Puerto Padre
| Puerto Padre | ||
|---|---|---|
| Municipality | ||
| ||
| Nickname(s): City of Mills, La Villa Azul de Cuba (Cuba's Blue City) | ||
| Motto: PRAESTO PRO PATRIA | ||
.png) Puerto Padre municipality (red) within Las Tunas Province (yellow) and Cuba | ||
  Location of Puerto Padre in Cuba | ||
| Coordinates: 21°11′42″N 76°36′6″W / 21.19500°N 76.60167°WCoordinates: 21°11′42″N 76°36′6″W / 21.19500°N 76.60167°W | ||
| Country |
 Cuba | |
| Province | Las Tunas | |
| Established | 1541 (1861 as a city) | |
| Area[1] | ||
| • Total | 1,178 km2 (455 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 25 m (82 ft) | |
| Population (2004)[2] | ||
| • Total | 93,705 | |
| • Density | 79.5/km2 (206/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) | |
| Area code(s) | +53-31 | |
Puerto Padre (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈpweɾto paðɾe]) is a municipality and town in the Las Tunas Province of Cuba. It is located on the northern coastal region of the province, in an estuary (Estero El Espanolito) that opens into the Puerto Padre Bay.
History
Known popularly as the City of Mills, Puerto Padre has a history dating back into the 16th century. In the mid-19th century (1851), the city began its transformation from a small town into an industrial centre with the construction of its first sugarcane mill. The town played a large role in Cuba's wars of independence, and today is something of a tourist centre.The founders were Criollo(Creole) landowners of Castilian ancestry and Catalan merchants.
Columbus' arrival point theory
During the 2nd half of the 20th century a group of archaeologists brought forward a theory which disputes the current version of Columbus' landfall site. They claim that Puerto Padre's bay was indeed the first spot in which Columbus landed in Cuba. The commonly accepted site is in the Bariay's bay which is located further east in the province of Holguin. There are several sites which are disputed of being the first landing spot of Columbus and his crew: Puerto Padre and Manati,both in the province of Las Tunas; and Gibara and Bariay in the province of Holguin).
Geography
Overview
Prior to the 1959 revolution,the municipality was divided into the barrios of Chaparra, Delicias, Estrada Palma, La Lima, La Yaya, Los Alfonsos, Maniabón, Norte, San Manuel, Santa María, Sur, Vedado and Yarey.These names still exist though the pre 1959 municipality's borders no longer include Delicias (Antonio Guiteras) or Chaparra (Jesús Menéndez), named for their respective sugar mills and, as of 2012, in ruins.[4]
Climate
This area typically has a pronounced dry season. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Puerto Padre has a tropical savanna climate, abbreviated "Aw" on climate maps.[5]
Tourism
The town is known for its charming streets, bay views and hilltop fortress. Virgin beaches can be found across the Bahía de Puerto Padre. These beaches are popular with locals and visitors alike, their names are El Rail, La Boca and La Llanita. Tourist facilities are available at nearby beach resort located in Covarrubias beach, which is within the municipality of Puerto Padre.
Monuments and buildings of interest
- Castillo de Salcedo o Fuerte de la Loma: A hilltop fortress (ca.1869-1879). National Monument since 1981.
- Parroquia S. Jose (Roman Catholic church 1892 )
- Iglesia de Los Amigos (Quaker church ca. 1903)
- El Liceo, present site of the city's museum, built in 1929
- Parque Jose Marti (commonly called "de los Vagos" and "La Piquera" )
- Parque Maceo (formerly Independencia but still known by that name)
- Municipal Cemetery, which contains beautiful funeral monuments and sculpture
- Estatua de la Libertad. Statue dedicated to Liberty (1904)
- Busto de las Madres. A monument dedicated to all mothers. (1946)
- Estatua de Maximo Gomez. A bronze statue dedicated to a Independence War General. (1959)
- Mural sculpture "Canto a la Revolucion" by Mexican sculptor Electa Arenal Huerta, carved on the facade of the pediatric Hospital in 1962
- Sculpture group of Don Quixote and the Wind Mill (1989)
Demographics
In 2004, the municipality of Puerto Padre had a population of 93,705.[2] With a total area of 1,178 km2 (455 sq mi),[1] it has a population density of 79.5/km2 (206/sq mi).
Personalities
- Teófilo Stevenson (1952-2012), Olympic gold medalist boxer
- Efigenio Ameijeiras (b. 1931), Cuban revolutionary
- Francisco (Paco) Cabrera Pupo (1924-1959), Cuban revolutionary
- Juan Pablo Torres Morell (1946-2005), Latin-Jazz Trombonist and composer
- Emiliano Salvador Jr. (1951-1992), Latin-Jazz pianist and composer
- Juan Carlos Perez Rondon (b.1969), Olympic gold medalist baseball player
See also
References
- 1 2 Statoids (July 2003). "Municipios of Cuba". Retrieved 2007-10-06.
- 1 2 Atenas.cu (2004). "2004 Population trends, by Province and Municipality" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-10-06.
- ↑ Arnaldo A. Rueda Quintana. "Portus patris: la llegada de Colón a Cuba". Las Tunas: Editorial Sanlope, 1992
- ↑ Guije.com. "Puerto Padre" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2007-10-06.
- ↑ Climate Summary for Puerto Padre, Cuba
External links
Media related to Puerto Padre at Wikimedia Commons
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