CIENFUEGOS (originally FERNANDINA DE JAGUA), one of the principal cities of Cuba, in Santa Clara province, near the central portion of the southern coast, 195 m. E.S.E. of Havana. Pop. (193i census) 87,669. Cienfuegos is served by the United railways of Havana and by steamers connecting with Santiago, Batabano, Trinidad and the Isle of Pines. It lies about 6 m. from the sea on a peninsula in the magnificent landlocked bay of Jagua. Vessels drawing 16 ft. have direct access to the wharves. The city is lighted by gas and electricity, has an abundant water supply, and cable connection with Europe, the United States, other Antilles and South America. The surrounding country is one of the prettiest and most fertile regions in Cuba, varied with woods, rivers, rocky gulches, beautiful cascades and charming tropic vegetation. Several of the largest and finest sugar estates in the world are situated in the vicinity, including the Soledad (with a botanical experiment station maintained by Harvard university), the Terry and others—most of them connected with the city by good driveways. Cienfuegos is a centre of the sugar trade on the south coast ; tobacco too is exported.
The bay of Jagua was visited by Columbus. The city was founded in 1819, with the aid of the Spanish government, by a Louisianian, Gen. Luis de Clouet. The settlement was first named in honour of Ferdinand VII., and later in honour of Capt. Gen. Jose Cienfuegos Jovellanos. The harbour was known from the earliest times, and has been declared by Mahan to be the most important of the Caribbean sea for strategic purposes. In a fortification called Nuestra Senora de los Angeles was erected at the entrance ; it is still standing, on a steep bluff overlooking the sea, and is one of the most picturesque of the old fortifications of the island. On May 11, 1898, a force from two vessels of the U.S. fleet under Admiral Schley, searching for Cervera and block ading the port, cut two of the three cables here (at Point Colo rado, at the entrance of the harbour), and for the first time in the Spanish-American War the American troops were under fire.