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Photo: Worldometer.

Cuba is a small island in the Caribbean and for decades it has been closed off to the world. Only in recent years since the early 2000’s it has become less isolated and a top tourist destination. Cuba is home to some of the most unique creatures and is recognized as one of the most colourful places in the world.

Here are 7 crazy facts about Cuba that you probably didn’t know:

CUBA HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST LITERACY RATES IN THE WORLD.

One of the proudest things of Cuba is the fact that it has a literacy rate of 99.8%, among the highest in the world. The Cuban Literacy Campaign was a yearlong effort to end illiteracy following the Cuban Revolution. According to azamara.com, prior to 1959, literacy in Cuba was between 60% and 76%. By the end of the campaign, over 700,000 adults had been taught to read – raising the literacy rate to 96%. Volunteers who worked on the Cuban Literacy Campaign went on to help with literacy campaigns in fifteen other countries. In 2006, UNESCO awarded a Cuban organization with the King Sejong Literacy Prize.

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Photo: WBSC.

CUBANS LOVE BASEBALL.

The most popular sport in Cuba is baseball. It was introduced to the island in 1864, and the Cuban League was created in 1878. Baseball became associated with the Cuban identity, as the country struggled to win its independence from Spain. Today’s Cuban National League is one of the best in the world and has won gold medals at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics.

LESS THAN FIVE PERCENT OF CUBANS HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET.

Being one of the developed countries in the world, there is an incredible fact that nearly 90% of the population does not have access to the Internet, as reported in Broksing.edu. While demand is increasing for American cultural and telecommunications products, companies like Netflix and Google are working on long-term plans to find their way into the country’s economy. The first step in this process came in early February, according to Darrell West, when Netflix announced it would begin streaming in the island nation.

CUBAN CIGARS ARE WORLD-RENOWNED.

Cuba is famous for its fantastic cigars. Now, Americans are allowed to return home with $100 worth of Cuban cigars – that’s about four good cigars, max. A single cigar takes about 100 steps to complete, and are hand-rolled. Each Cuban cigar comes with a stamp of authenticity that features the Cuban flag and a picture of a tobacco plantation. Learn more about Cuban cigars by reading this blog.

CUBAN’S PRIMARY RELIGION IS CATHOLICISM, BUT SOME CUBANS PRACTICE SANTERIA.

The Santeria religion is an Afro-Caribbean religion that grew out of the slave trade in Cuba. It’s based on Yoruba beliefs, with some Roman Catholic influences. Santeria translates to “Worship of Saints”. The religion is focused on the relationship between humans and mortal deities called Orishas. An Orisha is a manifestation of Olodumare or God. Orishas are associated with several Catholic saints. Practitioners of Santeria often wear all white, and a colourful beaded necklace that represents the Orisha at the centre of his or her worship. In Havana, the Santeria Church of Nuestra Senora de Regla is famous for its black Madonna statue inside.

YOU CAN FIND A BEATLE IN HAVANA PARK.

A bronze statue of John Lennon sitting on a bench can be found in Havana’s John Lennon Park. It was unveiled in 2000, on the twentieth anniversary of Lennon’s assassination. There is an inscription that reads: Dirás que soy un soñador pero no soy el único – a Spanish translation of the Imagine song lyrics “You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one”.

These 7 fascinating facts about Cuba only scratch the surface of what this amazing country has to offer! Hope that this article partially helps you understand more about this country.

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