206 CUBA 



SECTION AT BARACOA 



1. Elevated reef «. Sea-level 



2, 3. Bowden Oligocene b. Reef-level 

 4. Radiolarian beds, probably Vieks- c. Bench 



burg Eocene d, e. Mountains 



VALLEYS 



In the more rugged eastern provinces there are many valleys 

 of wide extent and great fertility. These are numerous also in 

 Santa Clara and Puerto Principe. The most extensive of them, 

 however, is that of the Rio Cauto in Santiago de Cuba. It is 

 situated in a protected position between rugged eminences on 

 the north and south and threaded by a navigable river. This 

 valley is densely populated and has been one of the great strong- 

 holds of the present uprising. 



By provinces the relief may be summarized as follows : San- 

 tiago de Cuba is predominantly a mountainous region of high 

 relief, especially along the coasts, with many interior valleys. 

 Puerto Principe and Villa Clara are broken regions of low moun- 

 tain relief, diversified by extensive valleys. Matanzas and Ha- 

 bana are vast stretches of level cultivated plain, with only a few 

 hills of relief. Pinar del Rio is centrally mountainous, with 

 fertile coastward slopes. 



DRAINAGE 



The drainage of Cuba is abundant, varying in character in 

 different parts of the island. Considering the limited catch- 

 ment areas, these streams are remarkably copious in volume. 

 In the plains of the central and western provinces the streams 

 flow from the central axis toward the corresponding coast and 

 have opalescent waters, like those of the limestone springs of 

 Texas and Florida. These streams run through widely sloping 

 valleys, with only slightly indented stream ways, and are remark- 

 ably free from lateral ramifications. Canyons are not developed 

 until they reach the abrupt plateau edge of the north coast. 



