National Geographic Countries of the World: Cuba (NG Countries of the World)

Take a look at one of America's neighbors, an island of rich cultures from several sources: Spanish colonialism, African slavery, and proximity to the US.

A large number of Cuban exiles reside in the US, with a high concentration of expatriate Cuban communities in the state of Florida. Christopher Columbus sighted the island on his first voyage and claimed it for Spain. The Republic of Cuba gained independence in 1902. Fidel Castro gained power in 1959, declaring it a socialist republic in 1961.