Mariel

Mariel is a town and bay on the north coast of Cuba approximately 40 kilometres west of the city of Havana. On the east side of the bay are a port, cement works and a power station. On the west side of the bay is a former submarine base, now designated as a free trade zone. In 1980, some 120,000 Cubans left Mariel and went to the United States in what is known as the Mariel boatlift; they are referred to as "Marielitos".

Mariel Hemingway is named after the town.