GUANTANAMO, a town and United States naval base, 4o m. east of Santiago near the eastern end of the south coast of Cuba. It possesses a land-locked harbour of two basins, about 4 m. wide and 10 m. long from north to south. A narrow entrance gives protection from storms and safety from surprise attacks by sea. The port is actually the town of Caimanera, on the harbour, and Guantanamo is 20 m. north, on the Guantanamo and Western railway. Pop. (1931) 11,358, and the rich tributary valley of Guantanamo brings this up to 6o,000. Guantanamo is 572 m. from Havana, with which it is connected by the United railroads and the Cuba railway, and also by the Central highway. Guanta namo bay is held by the United States as a naval base under treaty. The railway and highway connection to Havana and the route through the Straits of Florida to the mainland constitute an important factor in the strategy of the Caribbean sea (q.v.). The region around Guantanamo is a rich sugar and banana country.
Guantanamo bay was named Cumberland bay in 1741 when Admiral Edward Vernon and Gen. Thomas Wentworth landed an English force to attack Santiago. After their retirement, forti fications were begun, and the bay has since been recognized as of great strategic importance. At the end of the 18th century French refugees from Haiti landed, and in 1822 founded the town of Guantanamo. These French families still dominate the life of the town. Sugar and the American naval base have, since the Spanish-American War, changed the atmosphere and character of the town and region, to one of activity and industry, as con trasted with the old French-Creole atmosphere which in earlier days brought the fashionable residents of Havana to Guantanamo for the summer season.