Viñales Valley
Encyclopedia
Viñales Valley is a karstic
depression in Cuba
. The valley has an area of 132 km² (51 sq mi) and is located in the Sierra de los Organos, just north of Viñales
in the Pinar del Río Province
.
Tobacco
and other crops are cultivated on the bottom of the valley, mostly by traditional agriculture
techniques. Many cave
s dot the surrounding hillfaces (Cueva del Indio, Cueva de José Miguel).
The conspicuous cliffs rising like islands from the bottom of the valley are called mogote
s.
Viñales is a major tourist destination offering mainly hiking
and rock climbing
. The local climbing scene has started to take off in the last few years with many new routes being discovered resulting in an increase in local tourism.
plants and animals are specific to this valley. Flora found in the region include Bombax
emarginatum, Mountain Palm (Gaussia princeps), Ekmanianthe actinophilla, and Microcycas calocoma
. Fauna includes Bee Hummingbird
(Mellisuga helenae, zunzún), Cuban Trogon
(Priotelus temnurus), Cuban Tody
(Todus multicolor), Cuban Solitaire
(Myadestes elisabeth) and Cuban Grassquit
(Tiaris canorus).
World Heritage Site
as a cultural landscape, both for its natural beauty and for the vernacular architecture
and traditions.
Karst topography
Karst topography is a geologic formation shaped by the dissolution of a layer or layers of soluble bedrock, usually carbonate rock such as limestone or dolomite, but has also been documented for weathering resistant rocks like quartzite given the right conditions.Due to subterranean drainage, there...
depression in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. The valley has an area of 132 km² (51 sq mi) and is located in the Sierra de los Organos, just north of Viñales
Viñales
This article is about the town. For the adjacent UNESCO world heritage site, see Viñales Valley. Viñales is a small town and municipality in the north-central Pinar del Rio Province of Cuba....
in the Pinar del Río Province
Pinar del Río Province
Pinar del Río is one of the provinces of Cuba. It is at the western end of the island of Cuba.-Geography:The Pinar del Río province is Cuba's westernmost province and contains one of Cuba's three main mountain ranges, the Cordillera de Guaniguanico, divided into the easterly Sierra del Rosario and...
.
Tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
and other crops are cultivated on the bottom of the valley, mostly by traditional agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
techniques. Many cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
s dot the surrounding hillfaces (Cueva del Indio, Cueva de José Miguel).
The conspicuous cliffs rising like islands from the bottom of the valley are called mogote
Mogote
Mogotes are isolated, steep-sided, residual, hills, which are composed of either limestone, marble, or dolomite and surrounded by nearly flat alluvial plains. These hills typically have a rounded, tower-like form. This term was originally used for karst hills developed in the folded limestone in...
s.
Viñales is a major tourist destination offering mainly hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
and rock climbing
Rock climbing
Rock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
. The local climbing scene has started to take off in the last few years with many new routes being discovered resulting in an increase in local tourism.
Conservation
Many endemicEndemic (ecology)
Endemism is the ecological state of being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. For example, all species of lemur are endemic to the...
plants and animals are specific to this valley. Flora found in the region include Bombax
Bombax
Bombax is a genus of mainly tropical trees in the mallow family. They are native to western Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, as well as sub-tropical regions of East Asia and northern Australia. Common names for the genus include Silk Cotton Tree, Simal, Red Cotton Tree, Kapok and...
emarginatum, Mountain Palm (Gaussia princeps), Ekmanianthe actinophilla, and Microcycas calocoma
Microcycas
Microcycas is a genus of cycads in the family Zamiaceae containing only one species, Microcycas calocoma, endemic to a small area in western Cuba in Pinar del Río Province....
. Fauna includes Bee Hummingbird
Bee Hummingbird
The Bee Hummingbird or Zunzuncito is a species of hummingbird that is endemic to Cuba and Isla de la Juventud...
(Mellisuga helenae, zunzún), Cuban Trogon
Cuban Trogon
The Cuban Trogon or Tocororo is a species of bird in the Trogonidae family. It is endemic to the Caribbean island of Cuba, where it is also the national bird....
(Priotelus temnurus), Cuban Tody
Cuban Tody
The Cuban Tody is a bird species in the family Todidae that is restricted to Cuba and adjacent islands. The species is characterized by small size , large head relative to body size, and a thin, pointed bill...
(Todus multicolor), Cuban Solitaire
Cuban Solitaire
The Cuban Solitaire , also known as the Cuban nightingale, is a species of bird in the Turdidae family.It is endemic to Cuba.Its natural habitat is montane moist forests.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
(Myadestes elisabeth) and Cuban Grassquit
Cuban Grassquit
The Cuban Grassquit is a small bird formerly placed with the Emberizidae. It is now recognized as a tanager closely related to Darwin's finches...
(Tiaris canorus).
UNESCO Heritage site
In 1999, the Viñales Valley was designated a UNESCOUNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
as a cultural landscape, both for its natural beauty and for the vernacular architecture
Vernacular architecture
Vernacular architecture is a term used to categorize methods of construction which use locally available resources and traditions to address local needs and circumstances. Vernacular architecture tends to evolve over time to reflect the environmental, cultural and historical context in which it...
and traditions.