Cuba is an island in Central America and it about 90 miles south of the tip of Florida. Cuba lies just south of the Tropic of Cancer at the entrance of the Gulf of Mexico. Cuba extends about 777 miles east to west. It has a width of 19 miles in the north and 119 miles in the southeast. It has one of the best standards of living in the world. Its population is 11,072,000. There are about 294 people per square mile. Out of 100 adults, 94 can read and write on at least a sixth grade level. Sixty-six percent of the population of Cuba is white and about one third of the population is mulatto or black. Spanish is the official language of the country and Roman Catholicism is the major religion. About 40 percent of the population professes to be Catholic. The climate is warm and humid. The temperature range is from 66 degrees F to 86 degrees F. The rainy season begins in May and lasts until October and the dry season lasts the rest of the year.Cuba is a socialist state government governed by the Communist Party of Cuba. It is the only legal political party in Cuba. The government owns almost all of the farmland in Cuba and is in control of the crops grown there as well as the workers. The government is also in control of the media and the arts, which are closely monitored. Thetelevision shows are mostly used for education and is usually very low in quality. The government also monitors church activities.The Communist Party of Cuba also is in charge of all educational institutions so there is no private or religious education. Everyone between the ages of 6 and 12 must attend school. Technical and scientific studies are emphasized more than other areas of study. The government controls health care, which is free to all citizens. The United States and many Central American countries try to lead Cuba toward a more democratic form of government but Cuba remains committed to Communism....
