BARACOA, a seaport city of north-east Cuba, in Oriente province. Pop. (193I) 9,179. The town lies under high hills on a small circular harbour accessible to small craft. The country round about is extremely rugged. The hill called the "Anvil of Baracoa" (about 3,00o ft.) is remarkable for its extremely regular formation. It completely dominates the city's background, and is a well-known bearing for navigators. The town is the trading centre of a large plantation region behind it and is the centre of the banana and coconut export trade. There is a fort dating from the middle of the i8th century. Baracoa is the oldest town in Cuba, having been settled by Diego Velazquez in