Holguín
| Holguín | |
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| — Municipality — | |
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| Coordinates: 20°53′19″N 76°15′26″W / 20.88861°N 76.25722°WCoordinates: 20°53′19″N 76°15′26″W / 20.88861°N 76.25722°W | |
| Country |  Cuba |
| Province | Holguín |
| Established | 1523[1] |
| Area[2] | |
| • Total | 666 km2 (257.1 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 150 m (492 ft) |
| Population (2004)[3] | |
| • Total | 326,740 |
| • Density | 490.6/km2 (1,270.6/sq mi) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| Area code(s) | +53-24 |
Holguín (Spanish pronunciation: [olˈɣin]) is a municipality and city, the capital of the Cuban Province of Holguín. It also includes a tourist area, offering beach resorts in the outskirts of the region.
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[edit] History
It was founded as San Isidoro de Holguín in 1545,[4] and it is named after its founder Captain García Holguín, a Spanish military officer. Prior to 1976, Holguin was located in the province of Oriente.
[edit] Infrastructure
There are several small city parks such as Parque Infantil, Parque San Jose, Parque San Isidoro, Parque Marti among others, most central the Calixto García in the downtown area. Close by one finds the galleries Centro Provincial de Arte and Bayado, a library, the club Casa de la Trova, the Martí cinema, the Theatre Eddy Suñol, the Province Museum La Periquera, a science museum, and a history museum. From the hill Loma de la Cruz, where a large crucifix is installed, which can be ascended by its 450 stairs, one can oversee the whole city.
Holguín has a baseball stadium. The Frank País International Airport (city code HOG) is connected to Havana and several other world destinations.
The municipality is divided into the barrios of Aguarás, Aguas Claras, Alcalá, Arroyo Blanco del Sur, Báguanos, Cabezuelas, Cacocún, Calderón, Camazán, Cauto del Cristo, Corralillo, Cruces de Purnio, Damián, Floro Pérez, Guabasiabo, Guayabal, Guirabo, Haticos del Purial, La Aguada, La Cuaba, La Palma, La Rioja, Las Calabazas, Managuaco, Melones, Norte, Omaja, Purnio, San Agustín, San Andrés, San Francisco, San Juan, San Lorenzo, Santa Rita, Sur, Tacámara, Tasajeras, Uñas, Uñitas, Velasco, Yareyal and Yayal.[1]
The main secondary education institution is the University of Holguín.
[edit] Economy
The brewery Cerveceria Bucanero - a joint venture with Labatt of Canada - is based in the city. It makes three brands of beer (Bucanero, Cristal and Mayabe) sold in convertible pesos.
Near Holguin, the Villa El Quinque and the Villa El Cocal are world-renowned centers for addictions treatment, receiving patients from around the world. Argentine soccer star Diego Maradona was treated for his cocaine addiction there. The popular Playa Pesquero (Fishing Boat Beach) is located on the coast north of Holguín city, about an hour's drive from the International Airport.
[edit] Demographics
In 2004, the municipality of Holguín had a population of 326,740.[3] With a total area of 666 km2 (257 sq mi),[2] it has a population density of 490.6 /km2 (1,271 /sq mi).
[edit] Transportation
Holguín is served by Frank País Airport (HOG/MUHG), located at 20°47´08"N, 076°18´54"W.
[edit] Notable residents
- Faustino Oramas, Cuban composer and musician
- Mario Kindelan, Olympic Gold Medalist amateur boxer
- Eglise Gutiérrez, opera singer
- Reinaldo Arenas, poet and novelist
- Oscar Hijuelos, Cuban-American Pulitzer Prize-winning author, whose parents were born and raised in Holguín before immigrating to the USA.[5]
[edit] Sister cities
Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada
Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico
West Kanpur
[edit] References
- ^ a b Guije.com. "Holguín". http://www.guije.com/pueblo/municipios/oholguin/index.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-05. (Spanish)
- ^ a b Statoids. "Municipios of Cuba". http://www.statoids.com/ycu.html. Retrieved 2007-10-05.
- ^ a b Atenas.cu (2004). "2004 Population trends, by Province and Municipality". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. http://web.archive.org/web/20070927111826/http://www.atenas.inf.cu/todo/Estadisticas/TABLA+No_3balance.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-05. (Spanish)
- ^ Guije.com (September 2004). "Ciudad de Holguin". http://www.guije.com/pueblo/aoriente/holguin/index.htm. Retrieved 2007-02-17.
- ^ Hijuelos, Oscar, Thoughts Without Cigarettes: A Memoir, 2011.
[edit] External links
- (Spanish) Holguín Web portal
- English-language city guide
- Holguin beaches guide
- Holguin Cuba (English) (French)
- Cuba Holguin
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