Nueva Gerona | |
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Municipality | |
The Presidio Modelo
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Locator map of Nueva Gerona (in black) within Isla de la Juventud |
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Location of Nueva Gerona in Cuba | |
Coordinates: 21°53′05″N 82°48′04″W / 21.88472°N 82.80111°WCoordinates: 21°53′05″N 82°48′04″W / 21.88472°N 82.80111°W | |
Country | Cuba |
Province | Isla de la Juventud |
Founded | 1802 |
Elevation | 17 m (56 ft) |
Population (2012) | |
• Total | 59,049 |
Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
Website | Official website |
Nueva Gerona is a Cuban city, capital of the Isla de la Juventud special municipality and province. As of 2012, its population was 59,049.
The city was founded in 1830 by Francisco Dionisio Vives, who was the Spanish governor of Cuba at the time. There is an American graveyard in Nueva Gerona.
Nueva Gerona is located by the coast, in the north-eastern area of the island, between the hills of Caballos and Casas. It is crossed by the river Río Las Casas, which provides a navigable waterway to the Caribbean Sea.
The city is divided into the repartos (quarters) of Centro, Abel Santamaría, Sierra Caballo, Nazareno, Saigón, Chacón and José Martí. In the suburban quarter of Chacón is located the Presidio Modelo, a former prison and now a museum.
Nueva Gerona is linked to La Fe (or Santa Fe), the 2nd most populated town of the island, with a 20 km-long expressway. The harbour in Río Las Casas estuary provides to link it to Cuban mainland, at the port of Surgidero de Batabanó. Near the suburban quarter José Martí is located the Rafael Cabrera Mustelier Airport.
Both the baseball and football clubs representing the Isla de la Juventud are based in Nueva Gerona. The baseball venue is the Estadio Cristóbal Labra and the football one is the Estadio El Rodeo. In addition, there's also the soccer stadium Estadio El Rodeo.
Nueva Gerona has the following sister city: