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This meticulously hand-drawn Spanish map titled Plano del Puerto de Jagua . . . offers a detailed depiction of the Cienfuegos Bay region on the southern coast of Cuba. Executed in pen and black and red ink with color wash, the map combines artistry with practical navigational information.
The title, key, and scale are neatly enclosed in a frame in the lower left corner, reflecting the cartographer’s systematic approach. The map illustrates key geographical features such as the coastline, soundings, navigational hazards, an anchorage, and salt flats, alongside pictorial representations of buildings and settlements.
Cienfuegos Bay, now known as one of Cuba's most significant ports, holds a complex history. Originally named after King Ferdinand of Spain, the bay became an essential component of Spanish maritime activity during the 16th century. The establishment of the office of Piloto Mayor in the Casa de Contratación in Seville in 1507 marked Spain's intention to collect comprehensive cartographical data from explorers. This map exemplifies the cartographic efforts of the Real Escuela de Navegación in the 18th century, which aimed to refine and expand knowledge of Spanish-controlled territories.
The map highlights essential topographical features, including rivers such as the Río Damijí and Río Salado, cayos (small islands) like Cayo Carenero and Cayo de Alcatraces, and inland settlements depicted with small, simplified buildings. The depiction of soundings provides crucial information for navigation, marking safe passages for large vessels. Notably, the anchorage is identified with precision, indicating its importance for maritime traffic. The surrounding terrain is depicted with soft shading and color washes in green and yellow, which denote coastal flats and inland topography, respectively.
The cartographer’s inclusion of the salt flats (salinares) underscores the economic activities of the region. These salt flats, along with the fertile lands for cultivating sugar cane, tobacco, and coffee, became vital to Cienfuegos' development as a trading hub in the 19th century. Roads connecting settlements to the coast hint at the early infrastructure supporting local trade and transportation.
