Punta Castillo

An aerial shot of the main island cluster.

**Punta Castillo** (Spanish for **Castle Point**) is a micronation island in the Caribbean near Cuba. The island officially became independent following the Cold War after the Soviet Union ceased its occupation of the region. Punta Castillo's primary industries are mining and fishing, the island making up for a sizeable portion of copper, silver, and gold exports in the Caribbean.

The island is home to many wealthy foreign citizens due to its relaxed policy for income tax, however it is also home to numerous Caribbean gangs.

## History

### Spanish Colonialization (1600-1919)

The native population to the island were the Elba tribe which were a distant descendent of the Elbek civilization who likely settled the island around the year 200 AD. In the early 1600s, an expedition by a Spanish merchant looking for Cuba resulted in the discovery of the island and the subsequent colonization of it by the Spanish empire. The island was invaluable for the Spaniards due to its seemingly abundant supply of precious metals, and so it became a thriving colony with a constant supply of goods and people migrating in from Europe.

The name Punta Castillo (Castle Point) was given to the island since it was incredibly difficult to attack by sea. This was in part due to the coral reefs that surrounded the island creating a single channel where the depth was suitable for ships to enter harbor, and the landscape was easily defendable in case of amphibious attack.

The island declared independence in 1919 following a vote by the Spanish Government.

### Cold War (1951-1991)

In March 1951, during the cold war, the USSR began its occupation of Punta Castillo as a resupply point for their navy. As the Cold War brewed, the Soviets converted the island into a storage and launch site for multiple experimental WMDs to put added pressure on the US from the Caribbean. Throughout the standoff, the island became a stockpile for Soviet weapons which raised tensions in the ongoing conflict even further.

When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 and the Cold War ended, the Soviet Armed Forces departed the island and left it an independent free state once again. Many of the WMDs that were once stockpiled on the island had been disassembled or destroyed by NATO at the request of the government of Punta Castillo. New caches continue to be discovered, suggesting the Soviet's hid many weapons over the course of their 40 year occupation.

### Modern Era (1992-Present)

Following the departure of the Soviet forces from Punta Castillo, the island was able to rebound quickly from its economic struggles due to the increased mining production ability. The micronation opened its borders to foreign corporations which were able to partner with the smaller family run mining companies in order to provide support both financially and physically.

This mining boom fueled their rapidly growing economy which quickly moved the nation to becoming one of the wealthiest in Latin America. Over the years, many foreign citizens have decided to establish homes in Punta Castillo and have even moved their businesses over, further contributing to the nation's blossoming economy.

## Gangs and Cartels

Although Punta Castillo experienced extreme growth economically, there were not enough enforcement authorities to ensure companies followed regulation. As such, many gangs and cartels moved into the island to take advantage of the power vacuum created by the inexperienced government. One of the most notable gangs on Punta Castillo are the Cabán gang, a large cartel organization that controls many of the private mining operations in the region.

## Travel

Access to the island is limited by air due to the restrictive size of the southern airport. Most visitors travel in by boat, especially many tourists who arrive by cruise. Due to rising ocean levels, much of the island's coral reefs are far too deep to cause damage to ships travelling in, which makes sea-based travel far more accessible year round.

Air travel can be achieved by flying a private chartered flight from Cuba. Due to the limited size and irregularities of the runway in Punta Castillo, only a handful of skillful pilots even attempt the difficult landing and takeoff process, as such only a couple flights are chartered every month.