Melena del Sur is a town and a municipality located south of the Mayabeque Province, in Cuba. Bordered on the north and northwest by San José de las Lajas, on the east by the municipality of Güines, and west by Batabanó and by the south by the Gulf of Batabanó. In the south shore is located the only beach in the town, Mayabeque Beach. In this beach is the old outlet of the Mayabeque River (called Antiguo Mayabeque). Geography The municipality is divided into 5 popular councils (wards or quarters), named after the most important towns, which are: Melena del Sur, Mañalich, Guara, Lechuga and Monte-Zapote. Its population exceeds 20,000 inhabitants of whom about half live in the town. In the beach area just live few permanent residents and then some fishermen, it is usually a recreation area. With the holiday season, during the months of July and August this move to a large number of people seeking the enjoyment of the water in the company of family and friends. The start of the holiday season is marked by activities organized by the inauguration of the Government in the locality. History The foundation date is from the first years of the second part of the 18th century. In 1768 is the origin in terrain of the llanura of Güines, in the Corral «Melena del Sur» o «San Juan». The 14 of January 1878 is marked the "Ayuntamiento of Melena del Sur", and reorganized in the year 1899. Foundation: There are several versions regarding the meaning of the name Melena, which is home to some Greek (Melaine: black) and was the predominant color of some of its most fertile land. Most likely due to the name of a place of early settlers who founded the San Juan de Melena corral, where he later built the first house, which led to the current town. Still debate about whether it was on its shores or in neighboring Batabanó where he first founded the city of Havana in 1515 before being transferred to the northern coast. As a result, the municipal coat of arms is the Latin phrase "HAVANA PRIMO HIC EST CONDIT", i.e.: Here was first founded Havana. On the local People's Power Municipal is the direction of local government and is composed of several units which yield information on the progress of work as the economy, services, sports, culture, recreation, etc. Relations