Description of the attraction
The Viñales Valley made the province of Pinar del Rio famous all over the world, as it was included in the UNESCO Cultural Heritage List in many respects. Amazing landscapes with a rich landscape, an extensive system of caves and mineral springs, unusual rock formations "mogotes", many traces of prehistoric settlements, a plantation of the world's best delicious black tobacco - all this makes the Vinales Valley area a unique place where tourists and travelers aspire from all over the world. The area of the valley is 132 sq km, due to the extraordinary richness of flora and fauna, it was given the status of a national natural monument of the country. This is the most striking example of a karst valley in the whole of Cuba. Unusual rocks will grow out of the flat and level ground, some reaching a height of 400 m. They are called "mogotes". It is believed that the age of the amazing limestone formations reaches 160 million years. Locals call the rocks "elephant backs". As already mentioned, flora is the pride of the valley. Here are presented various types of fruit, ornamental, medicinal plants: the ceiba tree, the caiman oak, the unusual palm tree Mycrocycas calocoma, which is considered a living heritage of the Jurassic period. These rare plants are collected in the Casa de Caridad botanical garden, which is in the northeastern part of the valley. During the harvest here, tourists are treated to delicious local fruits. Another attraction of the valley is the Prehistoric Fresco. Prehistoric animals and people are depicted in bright colors on a sheer cliff with a height of 120 meters. The idea of Celia Sanchez was brought to life by the Cuban artist Leovigildo Gonzalez, who was a student of the famous Mexican Diego Rivera.
