city, western Cuba, located on the Isla de la Juventud in the Caribbean Sea just south of the Cuban mainland. The city is situated on the western bank of the Las Casas River about 6 miles (10 km) above its mouth on the northern coast of the island. The city and its harbour are the principal market and export centre for the agricultural products of the island: citrus fruits (grapefruit, oranges, tangerines), mangoes, melons, and other tropical fruits. Marble dimension stone and kaolin, used in the making of porcelain, are produced locally as well. For three centuries the island was the haunt of pirates of many nationalities, and it was not until 1830 that the city of Nueva Gerona was founded by Francisco Dionisio Vives. A museum and planetarium just south of the city contain archaeological exhibits of the island's history. Pop. (2002) 46,923.