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Costa Rica: Cape

Lying between lat. 19° 50' and 23° IO' N., and long. 74° 7' and 84° 58' W., is the island of Cuba, the "Queen of the Antilles," belonging to the kingdom of Spain, and, geographically considered, the largest and most westerly of the West India group. Its western extremity, known as Cape San Antonio, lies 130 m. E. from the coast of Yucatan. Its E. extremity, Cape Maisi, is only 48 m. from Hayti, the Windward passage lying between the two islands. On the N. is Florida, 130 m. distant, and on the S. Jamaica, 85 m. from English Point, near Cape Cruz. The greatest length of the island is 760 m., while in width it varies from 20 to 135 m., averaging 80 m. Taking the main island and the dependencies together, of which latter there are a great number in the shape of islands, islets and keys, the area is 45, 883 sq. m., that of Cuba alone being 43,319 sq. m. The coast line is about 2200 English m., or 630 Spanish leagues in extent. Approach to the island is difficult and dangerous, the shores being low and lined with reefs and shallows, which often extend many miles into the sea. The N. coast of the island has the most regular form, and is 306 leagues in length. Adjacent to this coast are 5 islands, 6 islets, 37 keys, and 521 small keys, the principal of which are Romano, Guajaba, Coco, Turiguano, Cruz, Bocas de Anton, and the keys on the Colorado banks. The S. side is 324 leagues in extent, and is also bordered by small islands, there being, besides the Isle of Pines, 43 m. long and 35 m. broad, 6 islets, 26 keys, and 677 small keys. Of these, Cayo Largo is the largest, containing 32 sq. m. Nearly all of these keys are of coral or limestone formation, and rocks of this kind being easily acted upon by water, the consequence is, the coast here is quite irregular. Yet notwithstanding the irregularities and the shallow water which prevail, the number of sea-ports along the island, including what may be termed sheltered landings, is over 200, the most important one of which, of course, is Havana. This port is considered to be one of the best in the entire West India group. In addition to Havana, may be mentioned the ports of Bahia Honda, Puerto de Cabanas, Matanzas, Cardenas, Sagua la Grande, La Guanaja, Nuevitas, Buerto del Padre, Gibara, Banes, and a few others on the N. coast, while on the S. are Santiago de Cuba, Trinidad, Manzanillo, Santa Cruz, Tunas, Casilda, Cienfuegos, and La Broa.