city, eastern Cuba. It is situated on Levisa Bay, a nearly landlocked arm of the Atlantic Ocean, at the base of the Lengua de Pájara peninsula. Nicaro is Cuba's major centre for the refining of nickel (nickel processing) and cobalt from nickel oxide, which is mined nearby in the foothills of the Sierra del Cristal. Other economic activities include motor repairing and the processing of dairy products; the city is also the home port of a small fishing fleet. Nicaro is connected by road with other coastal cities, and there is an airport on the peninsula southeast of the city. The area was the scene of major fighting in 1958 during Fidel Castro's revolt against the regime of Fulgencio Batista. Pop. (latest est.) 9,506.