Valle de los Ingenios

Valle de los Ingenios
Valley of the Sugar Mills
Valle de los Ingenios
Valle de los Ingenios is located in Cuba
Valle de los Ingenios
Valle de los Ingenios
Length12 kilometres (7.5 mi)
Area270 km2 (100 sq mi)
Geography
Population centersOutside of Trinidad, Cuba
Coordinates21°50′29″N 79°51′59″W / 21.84139°N 79.86639°W / 21.84139; -79.86639
Official nameTrinidad and the Valle de los Ingenios
TypeCultural
Criteriaiv, v
Designated1988 (12th session)
Reference no.460
RegionLatin America and the Caribbean

Valle de los Ingenios, also named Valley de los Ingenios or Valley of the Sugar Mills, is a series of three interconnected valleys about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) outside of Trinidad, Cuba. The three valleys, San Luis, Santa Rosa, and Meyer, were a centre for sugar production from the late 18th century until the late 19th century. At the peak of the industry in Cuba there were over fifty sugar cane mills in operation in the three valleys, with over 30,000 slaves working in the mills and on the sugar cane plantations that surrounded them.

In 1988, Valle de los Ingenios and neighbouring Trinidad were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, because of its testimony to the early sugar trade industry.[1] The entire area covers 270 km2 (100 sq mi) and includes the sites of over 70 former sugar mills.

  1. ^ "Trinidad and the Valley de los Ingenios". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Retrieved 28 May 2021.