Ciego de Ávila (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈsjeɣo ðe ˈaβila]) is a city in the central part of Cuba and the capital of Ciego de Ávila Province. The capital city has a population of about 156,322 and the province 430,507.[3]

Ciego de Avila
the Ciego de Avila's boulevard
the Ciego de Avila's boulevard
Official seal of Ciego de Avila
Ciego de Ávila municipality (red) within (Cuba)
Ciego de Ávila municipality (red) within (Cuba)
Coordinates: 21°50′53″N 78°45′47″W / 21.84806°N 78.76306°W / 21.84806; -78.76306
CountryCuba
ProvinceCiego de Ávila
Established1840[1]
Government
 • PresidentViviana Martínez Cárdenas
Area
 • Municipality450 km2 (170 sq mi)
Elevation
55 m (180 ft)
Population
 (2022)[3]
 • Municipality156,322
 • Density350/km2 (900/sq mi)
 • Urban
131,551
 • Rural
24,771
DemonymAvileño/a
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
Postal code
65200
Area code+53 43
HighwaysCarretera Central

Geography edit

Ciego de Ávila lies on the Carretera Central highway and on a major railroad. Its port, Júcaro, lies 24 km (15 mi) south-southwest on the coast of the Gulf of Ana Maria of the Caribbean Sea, in the adjacent municipality of Venezuela. The city is located about 460 km (290 mi) east of Havana and 110 km (68 mi) west of the city of Camagüey. It was part of the Camagüey Province until 1976, when Fidel Castro's government made Ciego de Ávila the capital of the newly created Ciego de Ávila Province.

By 1945, the municipality was divided into the barrios of Angel Castillo, Ceballos, Guanales, Jagüeyal, Jicotea, José Miguel Gómez, Júcaro, La Ceiba, Majagua, Norte, San Nicolás and Sur. After the new political and administrative division of Cuba in 1976, it was divided into four municipalities (Majagua, Ciego de Ávila, Baragua, and Venezuela).[1]

Climate edit

Ciego de Ávila experiences a tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw).

Climate data for Ciego de Ávila
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 27.3
(81.1)
28.1
(82.6)
29.9
(85.8)
31.3
(88.3)
31.9
(89.4)
32.1
(89.8)
33.1
(91.6)
33.3
(91.9)
32.5
(90.5)
31.0
(87.8)
29.9
(85.8)
27.9
(82.2)
30.7
(87.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 17.2
(63.0)
17.1
(62.8)
18.8
(65.8)
20.0
(68.0)
21.5
(70.7)
22.8
(73.0)
23.3
(73.9)
23.3
(73.9)
22.6
(72.7)
21.8
(71.2)
20.4
(68.7)
18.0
(64.4)
20.6
(69.0)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 31
(1.2)
28
(1.1)
41
(1.6)
82
(3.2)
181
(7.1)
191
(7.5)
135
(5.3)
142
(5.6)
187
(7.4)
177
(7.0)
66
(2.6)
30
(1.2)
1,291
(50.8)
Source: CLIMATE-DATA.ORG[4]

History edit

 
St. Eugene (San Eugenio) Cathedral

The city of Ciego de Ávila was founded by 1840, having at the time 263 inhabitants. In 1877, its municipal government was created and the city became independent of the city of Morón. Ciego de Ávila gained importance when the Spanish army built a fortified military line, known as Trocha de Júcaro a Morón, to impede the pass of insurrectionist forces to the western part of the island during the 1st War of Independence (1868–1878). This "trocha", which made this region famous, was thought to be strong enough to stop the Cuban forces, but was not able to stop the pass of General Máximo Gómez and several hundred men. Many of the old Spanish colonial buildings in Ciego de Ávila (such as the Teatro Principal) were commissioned under Angela Hernández, viuda de Jiménez, a rich socialite who battled to create a cultural mecca in her hometown.

Demographics edit

In 2022, the Municipality of Ciego de Ávila had a population of 156,322.[3] With a total area of 445 km2 (172 sq mi),[2] it has a population density of 350/km2 (910/sq mi).

Attractions edit

  • Parque Martí is the largest park in the city of Ciego de Ávila.
  • Teatro Principal is a 500-seat theatre located just a few blocks from Parque Martí.
  • University of Ciego de Ávila (Universidad de Ciego de Ávila, UNICA) is the province's secondary education institution.
  • IPVCE Ignacio Agramonte Instituto Pre-Universitario Vocacional de Ciencias Exactas (10 a 12 grado) con emphasis en las ciencias basicas: Fisica, Quimica, Matematica, Biologia y Electronica. Se encuentra en la carretera a Ceballos.
  • la Turbina is a small amusement park located to the north west of the city with approximately 6 rides.

Media edit

Its present radio station, Radio Surco (previously Radio Cuba), was founded October 10, 1952.

Sports edit

Ciego de Ávila's basketball team has been one of the most successful teams in the country, as it has won 9 national championships since 2005.

Notable residents edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Guije.com. "Ciego de Ávila" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2007-10-06.
  2. ^ a b Statoids (July 2003). "Municipios of Cuba". Retrieved 2007-10-06.
  3. ^ a b c "Cuba: Administrative Division (Provinces and Municipalities) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
  4. ^ Info at en.climate-data.org

External links edit