THE ISLAND OF CUBA 37 



topography, with a horizontal sky-line from Matanzas 

 westward, gradually decreasing from five hundred feet at 

 Matanzas to one hundred feet on the west. The coast of 

 the east end is abrupt and rugged, presenting both on the 

 north and south sides a series of remarkable terraces, ris- 

 ing in stair-like arrangement to six hundred feet or more, 

 representing successive pauses or stages in the elevation 

 of the island above the sea, and constituting most striking 

 scenic features. West of Guantanamo to Cape Cruz the 

 precipitous Sierra Maestra rises immediately behind and 

 above these terraces. The south coast from Cape Cruz to 

 Cape San Antonio, with the exception of a brief stretch 

 between Trinidad and Cienfuegos, is generally low and 

 marshy. 



The littoral of the mainland is indented by numerous 

 landlocked harbors of peculiar configuration, which are 

 especially adapted for commerce and refuge. These are 

 described under transportation and communication. 



The keys adjacent to the middle third of the island, on 

 both the north and south sides (the famous Jardines of 

 Columbus), are mostly small coral or mangrove islets which 

 have grown up from shallow, submerged platforms sur- 

 rounding those parts of the island ; in certain places they 

 form barriers to the mainland. They are usually unin- 

 habited, owing to the scarcity of potable waters. They 

 constitute a formidable obstacle to navigation, except 

 when guided by skilful pilotage, but, on the other hand, 

 present many sheltered expanses within the outer line of 

 breakers. 



About one half the Cuban coast is bordered by these 

 keys, which are largely old reef rock, the creations of the 

 same coral-builders that may now be seen through the 

 transparent waters still at work on the modem shallows, 

 decking the rocks and sands with their graceful and many- 

 colored tufts of animal foliage. On the north coast some 

 of the keys are large enough to form extensive islets, 

 uninhabited, except by fishermen in a few places where 



