Bay of Buena Vista and the Caguanes National Park.

The largest man made reservoir in Cuba, the Embalse Zaza, is in Sancti Spíritus province.

Contents

[edit] History

During the 1600s, both Dutch and British pirates attempted to take control of what is today Sancti Spíritus province, but with little success, as the Spanish garrison held them off. From 1660 to 1680, Trinidad was plagued by pirates from Jamaica and Tortuga, and on two occasions, pirates razed the city.

The provinces of Cienfuegos, Sancti Spíritus, and Villa Clara were once all part of the now defunct province of Las Villas.

[edit] Economy

Tourism is a big earner for the province, with most of the tourism centred around the old city of Trinidad, a World Heritage listed city which has dozens of colonial buildings (and almost no 20th century architecture) dating back to the Spanish conquest in the 1500s, and, as with most of Cuba, sugarcane and cattle are important commodities. Large surfaces are irrigated in the farmland between Zaza Reservoir, Zaza River and Jatibonico River in La Sierpe region. Some tobacco and rice is also grown.

[edit] Municipalities

Municipality Population
(2004)
Area
(km²)
Location Remarks
Cabaiguán &0000000000067224.00000067,224 &0000000000000597.000000597 22°05′2″N 79°29′43″W / 22.08389, -79.49528 (Cabaiguán)
Fomento &0000000000033528.00000033,528 &0000000000000471.000000471 22°06′19″N 79°43′12″W / 22.10528, -79.72 (Fomento)
Jaruco &0000000000042708.00000042,708 &0000000000000276.000000276 21°56′47″N 79°10′3″W / 21.94639, -79.1675 (Jaruco)
La Sierpe &0000000000016937.00000016,937 &0000000000001035.0000001,035 21°45′39″N 79°14′36″W / 21.76083, -79.24333 (La Sierpe)
Sancti Spíritus &0000000000133843.000000133,843 &0000000000001151.0000001,151 21°56′3″N 79°26′37″W / 21.93417, -79.44361 (Sancti Spíritus) Provincial capital
Taguasco &0000000000036365.00000036,365 &0000000000000518.000000518 22°00′19″N 79°15′54″W / 22.00528, -79.265 (Taguasco)
Trinidad &0000000000073466.00000073,466 &0000000000001155.0000001,155 21°48′16″N 79°58′58″W / 21.80444, -79.98278 (Trinidad)
Yaguajay &0000000000058938.00000058,938 &0000000000001032.0000001,032 22°19′50″N 79°14′13″W / 22.33056, -79.23694 (Yaguajay)
Source: Population from 2004 Census.[1] Area from 1976 municipal re-distribution.[2]

[edit] Demographics

In 2004, the province of Sancti Spiritus had a population of 463,009.[1] With a total area of 6,736.51 km² (2,601 sq mi),[3] the province had a population density of 68.7/km² (177.9/sq mi).

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Atenas.cu (2004). 2004 Population trends, by Province and Municipality. Retrieved on 2007-10-06. (Spanish)
  2. ^ Statoids (July 2003). Municipios of Cuba. Retrieved on 2007-10-06.
  3. ^ Government of Cuba (2002). Population by Province. Retrieved on 2007-10-02. (Spanish)

[edit] External links