Viñales

"This article is about the town. For the adjacent UNESCO world heritage site, see Viñales Valley."Infobox Settlement
official_name = Viñales
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settlement_type = Municipality
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image_caption = Overview of Viñales


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pushpin_label_position = none
pushpin_map_caption = Location of Viñales in Cuba
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = flag|Cuba
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = Pinar del Río
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established_title = Settled
established_date = 1871
established_title2 = Established
established_date2 = 1878
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area_total_km2 = 704
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population_as_of = 2004
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population_total = 27129
population_density_km2 = 38.5
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timezone = EST
utc_offset = -5
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latd= 22|latm= 36|lats= 55|latNS=N
longd= 83|longm= 42|longs= 57|longEW=W
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elevation_m = 135
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area_code = +53-82
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footnotes = Viñales is a small town and municipality in the north-central Pinar del Rio Province of Cuba.

The town consists mostly of one story wooden houses with porches.

The municipality is dominated by low mountain ranges of Cordillera de Guaniguanico such as Sierra de los Órganos. Typical outcrops known as "mogotes" complete the karstic character of the landscape. [Cuba Junky. [http://www.cuba-junky.com/pinar-del-rio/vinales-home.htm Vinales] ]

History

Prior to European settlement, the area had been the home of a remnant Taíno population swelled with runaway slaves.Guerrillero:Pinar del Río. [http://www.guerrillero.co.cu/pinardelrio/2004/marzo/eltemplo.htm "El Templo de los Cimarrones"] es icon]

The area was colonised at the beginning of the 1800s by tobacco growers from the Canary Islands, who settled in the Vuelta Abajo region.

The first settlement in Viñales is documented in 1871, in the form of a ranch belonging to Don Andrés Hernández Ramos.

The town was established in 1878 as a typical community, with church, school, hospital and recreation park. [Vinales.cu [http://www.vinales.pinar.cu/historia.htm History] ]

Economy

Viñales is an agricultural area, where crops of fruit, vegetables, coffee and especially tobacco are grown with traditional methods. Fishing is also an important part of the area's economy.

Tourism

Tourism centered on the Viñales Valley is developing, the area being protected by constitution since February 1976, and declared a national monument in October 1978. The Viñales Valley has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since November 1999, [ [http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/840 UNESCO World Heritage - Vinales Valley] ] for the outstanding karst landscape and traditional agriculture as well as vernacular architecture, crafts and music.

Attractions in Viñales include the Museo Municipal, Casa de Caridad Botanical Gardens, Museo Paleontológico, Palenque (a Maroon village) and the nearby caves (Cueva del Indio, Cueva de José Miguel, Cueva de Santo Tomás) in Valle de Viñales National Park, [ [http://www.vinales.pinar.cu/turismo.htm "Valle de Viñales: Monumento Natural de Cuba"] ] which were refuges for runaway slaves.

Demographics

In 2004, the municipality of Viñales had a population of 27,129 with a 0.69%/year increase.Cite web| url=http://www.atenas.inf.cu/todo/Estadisticas/TABLA%20No_3balance.htm| title=2004 Population trends, by Province and Municipality| author= Atenas.cu| year= 2004| accessdate=2007-10-07 Es icon] With a total area of km2 to mi2|704|abbr=yes|wiki=yes,Cite web|url=http://www.statoids.com/ycu.html|title=Municipios of Cuba|author=Statoids| year=2003| month=July| accessdate=2007-10-07 ] it has a population density of Pop density km2 to mi2|38.5|abbr=yes.

ee also

*Municipalities of Cuba
*List of cities in Cuba

References

External links

* [http://www.vinales.pinar.cu/ Vinales Municipality] es icon