a republic and the largest island in the Caribbean, at the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico: became a Spanish colony after its discovery by Columbus in 1492; gained independence after the Spanish-American War of 1898 but remained subject to US influence until declared a people's republic under Fidel Castro in 1960; subject of an international crisis in 1962, when the US blockaded the island in order to compel the Soviet Union to dismantle its nuclear missile base there. The economy traditionally relied on sugar exports, and was badly affected by loss of trade following the collapse of the Soviet Union and by the US trade embargo. Diplomatic ties with the US restored in 2014. Language: Spanish. Religion: Roman Catholic, with elements of African and Caribbean religions. Currency: peso. Capital: Havana. Pop: 11 484 636 (2017 est). Area: 110 922 sq km (42 827 sq miles)