Officially known as the Republic of Cuba, this country consists of the island Cuba itself and several other islands, including the island of Isla de la Juventud. Cuba rests in the Northern Caribbean , south of Eastern United States and the Bahamas, West of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and East of Mexico.
The capital city of Cuba, Havana, is the largest in Cuba. It is a main port and commercial centre, and one of the largest cities in the Caribbean.
The culture of Cuba has been influenced by its close proximity to the United States, Spanish Colonialism, the introduction of African Slaves, and the aboriginal Taíno and Ciboney peoples.
Cuba is the principal island of an archipelago of islands and is surrounded by four main groupings. The island groupings are called the Colorados , the Sabana-Camagüey, the Jardines de la Reina and the Canarreos.
The island of Cuba itself boasts a geography of mainly flat to rolling plains. There is a range of steep mountains of to the South Eastern end. This is called the Sierra Maestra. The climate is tropical - during the period from November to April the seasons tend to be drier whereas from May to October rain is more abundant.
The Republic of Cuba is a socialist Republic and is led by the President of Cuba, a position currently held by Raúl Castro. There is no limit to the number of terms of office for a President and each term lasts for five years.
The National Assembly of People's Power (Asamblea Nacional de Poder Popular) holds the country's legislative power. The Assembly is comprised of 609 members who all serve five year terms and are voted in by the public. The Assembly only meets twice a year and so power is held by the 31 members of the Council of Ministers between meetings.
