CUBA  169

and  in  May  1902  inaugurated  her  first  president. ­

Cuba,  situated  in  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  but  a
few  hours  sail  from  Florida,  is  760  miles  long,
slightly  over  90  miles  in  width  at  its  eastern
end  and  about  20  miles  at  its  western  extremity
with  about  2000  miles  of  coast  line  containing
many  deep  water  harbors.  Its  area  covers
45,881  square  miles.  Situated  38  miles  off  the
southern  coast  of  Cuba  is  the  Isle  of  Pines,
containing  1214  square  miles,  with  a  population ­
  of  3500,  including  many  American  colonists ­
  engaged  in  raising  citrus  fruits.  The
island  is  governed  by  Cuba.
The  chief  topographical  features  of  Cuba
are  the  many  mountain  ranges  which  cross  and
intersect  each  other,  the  eastern  end  being  particularly ­
  mountainous,  with  one  peak  8600  feet
high.  Between  the  mountains  are  many  fertile, ­
  healthful  and  beautiful  valleys  and
plateaus.
The  climate  varies  from  the  tropical
warmth  of  the  coast  to  cool  on  the  plateaus  and
on  the  mountain  sides.  The  trade  winds  do