Physical setting
Island country
geographic context
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Geography & Environment
Geography & Environment in Cuba
HavanaLocal time
Geography & Environment
Cuba is the largest island of a Caribbean archipelago that also includes the Isle of Youth and thousands of cays and islets. Plains dominate much of the main island, while the Sierra Maestra in the southeast contains Pico Turquino, the country's highest point.
Relief anchor
Pico Turquino
named high terrain
Cuba at a Glance
Broad plains, several mountain systems, an extensive archipelago and the Sierra Maestra define Cuba's physical setting.
Physical geography
terrain · drainage · setting
Mostly rolling plains with several mountain groups and a long, irregular coastline. The relief anchor used here is Pico Turquino; it is shown as a named physical reference rather than as a ranking claim.
Regional frameCaribbean
SettingIsland country
Relief focusPico Turquino
Climate pattern
Cuba has a tropical maritime climate with a pronounced rainy season and drier season, moderated by surrounding seas and regional trade winds.
Water and landform context
Most rivers are relatively short because of the island's narrow shape; the Cauto is the principal long river of eastern Cuba.
Terrain, Climate and Environment
Three connected views of Cuba's physical setting.
Relief and terrain
PhysicalPlains cover most of the country, interrupted by mountain groups including Guaniguanico, Guamuhaya and the Sierra Maestra.
Climate pattern
ClimateA warm tropical maritime climate is divided broadly into wetter and drier seasons, with local variation from coast to mountains.
Environmental setting
EnvironmentCuba’s elongated island form produces mostly short rivers draining toward nearby coasts, with the Cauto as a major eastern system.
Understand the landscape
What Cuba's geographic profile is telling you
Cuba's geography combines an elongated island platform with broad plains, limestone landscapes and several mountain systems. The Sierra Maestra provides the strongest relief in the southeast, while tropical maritime conditions and short coastal drainage networks shape much of the rest of the archipelago.
Detailed Geography & Environment Data
| Measure | Reference | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Physical setting | Island country | Geographic classification |
| Relief anchor | Pico Turquino | Named physical feature |
| Climate | Tropical maritime, with a warmer rainy season and a cooler drier season. | |
| Terrain | Mostly rolling plains with several mountain groups and a long, irregular coastline. | |
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of terrain does Cuba have?
At country scale, the main terrain pattern is: mostly rolling plains with several mountain groups and a long, irregular coastline.
What is Cuba's climate like?
The broad climate profile varies with latitude, elevation and exposure. The source summary describes it as: tropical maritime, with a warmer rainy season and a cooler drier season.
What physical feature helps explain the landscape?
A useful way to read the landscape is through the relationship between relief and drainage. The Sierra Maestra, broad limestone plains and extensive coastal wetlands are key physical features.
Sources & methodology
The profile describes the Pico Turquino physical setting using the sources listed below.
View sources used for this page
Cuba Travel, Geography of Cuba
Official Cuban tourism reference for the archipelago, plains, mountain ranges, Pico Turquino and principal rivers.
Cuba Travel, Santiago de Cuba geography and climate
Official Cuban tourism reference for the Sierra Maestra, Pico Turquino and mountain-to-coast climate variation in eastern Cuba.
UNCTAD, Cuba geography profile
United Nations reference corroborating Cuba’s archipelagic setting, Sierra Maestra and Pico Turquino.