Caimanera is a municipality and town in
Guantánamo Province
Guantánamo is the easternmost province of Cuba. Its capital is also called Guantánamo. Other towns include Baracoa. The province has the only land border of the U.S. Navy base at Guantánamo Bay.
Overview
Guantánamo's architecture and cultu ...
on the south eastern coast of
Cuba
Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...
. It is a fishing village and port built on the West shore of the sheltered
Guantánamo Bay
Guantánamo Bay ( es, Bahía de Guantánamo) is a bay in Guantánamo Province at the southeastern end of Cuba. It is the largest harbor on the south side of the island and it is surrounded by steep hills which create an enclave that is cut off ...
, just north of the
US naval base and south of the provincial capital,
Guantánamo
Guantánamo (, , ) is a municipality and city in southeast Cuba and capital of Guantánamo Province.
Guantánamo is served by the Caimanera port near the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, site of a U.S. naval base. The area produces sugarcane and cotton ...
.
History
The town was named for the
caiman alligators which were once common in the river and in the mangrove labyrinths of the upper Bay, but which have since declined in numbers.
The community of fishermen and salt mine workers flourished at the beginning of the 20th century precisely because of the base's construction. It was a magnet for Cuban workers and a popular spot for visitors, including Cubans from across the island and people from nearby countries such as
Jamaica
Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of His ...
.
Caimanera was liberated on December 19, 1958. On this anniversary the town usually has a parade and a political action.
The ''
Havana Times
''Havana Times'' is an independent Cuban blog and online magazine founded in 2008. The online publication is edited in Nicaragua. Most of its contributors live in Havana, Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo. There are also Cuban contributors in Venez ...
'' reports that in 1959, not long after the
Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution ( es, Revolución Cubana) was carried out after the 1952 Cuban coup d'état which placed Fulgencio Batista as head of state and the failed mass strike in opposition that followed. After failing to contest Batista in cou ...
drove out the pro-American Battista administration, two
US Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage of ...
tugboats came to Caimanera to apply their powerful water-cannons to put out a raging fire that destroyed three city blocks.
[
The ]Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution ( es, Revolución Cubana) was carried out after the 1952 Cuban coup d'état which placed Fulgencio Batista as head of state and the failed mass strike in opposition that followed. After failing to contest Batista in cou ...
of 1959 marked strained relations between Cuba and America, in general, and specifically between the inhabitants of Caimanera and the nearby Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base ( es, Base Naval de la Bahía de Guantánamo), officially known as Naval Station Guantanamo Bay or NSGB, (also called GTMO, pronounced Gitmo as jargon by members of the U.S. military) is a United States military base ...
.[
Prior to the revolution off-duty US personnel from the base were free to visit Caimanera, and the town was home to many bars and bordellos, that catered to them. The base employed over three thousand Cuban workers. Cuban contractors, who employed the workers, whisked them to their jobs on the base in speed-boats.
After the revolution, both sides made policy changes.][
Cuba allowed workers to continue to work on the base, but they had to walk to the remote North-East Gate. The USA would continue to employ those Cubans who already had jobs, but would not hire any new Cuban workers. The number of Cuban workers dwindled, with the last two retiring in 2012.
]
Geography
Caimanera borders with the municipalities of Niceto Pérez
Niceto Pérez () is a municipality and town in the Guantánamo Province of Cuba. It is located west of the provincial capital, Guantánamo.
Demographics
In 2004, the municipality of Niceto Pérez had a population of 17,783. With a total area of ...
, Guantánamo
Guantánamo (, , ) is a municipality and city in southeast Cuba and capital of Guantánamo Province.
Guantánamo is served by the Caimanera port near the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, site of a U.S. naval base. The area produces sugarcane and cotton ...
, Manuel Tames
Manuel Tames is a municipality and town in the Guantánamo Province of Cuba. Its administrative seat is located in the town of Jamaica.
Geography
The town is located east of the provincial capital, Guantánamo.
Demographics
In 2004, the municipa ...
and San Antonio del Sur
San Antonio del Sur is a municipality and town in the Guantánamo Province of Cuba. It is located on the southern coast of Cuba, bordering the Windward Passage to the south.
Demographics
In 2004, the municipality of San Antonio del Sur had a pop ...
. Its territory includes the villages of Boquerón (also known as "Mártires de la Frontera"), Cayamo
Caimanera is a municipality and town in Guantánamo Province on the south eastern coast of Cuba. It is a fishing village and port built on the West shore of the sheltered Guantánamo Bay, just north of the US naval base and south of the provincia ...
and Mata Abajo
Mata Abajo is a settlement in Cuba near Guantánamo Bay, located in the municipality of Caimanera, near the borders with Guantánamo. Its name, in Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethn ...
.
Residents of this town are the closest Cuban neighbours to the US naval base. The North East Gate, located near Boquerón, is the only US-Cuban border crossing
Border control refers to measures taken by governments to monitor and regulate the movement of people, animals, and goods across land, air, and maritime borders. While border control is typically associated with international borders, it a ...
point.[ Due to its proximity to the US Base, Caimanera is a ''forbidden town'', needing a special permission from the government to visit it.]
Caimanera is within range of the T-Mobile towers at the naval base and so is the only town in Cuba with American cellphone and Internet service. Residents can get 4G service.
Demographics
In 2004, the municipality of Caimanera had a population of 10,562. With a total area of , it has a population density of .
Economy
Ships chiefly export sugarcane and coffee.
Transport
Linked to Guantánamo
Guantánamo (, , ) is a municipality and city in southeast Cuba and capital of Guantánamo Province.
Guantánamo is served by the Caimanera port near the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, site of a U.S. naval base. The area produces sugarcane and cotton ...
by the "Carretera a Caimanera" road, the municipal territory of Caimanera is located close to the " Carretera Central". The town counts also a terminal station on a minor railway line to Guantánamo.
Gallery
File:Camainera, Cuba, from a Guantanamo observation tower.jpg, View of the town (1)
File:A GI took this photo of cuban houses from his observation post.jpg, View of the town (2)
File:North east gate, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.jpg, The "North East Gate" border crossing near Boquerón
File:The Guantanamo river. Camainera City in the background. Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. 2003.jpg, Guantánamo River
Guantánamo River is a river of southern Cuba, that flows Province of Guantánamo up to Guantánamo Bay. It is impounded by La Yaya Dam.
See also
*List of rivers of Cuba
This is an incomplete list of rivers of Cuba, arranged from west to east, b ...
near Caimanera
See also
*Guantánamo Bay
Guantánamo Bay ( es, Bahía de Guantánamo) is a bay in Guantánamo Province at the southeastern end of Cuba. It is the largest harbor on the south side of the island and it is surrounded by steep hills which create an enclave that is cut off ...
*List of cities in Cuba
This is a list of cities in Cuba with at least 20,000 inhabitants, listed in descending order. Population data refers to city proper and not to the whole municipality, because they include large rural areas with several villages. All figu ...
*Municipalities of Cuba
The Provinces of Cuba, provinces of Cuba are divided into 168 municipality, municipalities or ''municipios''. They were defined by Cuban Law Number 1304 of July 3, 1976Fifth United Nations Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names, Vo ...
References
External links
Caimanera
on EcuRed
*
{{Authority control
Populated places in Guantánamo Province
Port cities and towns in Cuba
Guantanamo Bay
Port cities in the Caribbean