TOPOGRAP I Y. The coast of Cuba is exceed ingly broken, being indented by numerous gulfs or bays. The chief of these on the south coast, commencing at the west, are the following: Cor rientes, Cortez, Matainana, Ca zones, and Guaca nabo. There are many line harbors, with nar row, tortuous entrances opening within into broad expanses—as at ITavana. The north coast is in great part bordered by coral islands or reefs, which stretch from Nuevitas to Car denas, and render approach to this part of the coast extremely difficult and dangerous. On the south is the large Isle of Pines (Isla de Tinos), with many small islets associated with it, and, further eastward, a group of many islets, known as the Jardines de la Reina.
The western part of Cuba is traversed by a mountain range, Sierra de los Orgailos. 2500 feet high. The celebrated tobacco region, Vuelta Abajo, is on its south slope. The middle part of
the island has an undulating surface, broken only here and there by hills, such as the group near Trinidad, on the south coast. The land rises eastward, and the eastern province, Santiago, consists in the main of an elevated plateau, 1000 to 2000 feet high,deeply scored by streams. Along the south coast of this province, stretching from Cape Cruz eastward, is the Sierra Slaestra, much the highest land of the island, its highest peak, Turquino, being 8320 feet in height. Much of the coast west of Cape Cruz is low and marshy. The great Zapota swamp borders this coast. The rivers are numerous, IRA short, and in general unfitted for navigation ; the river Cauto, in the southeastern part, is about 150 miles in length, and is navigable for a distance of 50 miles to Canto Einha rctIdl`r0.