# Yateras

> municipality in Cuba

**Wikidata**: [Q1026971](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1026971)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yateras)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/yateras

## Summary

Yateras is a municipality in Guantánamo Province, Cuba, situated at coordinates 20.35°N, -74.924444444444°W along the Atlantic coast. With a population of 3,309 residents across 664 square kilometres and an elevation of 370 metres above sea level, Yateras holds distinction as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site—the Archaeological Landscape of the First Coffee Plantations in the South-East of Cuba, inscribed in 2000.

## Key Facts

- **Entity Type**: Municipality of Cuba, classified as a city
- **Country**: Cuba
- **Province**: Guantánamo Province
- **Area**: 664 square kilometres
- **Population**: 3,309
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 20.35°, Longitude -74.924444444444°
- **Elevation**: 370 metres above sea level
- **Coastal Position**: Located next to the Atlantic Ocean
- **Postal Code**: 99420
- **Local Dialing Code**: 21
- **Timezone**: Eastern Time Zone
- **UNESCO World Heritage**: Part of the Archaeological Landscape of the First Coffee Plantations in the South-East of Cuba (inscribed 2000)
- **World Heritage Site ID**: 1008-004
- **Wikidata Description**: municipality in Cuba
- **Freebase ID**: /m/03cb7s8
- **Geonames ID**: 3533721
- **GNS Unique Feature ID**: -1648556
- **OpenStreetMap Node ID**: 2034287197
- **iNaturalist Place ID**: 98181
- **Wikipedia Languages**: ceb, commons, de, en, es, fa, fr, ht, id, it, ka, nl, simple, sv, ur, vi, zh
- **Sitelink Count**: 17
- **Commons Category**: Yateras
- **Locator Map**: Available via Wikimedia Commons
- **Image**: Palenque (photograph available on Wikimedia Commons)

## FAQs

**What type of administrative region is Yateras?**

Yateras is a municipality (municipio) in Cuba, classified as both a city and a municipality of Cuba. It functions as a second-level administrative division within Guantánamo Province.

**Where exactly is Yateras located?**

Yateras is located in the eastern portion of Cuba, within Guantánamo Province, positioned at coordinates 20.35°N latitude and -74.924444444444°W longitude. The municipality sits along the Atlantic coast at an elevation of 370 metres above sea level.

**What makes Yateras historically significant?**

Yateras is part of the Archaeological Landscape of the First Coffee Plantations in the South-East of Cuba, a UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 2000. This designation recognizes the region's role in the early development of coffee cultivation in Cuba during the colonial period.

**What is the population and size of Yateras?**

Yateras has a population of 3,309 residents spread across an area of 664 square kilometres, giving it a low population density typical of rural Cuban municipalities.

**What is the postal code and dialing code for Yateras?**

The postal code for Yateras is 99420, and the local telephone dialing code is 21.

## Why It Matters

Yateras matters as a living testament to Cuba's colonial-era coffee industry and its integration into global trade networks during the 18th and 19th centuries. The municipality's inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage Site recognizing the Archaeological Landscape of the First Coffee Plantations in the South-East of Cuba acknowledges its foundational role in what became one of Cuba's most important agricultural exports. The region's coffee plantations represent a unique cultural landscape that illustrates the intersection of colonial economics, agricultural innovation, and the environmental transformation of eastern Cuba. For researchers and historians studying Latin American colonial history, Yateras provides physical archaeological evidence of how coffee cultivation spread through the Caribbean and shaped settlement patterns in mountainous regions suitable for shade-grown coffee. The municipality also represents ongoing Cuban efforts to preserve and recognize its agricultural heritage, with the 2000 UNESCO inscription serving as international validation of the site's universal value.

## Notable For

- **UNESCO World Heritage Status**: Part of the first coffee plantation landscapes recognized by UNESCO, representing a unique cultural heritage designation
- **Colonial Coffee Heritage**: Located in one of Cuba's oldest coffee-growing regions, dating to the colonial period
- **Geographic Position**: One of the easternmost municipalities in Cuba, situated along the Atlantic coast at relatively high elevation (370m)
- **Multilingual Documentation**: Wikipedia articles available in 16 languages, indicating international interest and recognition
- **Integrated Natural Heritage**: Listed in iNaturalist as place ID 98181, reflecting biodiversity documentation in the region

## Body

### Geography and Location

Yateras occupies a strategic position in the southeastern region of Cuba, within Guantánamo Province. The municipality's coordinates of 20.35°N latitude and -74.924444444444°W longitude place it along the Atlantic coastal zone, where it benefits from the maritime influence while sitting at an elevation of 370 metres above sea level. This elevation is significant for coffee cultivation, as the mountainous terrain of eastern Cuba proved ideal for growing shade coffee at higher altitudes. The total area of 664 square kilometres encompasses both coastal lowlands and interior hill country, creating diverse microclimates and ecological zones. The municipality's position relative to the Atlantic Ocean has historically influenced its economic activities, from fishing communities along the coast to agricultural production in the interior highlands.

### Administrative Structure

As a municipality of Cuba (municipio), Yateras serves as a second-level administrative division within Guantánamo Province. The Cuban municipal system represents a key level of local government, responsible for coordinating public services, managing local economic development, and maintaining civic infrastructure. The municipality's administrative status places it within a hierarchical system that includes the national government in Havana and the provincial government in Guantánamo. This administrative structure has evolved since the Cuban Revolution of 1959, with municipalities gaining increased responsibilities for local governance and planning. The postal code 99420 and local dialing code 21 connect Yateras to Cuba's national postal and telecommunications networks, facilitating both domestic and international communication.

### Population and Demographics

The population of 3,309 residents makes Yateras a small municipality by Cuban standards, reflecting its primarily rural character. Population density remains low across the 664 square kilometre territory, with residents distributed among small communities and settlements scattered throughout the municipality. The relatively modest population is consistent with the agricultural nature of the region, where farming communities rather than urban centres dominate settlement patterns. Like many rural Cuban municipalities, Yateras has experienced population dynamics influenced by migration patterns, with younger residents sometimes moving to larger cities in search of educational and employment opportunities. The municipal seat (cabecera municipal) serves as the primary administrative and commercial centre for the surrounding rural communities.

### Historical Significance: Coffee Plantations

Yateras derives its most notable historical significance from its role in Cuba's early coffee industry. The municipality is part of the Archaeological Landscape of the First Coffee Plantations in the South-East of Cuba, a UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 2000. Coffee cultivation in eastern Cuba began in the late 18th century, following the pattern of Caribbean colonial economies that sought profitable export crops. The French colonial influence was particularly strong in eastern Cuba, with refugees from Haiti (then Saint-Domingue) bringing coffee cultivation expertise after the Haitian Revolution. The mountainous terrain of Yateras and surrounding municipalities proved ideal for shade-grown coffee, and the region became one of Cuba's primary coffee-producing areas. The archaeological landscape includes the physical remains of plantation structures, processing facilities, housing for workers, and the transportation networks that connected plantations to export points.

### UNESCO World Heritage Recognition

The inclusion of Yateras within the UNESCO World Heritage Site represents international recognition of the region's cultural and historical significance. The Archaeological Landscape of the First Coffee Plantations in the South-East of Cuba was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2000, acknowledging its universal value as an example of colonial-era agricultural transformation. The site meets UNESCO criteria for cultural landscape recognition, demonstrating the interaction between human communities and their environment over time. The World Heritage Site ID 1008-004 identifies Yateras within the broader site boundaries. The designation recognizes not only the archaeological remains but also the ongoing cultural practices that maintain the landscape's integrity. This recognition has implications for heritage preservation, tourism development, and international awareness of Cuba's colonial history.

### Cultural and Natural Environment

The municipality's position along the Atlantic coast (located in or next to body of water: Atlantic Ocean) creates opportunities for fishing and maritime activities that complement the agricultural economy. The elevation of 370 metres and the mountainous terrain support diverse ecological communities, including the cloud forests that characterize higher elevations in eastern Cuba. The iNaturalist place ID 98181 indicates that the municipality is included in biodiversity documentation efforts, with naturalists recording plant and animal species within the municipal boundaries. The combination of agricultural landscapes, natural habitats, and coastal environments creates ecological diversity that supports both conservation and sustainable development. The local dialing code 21 and postal infrastructure connect residents to national networks, while the multilingual Wikipedia coverage (16 language editions) reflects international interest in the municipality's unique characteristics.

### International Connections

Yateras maintains connections to international databases and knowledge systems that facilitate research and documentation. The Geonames ID 3533721 and GNS unique feature ID -1648556 provide standardized geographic identifiers used in cartography and geographic information systems. The OpenStreetMap node ID 2034287197 links the municipality to collaborative mapping projects that provide freely available geographic data. The Freebase ID /m/03cb7s8 represents the municipality's inclusion in structured knowledge bases, while the Wikidata entry enables linked data applications. The Wikipedia sitelink count of 17 indicates coverage across multiple language editions of the online encyclopedia, from major world languages (English, Spanish, French, German) to smaller language projects (Cebuano, Simple English, Urdu, Vietnamese). This multilingual documentation ensures that information about Yateras is accessible to diverse global audiences.

### Contemporary Context

Modern Yateras operates within Cuba's socialist economic system, where agriculture remains a central pillar of local economies. The legacy of coffee cultivation continues to influence land use patterns and community organization, though production levels have fluctuated over the decades since the revolution. The municipality's small population and rural character distinguish it from Cuba's larger cities, where urban development has concentrated most economic and cultural activity. Infrastructure including the postal system (postal code 99420) and telecommunications (dialing code 21) connects Yateras to national networks. The Eastern Time Zone placement aligns the municipality with the broader Caribbean time standard, facilitating coordination with other Cuban territories and international destinations. The locator map available through Wikimedia Commons provides visual reference for the municipality's position within Cuba and Guantánamo Province.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/places/inaturalist-places.csv.zip)
3. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File