Cuba is an island country located in the Caribbean south of Florida. It has a tropical climate and terrain that ranges from mountainous in the southeast to flat plains in other areas. The ethnic makeup of Cuba's population is diverse, with estimates varying but generally consisting of around 65% white, 24% mixed race, 10% black, 1% Asian, and some percentage of indigenous Taíno descent. Cuba experienced conquest by the Spanish in the 1500s and was ruled by Fulgencio Batista's dictatorship until 1959, when Fidel Castro overthrew the government and established a communist regime. Key events in Cuba's history include the Cuban Missile Crisis and the economic difficulties after the fall of the Soviet Union.