Artemisa

Artemisa Province is one of two new provinces in Cuba, which creation was approved by the Cuban National Assembly (August 1st, 2010) by splitting former La Habana Province.

Artemisa was the largest city and municipality of the former La Habana province. The newly formed province comprises the 8 western municipalities of La Habana, and incorporates 3 eastern municipalities from the neighbour Pinar del Río province (Bahía Honda, Candelaria and San Cristóbal). The capital and largest city is Artemisa (44,000 pop.).

The new province is only larger than Havana city and Mayabeque, but with more population that other four Cuban provinces. It is the most densely populated, after Havana city and Santiago de Cuba.

The economy of the Artemisa province is based mainly on agriculture (fruits, potatoes, rice, vegetables, sugar cane) and industry of building materials (two cement factories), food processing industry and power plants. It comprises the important port of Mariel in the northern coast. The province is important also in the military sector with the main Cuban Air Force base (San Antonio de los Baños) the Western base of the Cuban Navy (Cabañas Bay) and the Military Academy (College) "Antonio Maceo" in Caimito.

The new provinces were enforced in January 1st, 2011.