Cuba: Geography and Key Facts About the Largest Caribbean Island

Cuba at a Glance

Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean Sea and constitutes the majority of the Republic of Cuba's land area. Its strategic position at the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico has shaped its history, economy, and geopolitical significance.

Essential Statistics

• Total Area: 109,884 km² (42,426 sq mi)
• Length: 1,250 km (777 mi) from east to west
• Maximum Width: 218 km (135 mi)
• Coastline: 5,746 km (3,570 mi) of diverse shores
• Highest Point: Pico Turquino, rising to 1,974 m (6,476 ft) in the Sierra Maestra range

Geographic Diversity

The island's elongated shape encompasses a variety of landscapes: fertile plains in the west, rolling hills in the center, and rugged mountains in the southeast. Its extensive coastline features coral reefs, mangroves, and sandy beaches that support rich marine ecosystems and a thriving tourism industry.

Strategic Location

Situated just 150 km (93 mi) south of Key West, Florida, and bordering the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean, Cuba has long been a crossroads of maritime trade and a focal point of international politics.