Guanahacabibes Peninsula
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Guanahacabibes Peninsula is the western most point on the island of Cuba. The region is in the Pinar del Río Province and is sparsely populated. The peninsular makes for important lobster and red snapper fishing grounds. It also boasts the category of Biosphere Reserve, approved by UNESCO since 1987.
The Guanahacabibes National Park on the peninsula is the country's largest natural reserve and is separated from the rest of the island by white-sand plains where Cuba's largest lakeside area lies. A relative small area holds some 100 lakes, as well as the largest and purest fields of silica sand, which is 99.8% pure. The peninsula, one of the last refuges of aboriginals fleeing from the Spanish conquistadors, according to experts, also holds some 140 archeological sites linked to the life of aborigines, who were known as Guanahatabeyes.
Nature tourism is a major attraction in the 50,000-hectare National Park. The area is inhabited by 172 species of birds belonging to 42 families, 11 of which are endemic and 84 are migratory. Experts also believe that 4 of the 7 species of marine turtles living on the planet have survived in the Guanahacabibes Peninsula. The coastline also contains preserved coral reefs.
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