Cuba's Culture and Geology: A Journey Through

Recently, 14 earth scientists from the U.S.-based Association for Women Geoscientists travelled to Cuba to explore its geology and culture. The expedition is chronicled in the August issue of EARTH Magazine.

While there, the scientists studied rocks that captured the extra-terrestrial impact attributed to the demise of the dinosaurs — including shocked quartz and tsunami deposits. They learned about how local limestone was used to build forts intended to protect Cuba’s harbors from pirate attacks. Their guide even took them to sites that represent the breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea. The rocks observed in Cuba have been shown to be closely related to the Mediterranean.

Any earth scientist would agree the geologic history contained on this island is astounding. More importantly, these scientists visited Cuba to experience UNESCO World Heritage sites, and share in “people-to-people” experiences between two cultures that continue to be divided. Read more about the geological diversity of Cuba, including miles of underground cave networks and risks posed by a San Andreas-like fault at: http://bit.ly/152DT0u.

Don’t miss other exciting stories this month’s issue of Earth available at the Digital Newsstand: www.earthmagazine.org/digital. Read about the improvements scientists are making in hurricane forecasts, water challenges faced by a tropical paradise, and the discovery of sauropod embryos in southern China.