Cuba

Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean, and is located 93 miles (150 km) south of Florida. On landing here in 1492, Christopher Columbus called Cuba "The most beautiful land ever beheld by human eyes." This description still rings true today, as the island is known for its green countryside, majestic palms, and white sand beaches. In major cities like Havana, Santiago de Cuba, and Camagüey, magnificent churches and forts from the Spanish colonial era stand next to modern...
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Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean, and is located 93 miles (150 km) south of Florida. On landing here in 1492, Christopher Columbus called Cuba "The most beautiful land ever beheld by human eyes." This description still rings true today, as the island is known for its green countryside, majestic palms, and white sand beaches. In major cities like Havana, Santiago de Cuba, and Camagüey, magnificent churches and forts from the Spanish colonial era stand next to modern buildings. Sadly, life has not been so idyllic for the current generation of Cubans, as their island has been ruled by a series of dictators for most of the time since Cuba gained independence in 1902. Since the late 1950s, Cuba has been a Communist state, ruled by Fidel Castro (1959-2008) and his brother Raúl (since 2008). This has led to decades of strained relations with the United States, although Cuba has continued to take a leadership role among the countries of the Caribbean. There's a lot to discover about Cuba! Each title in this series contains color photos, maps, a chronology of events related to the country, recipes, list of festivals, ideas for projects and reports, and back matter including: an index, further reading lists for books and internet resources, and a series glossary. Mason Crest's editorial team has placed Key Icons to Look for throughout the books in this series in an effort to encourage library readers to build knowledge, gain awareness, explore possibilities and expand their viewpoints through our content rich non-fiction books. Key Icons are as follows: Words to Understand are shown at the front of each chapter with definitions. These words are then used in the prose throughout that chapter, and are emboldened, so that the reader is able to reference back to the definitions- building their vocabulary and enhancing their reading comprehension. Sidebars are highlighted graphics with content rich material within that allows readers to build knowledge and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Text Dependent Questions are placed at the end of each chapter. They challenge the reader's comprehension of the chapter they have just read, while sending the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there. Research Projects are provided at the end of each book and provide readers with suggestions for projects and reports that encourage deeper research and analysis. A Series Glossary of Key Terms is included in the back matter contains terminology used throughout the series. Words found here broaden the reader's knowledge and understanding of terms used in this field.