Venezuela
Venezuela is a nation in South America with a long northern border on the Caribbean Sea. Venezuela shares land borders with Guyana to the east, Brazil to the south and Colombia to the west.
Fast Facts:
- Capital: Caracas
- Government: Federal Republic1
- Population: 26,414,816 (July 2008 est.)2
- Currency: Venezuelan Bolivar Fuerte (VEF)
- Calling code: +58
- Official language: Spanish
- Highest point: Pico Bolivar (5007 m)3
- Religion: Roman Catholic4
- Climate: Semi-arid with dry vegetation in the lowlands, hot tropical climate along the mountain areas5
- Contains some of the largest oil and natural gas reserves in the world6
- One of the oldest democracies in South America4
Geography
Venezuela is located close to the equator and has a warm, tropical climate. Most of the nation's inhabitants live in cities and urban environments located on the northern coast, such as the capital Caracas. Southern Venezuela contains the northern reaches of the Amazon Rainforest; Angel Falls, the highest waterfall in the world, is located in Amazonian Venezuela.
Brief History
Venezuela was formerly part of the Spanish Empire, and achieved its independence as part of Gran Colombia, a region that also comprised the present-day nations of Ecuador, Colombia, Panama. Venezuela broke away from Gran Colombia in 1830 to become an independent nation. In recent years, the leader of Venezuela, President Hugo Chavez, has nationalized key industries in the country and opposed United States military activities in Iraq and elsewhere.
Related Pages on Mahalo
Hugo Chavez | Caribbean Sea | Guyana | Brazil | Colombia | Trinidad & Tobago | Grenada | St. Lucia | Barbados | Cuba | Angel Falls | Peter the Great Warship | Cheap Hotels Caracas
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