Cuba is an island country located in the Caribbean Sea south of Florida. The largest island, Cuba, has a mostly flat landscape with some hills and mountains. Spanish is the official language and most residents are of Spanish or African descent. Cuba has a communist government and state-controlled economy. The culture features music genres like son and salsa that have spread worldwide. Baseball is the most popular sport. Christopher Columbus first claimed Cuba for Spain in 1492 and it remained a Spanish colony for over 400 years until gaining independence in 1902. Fidel Castro took power in 1959 and established a communist regime that still controls the country today.