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Cueva del indio, Cave of the
Indian in English, lies 8 km north of Viñales in the province of
Pinar de Rio, Western Cuba. Rediscoved inth 1920, Cueva del
indio is one of the 17 recorded caves in Cuba. The Guanajatabey
Amerindians, aboriginals of the region, cut in the limestones
‘mojotes’ to shelter themselves from the wind, rain, sun and
inclement weather. With the arrival of the Spanish colonialist,
they fled to hide in the caves. Relics and pictograms on the
caves’ walls confirm their existence in this particular place.
Moreover, the Cueva del indio is named after their bones remains
discovered in the caves. The Cueva del indio has the largest
system of underground caves in Cuba and in all Latin America
Cueva del indio with a gallery of 45 km. It has been said that
it linked the main island to the Isle of Juventud a long time
ago. The uniqueness of the Cuevo del Indio lies in its
subterranean river after the fly of steps of 100 meters. Water
levels are kept to keep it navigable. Some of the caves, once
the home of the Indians, are now museums and cafeterias. Habitat
of the bats and other cave animals, some plants of the Jurassic
period still live in this preserved area. |
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