Havana, known as La Habana in Spanish, is the capital city and largest city, province, major port, and commercial center of Cuba. Havana was founded by Spanish conquistador Diego Velazquez on 25 August 1515, and it was named for the Taino chief Habaguanex. The city was founded as a springboard for Spain's conquest of the Americas, and king Felipe II of Spain declared Havana a city in 1592. The city became a stopping point for treasure-laden Spanish galleons on the way to Spain, a center of pirating activity during the Golden Age of Piracy, and a city popular among foreigners due to its scenic beauty and its beautiful women. Havana remained Cuba's capital after independence in 1902, and it became a tourist attraction. In 2012, Havana had a population of 2,106,146 people.
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