Why was the Cuban missile crisis so significant in the cold war

The Cuban missile crisis was the peak of the cold war. America discovered that the Soviet union was sending nuclear missiles to its ally, Cuba. This was such a big deal because these long range missiles could reach to almost every major American city. Not to mention that Cuba is only 90 miles away from the coast of Florida.

It was the climax moment that ignited the cold war or the moment of the war where physical war seemed the most possible, it caused fear amongst the countries. The threat of war was still in the air after World War 2 just ending.