Viñales
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the town. For the adjacent UNESCO world heritage site, see Viñales Valley.
| Viñales | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country |  Cuba |
| Province | Pinar del Río |
| Settled | 1871 |
| Established | 1878 |
| Area [1] | |
| - Total | 704 km² (271.8 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 135 m (443 ft) |
| Population (2004)[2] | |
| - Total | 27,129 |
| - Density | 38.5/km² (99.7/sq mi) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| Area code(s) | +53-82 |
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.
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.[3]
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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.[4]
The area was colonised at the beginning of the 1800s by tobacco growers from the Canary Islands, who settled in the Vuelta Abajo region.
The first settlement in Viñales is documented in 1871, in the form of a ranch belonging to Don Andrés Hernández Ramos.
The town was established in 1878 as a typical community, with church, school, hospital and recreation park.[5]
[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,[6] 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)[4] and the nearby caves (Cueva del Indio, Cueva de José Miguel, Cueva de Santo Tomás) in Valle de Viñales National Park,[7] which were refuges for runaway slaves.[4]
[edit] Demographics
In 2004, the municipality of Viñales had a population of 27,129 with a 0.69%/year increase.[2] With a total area of 704 km² (271.8 sq mi),[1] it has a population density of 38.5/km² (99.7/sq mi).
[edit] See also
 A man rides down the main street in Viñales |
 Downtown Viñales |
 A Viñales cafe |
 Local government graffiti: We are from the same house |
[edit] References
- ^ a b Statoids (July 2003). Municipios of Cuba. Retrieved on 2007-10-07.
- ^ a b Atenas.cu (2004). 2004 Population trends, by Province and Municipality. Retrieved on 2007-10-07. (Spanish)
- ^ Cuba Junky. Vinales
- ^ a b c Guerrillero:Pinar del Río. "El Templo de los Cimarrones" (Spanish)
- ^ Vinales.cu History
- ^ UNESCO World Heritage - Vinales Valley
- ^ "Valle de Viñales: Monumento Natural de Cuba"
[edit] External links
- Vinales Municipality (Spanish)
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