Country Information on Venezuela 

Terrain

Venezuela is situated in a tropical zone and is naturally divided into three major geographical areas. The Andes and the Cordillera de la Costa, where Venezuela's highest peak, Pico Bolivar (5,007 m), is also located, are in the west and the north respectively. The Orinoco Lowlands (Llanos del Orinoco) are covered with treeless tropical grassland in the east, while in the south-east and south, the Guayana Highlands that are dominated by sandstone-covered rock formations, extend right into Brazil and Guyana. The north-west of Venezuela is dominated by the lowlands around Maracaibo, where Lake Maracaibo is also situated, which stretch up to the sea at the Gulf of Venezuela. The "Tepuy" mountains in the highlands and the Sarisariñama sink holes are unique natural features. Angel Falls in the east of the highlands is the world's highest waterfall, falling about 1,000 m. The longest mountain ranges are the Sierra Parima and the Sierra Pacaraima at the border with Brazil.

Climate

The climate is tropical in the Llanos and along the coast; it is temperate in mountainous regions. Mean temperatures in Caracas and Maracaibo are 18°C/27°C in January and 20°C/29°C in July. The dry season lasts from December to April.

Fauna/Flora

Forests containing tropical plants, such as palms, natal coral trees, mango trees and Brazil wood, cover a third of the country's surface. Plants typical of temperate zones also grow above 900 m. The plains are covered with grassland; in the Orinoco delta mangrove swamps are common. Venezuela has a great variety of fauna, with mammals such as the jaguar, monkey, sloth, ocelot, bear, deer and armadillo. Common bird species include flamingos, herons, ibises and guacharos. Reptiles include crocodiles and large snakes such as the anaconda and the boa.

History/Politics

Several indigenous ethnic groups lived in the area of present-day Venezuela before the Spanish conquistadores discovered the land. The oldest finds date from approximately BC 15,000. Christopher Columbus discovered the coast on his third voyage in 1498. Amerigo Vespucci named the country Venezuela (Little Venice) because of the Native American buildings on stilts. Spanish settlement started in 1520. Caracas was founded in 1567 and some time later it became the seat of the governor. The colonial period saw Venezuela turn into a General Captaincy of great agricultural importance. Even before the freedom fighters Simón Bolívar and Francisco de Miranda, there had been attempts to gain independence in 1797 and in 1806.

However, it was only gained after the revolution of 1810. Independence was declared on 5 July 1811 and first republic was established, which was later put to an end by the royalist army. Bolivar succeeded in re-gaining the country's independence in 1819. He established Greater Colombia, a confederation of Panama, Columbia, Venezuela and Ecuador, which was in turn dissolved in 1830. In 1917, oil was found in Venezuela, which rapidly became a decisive factor in the country's economy. Revenues from exports helped Venezuela to develop into one of the most modern states in South America. In 1945, after General Isaías Medina Angarita's dictatorship had ended, Dr. Rómulo Betancourt of the social democratic Acción Democrática (AD) became the interim president.

A new constitution was adopted and the first direct elections were held in 1947, as a result of which Rómulo Gallegos, writer and founder of the Acción Democrática, became president. He took office in February 1948 only to be overthrown in November of the same year in a military coup. A new government was formed, which soon became the dictatorship of Marcos Pérez Jiménez. Pérez was ousted by popular uprising in 1958 and a democratic coalition government was then formed. The poor economic situation of the lower classes resulted in guerrilla movements, which were successfully dealt with by Rafael Caldera soon after his election as president in December 1968.

Caldera's economic policy was to nationalize foreign businesses, including oil companies under the government of Carlos Andrés Pérez. In 1988 international oil prices fell again, which destabilized the country's economy and political situation. The re-elected President Carlos Andrés Pérez was forced to introduce measures which lead to riots and looting. There was an attempted coup in 1992 and its leaders were imprisoned. One of them, Hugo Chávez, won the 1998 presidential elections, with the highest voter turnout in 40 years. Despite a series of opposition uprisings and protests calling for his resignation, Chávez is still in power.

Economy

The standard of living in Venezuela is among the highest in South America. Oil is the main source of revenue. In 1993, however, there was an economic crisis, seeing inflation rise to almost 70% and the gross national product decrease. The government quickly implemented measures to control the situation and the economy recovered. About 12% of Venezuela's workforce is employed in agriculture. The most important agricultural products are sugar cane, bananas, maize, rice, millet, manioc, coffee, cocoa, and citrus fruits. Livestock is raised mainly on the plains and mainly consists of cattle, pigs, and goats. Since the 1960s, the government has given high priority to the development of the manufacturing sector, mainly in Caracas and Ciudad Guayana, an important centre of production. Venezuela's main commodities are oil, steel, aluminium, metal products, artificial fertilizers, cement, tyres, motor vehicles, processed foods, beverages, clothing, and furniture. In 2003, the inflation rate was 34.1% and the unemployment rate was 21.2%.

Culture

The fine arts and handicrafts are very important in Venezuela, but the country's most distinctive cultural characteristic is probably its music, which is a blend of European, African and indigenous rhythms. Theatre is growing in popularity, and there is an active literary scene, especially among the younger generation. The country's most important festival is carnival, which takes place on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. The music, dances, parades and masks all vary from region to region. Carúpano is the town that is most well-known for its carnival celebrations.