NATURAL RESOURCES

Natural resources include cobalt, nickel, iron ore, copper, manganese, salt, timber, silica, and petroleum. At one time, the whole island was covered with forest and there are still many cedar, rosewood, mahogany, and other valuable trees. Large areas were cleared to grow more sugar cane, and so few trees remained that timber had to be imported.

Oil is extracted on Cuba’s northern shore, in the provinces of La Habana and Matanzas. The oil is of low quality, and used for energy generation only.

Sugar cane was the most important part of the economy in Cuba’s history, and is still grown on large areas. Extensive irrigation systems are developed in the south of