Geology 101

Actually, this won't even classify as a "101" on Cuban geology (more like a .025). In an effort to educate myself, I've done a little bit of research here and there, trying to grasp some basics and I kept reading words like: subduction polarity in Cuba.....periodicity of arc and other magmatism in Cuba......karstgeology.....metamorphic and uplift history......geochronology, etc.

Good grief, can someone please make it a littler simpler? Finally, I found "Cuba is 70% limestone" which was a concept even I could grasp. And, since the one of the main components of limestone can be the shells of marine organisms, things were starting to fall in place.

You can see the fossilized coral in these large cliffs overhanging the beach.

This is an area on the leeward side of the bay, and the photo was taken at sunrise, which is why you see the nice pink hue. There is a small strip of sand right next to the water, but you can also note the huge pile of coral, shells, and rocks that nestle right up to the sand.

This photo is a close-up of Hicacal (pronounced here as High-Cackle) Beach -- again, this is on the leeward side of the bay. Prior to the 1950's, Hicacal Beach was considered the "Navy's winter paradise" and home to a small airfield, golf course, living quarters, along with a ramp for seaplanes. None of this exists now and Hicacal is a vacant area primarily known for its vast array of shells on its shore, along with its voracious mosquitoes.

You can stroll along this beach for a quarter of a mile (just have on plenty of bug repellant) and hear a crunching sound because you can hardly avoid the shells as you walk. And, with the tide ebbing and flowing, even more shells are washed up on shore.

(Note: the viewing of any of these photos would be enhanced by double-clicking on the photos to enlarge them on the screen.)