<Tr> <Th> Average precipitation cm (inches) </Th> <Td> (1) </Td> <Td> 2.3 (0.9) </Td> <Td> (1.2) </Td> <Td> 3.3 (1.3) </Td> <Td> 9.1 (3.6) </Td> <Td> 5.3 (2.1) </Td> <Td> 2.8 (1.1) </Td> <Td> 4.8 (1.9) </Td> <Td> 8 (3) </Td> <Td> 13 (5.1) </Td> <Td> 4.6 (1.8) </Td> <Td> 2.8 (1.1) </Td> <Td> 61.5 (24.2) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="14"> Source: Weatherbase </Td> </Tr> <P> The United States first seized Guantánamo Bay and established a naval base there in 1898 during the Spanish--American War in the Battle of Guantánamo Bay In 1903, the United States and Cuba signed a lease granting the United States permission to use the land as a coaling and naval station . The lease satisfied the Platt Amendment; this amendment stated a naval base at "certain specific points agreed upon by the President of the United States" was needed to "enable the United States to maintain independence of Cuba ." </P> <P> The bay was called Guantánamo by its original inhabitants, the Taínos . Christopher Columbus landed in 1494, naming it Puerto Grande . On landing, Columbus' crew found Taíno fishermen preparing a feast for the local chieftain . When Spanish settlers took control of Cuba, the bay became a vital harbor on the south side of the island . </P>

How did us get a base in cuba