Cuba, centre of the Americas (1949)

This map is part of the Atlas of Cuba, published in 1949 by Cuban geographer Gerardo Canet, with the collaboration of cartographer Erwin Raisz.

The map shows Cuba's position in the context of the Americas and the Caribbean, highlighting its importance for the country's progress. The different lines show Cuba's main relationships with its neighbouring countries at that time, highlighting the importation of oil from Galveston (Texas), wheat and rice from New Orleans (Louisiana), and coal, cars and manufactured goods from the north-east of the United States.

The text at the bottom, written in Spanish and English, talks about Christopher Columbus' arrival in Cuba and how the island was key to introducing sugar and tobacco to Europe via the Gulf Stream.

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