Isla de la Juventud ( Isle of Youth; to 1978 named Isla de Pinos) is the largest Cuban island after Cuba proper and the sixth-largest island in the West Indies.

The island has an area 3056 km² (1180 square miles) and is 100 km south of the island of Cuba, across the Gulf of Batabanó.

The island lies almost directly south of Havana and Pinar del Río, and because of its superficial extension, population and for its economic characteristics, is considered to be a Special Municipality, not being a part of any province.

The Isle of Youth is, therefore, administered directly by the central government of Cuba.


Much of the island is covered in pine forests, which is the source of the island's large lumber industry. The northern region of the island has low ridges from which marble is quarried, while the southern region is an elevated plain. Agriculture and fishing are the island's main industries, with citrus fruit and vegetables being grown. A black sand beach was formed by volcanic activity.

The island has a mild climate, but is known for frequent hurricanes. It is a popular tourist destination, with many beaches and resorts, including Bibijagua Beach.

Until the Cuban government expropriated all foreign-owned property in the early 1960s, much land was owned by Americans.

Cayo Largo is a limestone island, formed over millions of years from the remains of marine organisms, such as the ones that build coral reefs.

Living coral reefs form one more attraction for tourists on this island, although coral bleaching has stressed some reef communities in the Caribbean.

The northern coast of Cayo Largo consists largely of mangroves and salt pans. While the water south of the island appears clear enough to reveal the underlying ocean floor, the water on the north side of the island is cloudy.

This cloudy water indicates that sediment is washing off the land surface and into the water or is being stirred up from the shallow sea floor.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/