 Holguin is one of the provinces of Cuba, the second most populous after Ciudad de la Habana. It lies in the southeast of the country. Its major cities include Holguin (the capital), Banes, Antilla, Mayari, and Moa.
The province has a population of slightly over one million people. Its territory extends over more than 9300 km², 25 percent of which are covered by forest. Like much of Cuba, Holguin's economy is based around sugar, though mining, corn and coffee are also large earners for the province.  At Moa, there is a huge cobalt processing plant with shipping facilities, that was constructed with the help of foreign aid, much of it from Canada. There are chrome, nickel, iron and steel plants dotted throughout the province as well.  Tourism has only recently begun to be exploited by the Castro government, and in Holguin, there are numerous hotels around the Guardalavaca area.  Christopher Columbus landed in what is today Holguin province on October 27, 1492. He declared that it was "the most beautiful country human eyes had ever seen".
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