Viñales Valley

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UNESCO World Heritage Site
Viñales Valley
Name as inscribed on the World Heritage List
Viñales Valley
Country Cuba
Type Cultural
Criteria iv
Reference 840
UNESCO region Latin America and the Caribbean
Inscription history
Inscription 1999 (23rd Session)
Manuel Rivera-Ortiz: Tobacco Harvesting, Viñales Valley, Cuba 2002

Viñales Valley (Spanish: Valle de Viñales) is a karstic depression in Cuba. The valley has an area of 132 km2 (51 sq mi) and is located in the Sierra de los Organos, just north of Viñales in the Pinar del Río Province.

Tobacco and other crops are cultivated on the bottom of the valley, mostly by traditional agriculture techniques. Many caves dot the surrounding hillfaces (Cueva del Indio, Cueva de José Miguel).

The conspicuous cliffs rising like islands from the bottom of the valley are called mogotes.

Viñales is a major tourist destination offering mainly hiking and rock climbing. The local climbing scene has started to take off in the last few years with many new routes being discovered resulting in an increase in local tourism.[1]

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Conservation [edit]

Many endemic plants and animals are specific to this valley. Flora found in the region include Bombax emarginatum, Mountain Palm (Gaussia princeps), Ekmanianthe actinophilla, and Microcycas calocoma. Fauna includes Bee Hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae, zunzún), Cuban Trogon (Priotelus temnurus), Cuban Tody (Todus multicolor), Cuban Solitaire (Myadestes elisabeth) and Cuban Grassquit (Tiaris canorus).[2]

The Valle de Vinales is a wonderful tourist destination. It is one of the lushest parts of cuba.

Photo gallery [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ High Sports. "Article on Cuban Climbing". Retrieved 2008-04-07.  (English)
  2. ^ Radio Habana. "Parque Nacional Viñales". Archived from the original on 2007-10-05. Retrieved 2007-10-10.  (Spanish)

External links [edit]

Coordinates: 22°37′0″N 83°43′0″W / 22.61667°N 83.71667°W / 22.61667; -83.71667 (Viñales Valley)