Viñales (Cuba)
| Viñales | |
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Coordinates: 22 ° 37 ′ N , 83 ° 43 ′ W
Viñales on the map of Cuba
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| Basic data | |
| Country | Cuba |
| province | Pinar del Río |
| City foundation | 1879 |
| Residents | 27,771 (2012) |
| Detailed data | |
| surface | 704 km 2 |
| Population density | 39.44 inhabitants / km 2 |
| height | 135 m |
| City structure | 7th |
| Waters | Caribbean Sea |
| prefix | 53-82 |
| Time zone | UTC -5 |
| Website | |
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
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Viñales is a town and municipality founded in 1879 in the Cuban province of Pinar del Río . It is located in the valley of the same name, Valle de Viñales, approx. 30 km north of Pinar del Río , between the low mountain ranges of the "Cordillera de Guaniguanico" and has 27,771 inhabitants (2012). The degree of urbanization of the municipality is 58 percent, the urban area has 16,150 inhabitants.
Since the opening of Cuba to tourism, Viñales has become the most visited place in the province. Impassable cone karst mountains rise from the fertile valley floor , the “mogotes”, which give the landscape its typical appearance. Two smaller caves ( Cueva de San Miguel and Cueva del Indio ) are located north of the place. 17 km to the west is the largest cave system in Cuba with an area of 46 km, the Caverna de Santo Tomás .
history
Before the colonization by the Europeans, an indigenous Taíno population lived in the region . The area was colonized at the beginning of the 19th century by tobacco farmers from the Canary Islands . The first recorded settlement was established in 1871 and is the ranch of Don Andrés Hernández Ramos.
The city was officially founded on January 1, 1879, at that time there was already a town hall, a school, a church and the park in the city center. During the Cuban Revolution in 1959, the armed peasants of Viñales played an important role.
Viñales is a cultural monument and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999, together with the Valle de Viñales and its agricultural tradition .
Economy and Infrastructure
After agriculture and the manufacturing industry, tourism is the residents' most important source of income. Of the 12,700 employees in the municipality, 45 percent work in agriculture, where over 60 percent of the city's state sector income is generated. In addition to growing vegetables, tobacco growing plays an important role, the quality of tobacco from the Viñales Valley is internationally known. The manufacturing industry mainly relies on the processing of tobacco, and there is also a textile factory operated as part of the ALBA .
Viñales has 189 tourist accommodation options, most of which are private pensions ( casas particulares ). However, there are also three state hotels and a campsite . In 2011, the place was visited by 42,481 tourists, making it one of the most popular excursion destinations in the region.
The city has 26 elementary schools and 6 middle schools, including two high schools. There are also five medical facilities in Viñales: two polyclinics, two special wards for mothers and a nursing home.
Viñales also has an art gallery and a culture house , which also functions as a disco .
photos
Valle de Viñales , the Viñales Valley.
Cuevas de Viñales , the Viñales caves.
View over the Valle de Viñales .
Manuel Rivera-Ortiz : Tobacco Harvest, Valle de Viñales (2002).
Farm in the area of Viñales.
Viñales city center.
Individual evidence
- ↑ ONE, Census 2012 (PDF; 1.1 MB)
- ↑ Valor agregado en el sector empresarial estatal civil por secciones económicas, ONE 2011 ( Memento of the original dated November 9, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. ( MS Excel ; 28 kB)
Web links
- Entry on the UNESCO World Heritage Center website ( English and French ).
- Homepage of the Cultural Directorate of Viñales
- Viñales on EcuRed
