Havana
Capital and largest city of Cuba / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Ciudad de La Habana?
Summarize this article for a 10 years old
Havana (/həˈvænə/; Spanish: La Habana [la aˈβana] (
listen); Lucumi: Ilú Pupu Ilé)[4] is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.[5] The city has a population of 2.3 million inhabitants,[6][5] and it spans a total of 728.26 km2 (281.18 sq mi)[2] – making it the largest city by area, the most populous city, and the fourth largest metropolitan area in the Caribbean region.[6][7]
Havana
La Habana San Cristóbal de la Habana | |
|---|---|
Capital city | |
 .jpg)   From upper left: Havana Cathedral, Plaza Vieja, view of Old Havana, Great Theatre of Havana, and the San Francisco Square | |
 Flag | |
| Nickname: City of Columns[1] | |
  Havana Location in Cuba Show map of Cuba Havana Havana (Caribbean) Show map of Caribbean Havana Havana (Gulf of Mexico) Show map of Gulf of Mexico | |
| Coordinates: 23°08′12″N 82°21′32″W | |
| Country | Cuba |
| Province | La Habana |
| Established | November 16, 1519 |
| Municipalities | 15 |
| Government | |
| • Body | Gobierno Provincial de La Habana |
| • Governor | Reinaldo García Zapata (PCC) |
| Area | |
| • Capital city | 728.26 km2 (281.18 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 59 m (195 ft) |
| Population (2021) | |
| • Capital city | 2,383,517[2] |
| • Density | 2,924.2/km2 (7,574/sq mi) |
| • Metro | 3,929,028 |
| Demonym | Habanero/a |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (UTC−05:00) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (UTC−04:00) |
| Postal code | 10xxx–19xxx |
| Area code | (+53) 07 |
| ISO 3166 code | CU-03 |
| Patron saint | San Cristóbal |
| HDI (2019) | 0.834[3] – very high |
| Website | www |
| Official name | Old Havana and its Fortification System |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | iv, v |
| Designated | 1982 (6th session) |
| Reference no. | 204 |
| Region | Latin America and the Caribbean |
The city of Havana was founded by the Spanish in the 16th century. It served as a springboard for the Spanish conquest of the Americas, becoming a stopping point for Spanish galleons returning to Spain. Philip II of Spain granted Havana the title of capital in 1607.[8] Walls as well as forts were built to protect the city.[9]
The city is the center of the Cuban government, and home to various ministries, headquarters of businesses and over 100 diplomatic offices.[10] The governor is Reinaldo García Zapata of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC).[11][12] In 2009, the city/province had the third highest income in the country.[13]
Contemporary Havana can essentially be described as three cities in one: Old Havana, Vedado and the newer suburban districts. The city extends mostly westward and southward from the bay, which is entered through a narrow inlet and which divides into three main harbors: Marimelena, Guanabacoa and Antares. The Almendares River traverses the city from south to north, entering the Straits of Florida a few miles west of the bay.[14]
The city attracts over a million tourists annually;[15] the Official Census for Havana reports that in 2010 the city was visited by 1,176,627 international tourists,[15] a 20% increase from 2005. Old Havana was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.[16] The city is also noted for its history, culture, architecture and monuments.[17] As typical of Cuba, Havana experiences a tropical climate.[18]