Cuba is located in the Caribbean Sea, south of Florida. To the north is the Gulf of Mexico, and to the east is the Atlantic Ocean. It is slightly smaller than Pennsylvania. There are mountains in the southeast, but otherwise the island is flat or has rolling hills.

 Havana is located on the northern coast of Cuba along a deepwater bay and has a harbor that is protected by land on both sides. The harbor empties into the Gulf of Mexico. The city itself extends southward and westward of the bay, and is built on low, rolling hills. The Almendares River flows through the city.

Originally, Havana was founded on the south coast of the island, but the location didn't work because the area was swampy and the climate poor. Havana was relocated to its current site which was chosen because of its location on the bay and its protected harbor. Havana was an excellent site for a port because it was easily defended, but the remote location made it an unpopular choice at first for the seat of the government.

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