Havana, the capital of the island of Cuba was founded by the Spanish in the 16th century. Havana served as a springboard for the Spanish conquest of the Americas, and also as a halting point for treasure laden Spanish ships crossing the Atlantic Ocean, because of its strategic location. Ships from all over the New World carried products first to Havana, in order to be taken by the fleet to Spain. The thousands of ships that gathered in the city’s bay also fuelled Havana’s agriculture and manufacturing industries, since they had to be supplied with food, water, and other products needed for a long ocean voyage. The city was captured by the British in the eighteenth century, but was later reclaimed by Spain. In the 20th century, Cuba and Havana were occupied by the USA. The American occupation of Cuba ended in 1902. 1n 1959, a revolution saw Fidel Castro and the communists taking control of Cuba. Today, the city is the seat of the Cuban Government and its colourful history draws millions of tourists every year.
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