The city is the most important in Venezuela. Kings and cabbage or the history of Venezuela

Spanish colonization

Making his third voyage to the shores of the New World, he discovered the northern coast South America, and already in 1499, the Spanish conquistador Alonso de Ojeda arrived there. In the Maracaibo lagoon, the conquerors saw two dozen Varao Indian huts built on stilts and connected by bridges. To a native of Italy, Amerigo Vespucci, who arrived with the Spaniards, they reminded the city of lagoons - Venice, and he called the pile village little Venice, or Venezuela in Spanish. In the mid-16th century, the name Venezuela was worn only by the city of Loro, located at the entrance to the Gulf of Maracaibo. Later the whole country began to be called that.

By the time of the Spanish conquest, the territory of Venezuela was occupied by semi-nomadic Indian tribes who lived in conditions of a primitive communal system and were engaged in hunting, fishing, gathering, and slash-and-burn agriculture. Their tools were very primitive and were made of wood and bone. Most of the country was occupied by the Arawaks Indians, but shortly before the arrival of the Europeans, the Arawaks were forced out of the northern regions to the south by tribes of the Carib Indians.
In 1520, the first Spanish settlement was founded in Venezuela and in South America in general - Cumana. In the second half of the 16th century, Caracas, Valencia, Merida and other cities were founded. In the 18th century, having mastered the north and north-west of the country, the Spaniards moved south - to Llanos and the Orinoco. By that time, many of the Indians who resisted had been exterminated, many had died from epidemics of measles and smallpox, and most of the surviving Indians had gone deep into the jungle.

The conquistadors and early Spanish settlers took Indian women as wives. The offspring of these marriages - mestizos - had greater immunity to diseases introduced by Europeans. In connection with the development of the plantation economy from the end of the 16th century until the beginning of the 19th century, black slaves were imported into the areas of sugar cane, tobacco and indigo plantations. The mixing of blacks with whites led to the appearance of mulattoes, and the mixing of blacks with Indians led to the appearance of sambo. This is how a rather motley in its own way was formed. anthropological type composition of the country's population.

In 1528, Emperor Charles V sold the right to colonize the Venezuelan coast from Cape Vela to Maracapana to the Bavarian bankers the Welsers of Augsburg, to whom he owed large sums. According to the terms of the agreement, the Welsers were to develop the area and establish several settlements. However, instead, their agents searched for the mythical Eldorado, and along the way they robbed and enslaved the Indians. In 1556, the Welser rights were revoked and the area returned to the rule of the Spanish crown. After this, the process of colonization of the coast by the Spaniards intensified significantly. In 1567, Diego de Losada founded Caracas.

The economy during the colonial period was limited to agriculture, mainly the cultivation of cocoa and tobacco and to a small extent cattle breeding. Venezuela has become one of the centers of piracy and smuggling; The British and Dutch were most actively involved in this activity. In 1546, East Coast was included in the captaincy general of Santo Domingo and was under the jurisdiction of the corresponding administrative-judicial panel - the audience. When the Viceroyalty of New Granada was created in 1718, it included Western and southern provinces Venezuela; in 1777, the territory of modern Venezuela was reunited under the newly formed Captaincy General of Caracas.

Independence

The first decisive attempt to achieve independence from Spain was made by Venezuela. In 1810, the Creoles (that is, Spaniards born in the New World) who were part of the Caracas city council overthrew the Spanish Captain General and created a Supreme Government Junta. At first, this junta nominally ruled on behalf of King Ferdinand VII of Spain, who was overthrown by Napoleon in 1808. However, after the rebels were declared rebels and the colony of Venezuela was subject to blockade, the National Congress convened in Caracas abandoned the appearance of loyalty to the Spanish crown and officially declared independence on July 5, 1811.

The first attempt at independence ended in defeat in July 1812, when Spanish troops began to reassert their dominance over the area. The defeat of independent Venezuela was greatly facilitated by the natural disaster that struck it in March 1812 - a strong earthquake, after which the clergy, who for the most part opposed the ideas of independence, were not slow to declare it God's punishment for disobedience to legal authorities. Francisco Miranda, commander-in-chief of the revolutionary army, tried to negotiate peace with the Spanish command, but betrayed and framed by Simon Bolivar, he fell into the hands of the Spaniards and was taken to Spain, where he died in prison.

Spanish dominance in Venezuela was restored following the arrival of a large Spanish force there in 1815. Bolivar, who could not resist the strong Spanish army, fled to Haiti. However, in 1816, having collected a strong army with the money of sponsors, he returned to the continent and captured the area of ​​​​the lower reaches of the Orinoco River. Bolivar's position was strengthened in October 1818, when a congress convened in the city of Angostura (now Ciudad Bolivar) proclaimed him President of the Republic of Venezuela. After the liberation of New Granada (modern Colombia) from Spanish rule, Congress reconvened in December 1819 and declared the unification of New Granada and Venezuela under the name Gran Colombia (in 1822, Ecuador joined the federation). Bolivar was proclaimed president of the united republic. In June 1821, the Spanish army was defeated in a decisive battle in the Carabobo Valley, which cemented the success of the Republican government.

Republican period

In 1830, shortly before Bolívar's death, Venezuela seceded from Gran Colombia and formed an independent republic with its capital in Caracas. The hero of the revolution, General José Antonio Páez, became the first president of the republic and remained the most prominent figure on the political scene of Venezuela until 1846. He maintained good relations with the Catholic Church and promoted the development of trade, agriculture and education. Venezuela's political history was relatively calm until the late 1850s, when the Federal War of 1859-1863 broke out between conservative and liberal partisans. In 1870, Antonio Guzman Blanco, a representative of the Liberal Party, came to power and ruled until 1887.

In 1887, general dissatisfaction with Guzmán Blanco's rule forced him to resign as president. After this, for several years there was a struggle between various contenders for this post, until the rise to power of General Joaquín Crespo ushered in a relatively short period (1892-1899) of peace and order. The most important event of this period was the end of the 50-year border dispute between Venezuela and British Guiana. The disputed territory had no value until gold was discovered in the area in 1895. US President Grover Cleveland stated that British claims to Venezuelan territory were a violation of the Monroe Doctrine; Under threat of war, Great Britain was forced to agree to international arbitration. The proceedings ended with the annexation of most of the disputed territory to British Guiana, and Venezuela received the Orinoco Valley.

Soon after this crisis, power in Venezuela passed into the hands of Cipriano Castro, who established a personal dictatorship (1899-1908). He inherited a huge public debt from the previous administration. And by concluding new loan agreements, he further increased the burden of external debt. In 1902, Venezuela refused to recognize the claims of foreign creditors seeking payment of government debts. In response, Great Britain, Germany and Italy, with the tacit consent of the United States, blockaded Venezuelan ports. Faced with such an open show of force, Venezuela was forced to yield, and the creditors' claims were settled by transferring to them 30% of the customs duties of La Guaira and Puerto Cabello.

Dictatorship of Gomez (1908-1935). In 1908, taking advantage of the absence of Castro, who had gone to Europe for treatment, Vice President Juan Vicente Gómez carried out a coup; from that moment until his death in 1935, he remained unchallenged as head of state. Gomez achieved stability in the government and began to pay off the huge national debt. When huge oil reserves were discovered in Venezuela, Gomez took into account the experience of Mexico, which had experienced great difficulties in a similar situation, and asked various foreign oil companies to submit proposals for the joint development of oil wealth in order to choose the most profitable one. Calling on experts for help, he was able to conclude agreements that ensured Venezuela's prosperity and allowed it to fulfill all its financial obligations. Venezuela has become the only country in the world that has no debt. However, Gomez's death in 1935 caused widespread rejoicing. His successor as head of state was the former Minister of War, General Eleazar Lopez Contreras.

Progress period

Lopez Contreras led the country to a new life, while avoiding any violent measures. Work has begun in the country to implement programs for education, health care, and improve the organization of public works. Unlike his predecessors, López Contreras refused to stand for a second term, and in 1941, he was replaced as president by General Isaias Medina Angarita. Under him, the slow movement towards agrarian reform continued, more profitable contracts were concluded with foreign oil companies, and even the Communist Party of Venezuela was resolved. However, Medina Angarita's program largely did not satisfy the young reformers of the liberal Democratic Action (DA) party, founded in 1941. Despite the changes in the highest echelons of the executive branch, many of those who provided tacit support for the Gomez regime retained their posts.

Revolution of 1945 and its consequences

On October 18, 1945, a revolution occurred in the country, marked by armed clashes in Caracas. A new government was created, headed by the young leader of the DD Romulo Betancourt. The government he formed consisted of young people, with seven of the eleven cabinet members having been educated in the United States. For the first time, the post of Minister of Agriculture was an expert in this field, who focused his efforts on introducing methods of efficient land use. It is in this area that the government has encountered difficulties. Oil companies paid workers high wages, which forced farmers to abandon their farms. The need to import food products has made the cost of living in Venezuela one of the highest in the world. At one time, Gomez confiscated small farms to create huge cattle ranches in their place. The new government announced that these ranches would be divided into small holdings, the owners of which would be trained in the most efficient farming methods, which should benefit the country as a whole.

In October 1946, national elections of members of the Constituent Assembly took place. Both in these elections and in the subsequent ones (in December 1947), the DD candidates won a decisive victory. In 1947, Romulo Gallegos, a famous writer and committed reformer, was elected president. His period in power was marked by active political activity of parties and groups. At the same time, the MM's impressive electoral victories, the aggressive rhetoric of its leaders and far-reaching reform programs caused a growing alienation of influential groups, including some of the clergy and the military. This resulted in a military coup that overthrew President Gallegos in November 1948. A military junta led by former Defense Minister Colonel Carlos Delgado Chalbo came to power. He was assassinated in 1950, but before that he managed to outlaw both the DD and the free press. His place was taken by Germán Suárez Flamerich, but in fact control of the government was in the hands of Colonel Marcos Pérez Jiménez.

To maintain a semblance of democracy, the junta drew up a complex plan for holding elections for a Constituent Assembly, which in turn would elect a president. Electoral boards were appointed whose tasks included registering voters and compiling lists. However, voters themselves showed no interest in this. Finally, after direct threats from the government to impose dire penalties on those who did not register and vote, elections were called for 1952. When preliminary results clearly showed the leadership of opponents of the junta, the military authorities suspended the elections and declared Perez Jimenez president. In 1953, the Constituent Assembly confirmed him in this post for a five-year term.

Reign of Perez Jimenez

The dictator harshly suppressed any attempt to criticize his regime. Liberals were forced to go underground or leave the country, and the secret police carried out mass arrests and tortured political prisoners. However, until the end of 1957, the reign of Perez Jimenez seemed quite stable. When the time for national elections approached, Pérez Jiménez imprisoned all the opposition figures he knew, including the leader of the Social Christian Party, Rafael Caldera Rodriguez. In December 1957, a plebiscite was held, with Pérez Jiménez the only candidate. Towards the end of January 1958, unrest began on the streets of Caracas, which ended in two days of terror, when about 300 people were killed by the police. A group of officers led by Admiral Wolfgang Larrazabal, commander of the navy, seized power, and Perez Jimenez fled to the United States.

Larrazabal put at the head of the country a Provisional Government Junta, which included military and civilians, which was supported by the leader of the underground, Fabricio Ojedo. Leaders of the opposition parties Romulo Betancourt and Jovito Villalba, as well as Rafael Caldera, returned from exile. A provisional government junta led by Larrazabal exercised executive power in the country until the presidential elections in December 1958. In these elections, former President Rómulo Betancourt, leader of the DD, won, ahead of Caldera and Larrazabal.

Democratic government

The new administration restored the country's credibility in the international arena, undermined by the Jimenez regime, social welfare and public education programs were launched, and measures were taken to attract foreign investment. In 1960, a land reform law was passed, according to which 700 thousand peasants received their own land plots. Throughout Betancourt's five years in power, extremists on the right and left continually tried to overthrow the government with support from abroad. In 1960, the Organization of American States (OAS) voted to impose sanctions against Dominican Republic, then under the rule of dictator Rafael Trujillo, for helping right-wing extremists organize an assassination attempt on President Betancourt.

Despite the unrest and terrorism, regular elections were held in December 1963, in which about 90% of voters took part. Dr. Raoul Leoni, a candidate from the DD and a longtime associate of Betancourt, was elected president. In 1968, Rafael Caldera Rodriguez, candidate of the Social Christian Party, succeeded Leoni as president, and his victory in the elections was predetermined by a split in the ranks of the DD. In 1974, the DD returned to power with the victory of its candidate, Carlos Andres Perez, in the 1973 presidential elections. The Perez government carried out the nationalization of iron ore and oil companies in 1975-1976. Thanks to a significant increase in government revenues, mainly due to higher oil prices on world markets, and thanks to the fact that the DD controlled both houses of the National Congress, Perez was able to launch a number of new programs. In 1978, Luis Antonio Herrera Campins, a candidate from the Social Christian Party, was elected president. During his reign, the country's economy suffered a prolonged decline, even as government revenue from oil exports nearly doubled. Venezuela's external debt has tripled to more than $34 billion, and the cost of living has almost doubled. In 1983, DD candidate Jaime Lusinchi won the presidential elections by a large margin. Faced with falling world oil prices and the need to pay large sums in foreign debt interest and debt repayments, Lusinchi imposed an austerity regime on the country that prolonged the recession but enabled Venezuela, alone among Latin American countries, to fully and promptly pay off with foreign creditors. However, new loans from foreign banks could not be obtained, and when economic growth resumed in 1986, the need to finance enterprises generated inflation, which led to prices doubling within two years.

In the 1988 elections, the DD candidate, former President Carlos Andres Perez, was elected by a significant majority. By this time, the country's per capita income was less than 77% of its 1977 level, and the value of the Venezuelan currency was international market decreased by almost 90% in 5 years. Since the country's foreign exchange reserves were almost completely exhausted, Peres had to agree to the IMF's demands and immediately introduce austerity regime after taking office. The unpopular measures he took caused unrest in Caracas; according to official figures, about 300 people died, and according to unofficial figures, more than a thousand. The introduction of an austerity regime had the desired effect - foreign creditors agreed to provide new loans to Venezuela, but this did not affect the existing negative attitude of the population towards the government in general and towards Perez personally.

Unsuccessful economic policies gave rise to general discontent, the manifestations of which the government fought with force. In this situation, various political movements arose, both right and left, and ferment began in the armed forces. In 1990–1991, anti-government protests grew, culminating in a general strike on November 7, 1991. Inspired by the national upsurge, patriotic elements among the junior officers rallied under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Hugo Chavez. On February 4, 1992, Chavez led a failed coup attempt.

Fearing a second coup attempt, the leaders of the DD and KOPEY parties formed the government of National Unity in April 1992, but three months later the representatives of KOPEY resigned from the cabinet. The second, also unsuccessful, coup attempt was made on November 27 of the same year. Since 1990, there has been some economic recovery, partly due to feverish privatization. In 1991, economic growth reached 10%, and in 1992 - 9%. However, by the end of 1992, growth slowed and inflation remained at 30%. In March 1993, Venezuela's attorney general asked the Supreme Court to bring the president to trial on charges of embezzling $17 million in government funds. The court made a positive decision, and in May 1993, the National Congress decided to remove Perez from his duties as head of state, which were transferred to the interim president.

In December 1993, the next presidential elections were held, which were won by Rafael Caldera Rodriguez. This old man caused the displeasure of the leadership of his own party - KOPEY, because in his speeches and statements he supported and encouraged the political activity of the military. In June 1993, he was expelled from the party because he insisted on running for president against KOPEY's intended candidate. As a result, he stood as an independent candidate, receiving support from the Convergence coalition, which united small left-wing or populist parties. However, the DD and KOPEY, forced to unite in the legislative field, retained their majority in Congress.

When Caldera Rodriguez took office in early 1994, he faced the thankless task of satisfying the conflicting demands of his impoverished and disillusioned constituents, and of investors and creditors who could plunge the country into an even deeper economic crisis. by delaying payments or withdrawing investments from banks. Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, the National Congress (in which the three main parties agreed - DD, COPEY and MAS) granted emergency powers to the new president to carry out tax reforms and a number of other economic measures.

However, the crisis continued to deepen. There was an outflow of capital, and a number of banks declared insolvency. Crime increased sharply, and prisoner riots occurred every now and then in overcrowded prisons. Former President Jaime Lusinchi, accused of corruption in 1993, was acquitted, but former President Perez was placed under house arrest, and in 1996, the Supreme Court found him guilty of illegally spending public funds. In 1995, both houses of Congress passed a law allowing the participation of foreign multinational companies in the activities of enterprises in the oil sector. The coalition supporting the president failed in municipal and local government elections. The economic crisis continued, and despite popular protests in the form of mass demonstrations, in 1996, Caldera Rodriguez agreed to the demands of the IMF and began restructuring the economy, providing loans of 1.4 billion dollars. New loans were received from the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, and private investment also increased sharply. All these capital inflows, along with a short-term increase in oil prices, made it possible to overcome the economic recession that gave way to recovery in 1997.

Meanwhile, Hugo Chavez, who spent two years in prison after his failed military coup attempt, was released and began to build his own electorate, appealing mainly to the poor for support. His supporters united in the so-called “Fifth Republic Movement” (FRM). Chavez's candidacy for the presidential elections in December 1998 was supported, in addition to the DPR, by the MAS and a coalition of small left-wing groups.

In the parliamentary elections of November 1998, the pro-Chávez coalition Patriotic Pole, consisting of his Fifth Republic Movement (MRF), the Movement towards Socialism (MAS), the Homeland for All Party and other groups, received about 34% of the vote and won 76 of the 189 seats in Chamber of Deputies and 17 of 48 seats in the Senate. The DD remained the largest of the individual parties (55 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 19 in the Senate). KOPEY received only 27 deputy and 7 Senate seats. In the elections of governors of the states and the capital district, Patriotic Pole and DD each won 8 posts, KOPEY - 5. The presidential elections that followed in December 1998 turned out to be a real political earthquake. They demonstrated the decline of the influence of the DD and KOPEY, which dominated the country for almost 40 years. The result of their rule was corruption, increased poverty and a sharp deterioration in basic public services, including health and education. Despite Venezuela's oil wealth, more than 80% of the population lived in poverty, 40% even below the subsistence level.

Reign of Hugo Chavez

On the wave of general discontent, Hugo Chavez won the presidential election (56.2% of the vote), far ahead of his rivals - banker and former governor Enrique Salas Roemer (39.9%) and "Miss Universe 1981" Irena Saez (2.8% ). The traditional parties DD and COPEY refused to nominate their own candidates and expressed support for Salas. Having assumed the presidency on February 2, 1999, Hugo Chavez refused to take an oath on the 1961 constitution, declaring it “dead.” He announced his intention to achieve the adoption of a new constitution, which was supposed to provide for a profound reform of the entire political, legal and economic system, and the fight against poverty and corruption. Chavez proclaimed the beginning of a “peaceful revolution” and threatened to dissolve Congress and the Supreme Court if they resist the planned changes. Chavez's socio-economic policy did not provide for a fundamental rejection of market mechanisms, the regime of "austerity" and economic orientation towards the United States, and did not imply the nationalization of major industries and finance.

At the same time, the new authorities sought to increase state intervention in the economic and social sphere. Chavez introduced the Bolivar 2000 Plan, under which 70,000 military personnel and 80,000 government employees were allocated to infrastructure development projects, health care, agricultural education and road construction. At the same time, the government continued its policy of further reducing government spending, including for social needs, limited salary increases in the public sector, so that it lagged significantly behind the growth of inflation, introduced a tax on banking transactions, etc. Chavez's rise to power led to a sharp polarization of political forces. A sharp struggle developed between his authoritarian regime and the old party, legal, business and trade union elites. The President immediately went on the offensive against the legislative and judicial authorities of Venezuela. On February 17, 1999, he demanded the adoption of a law granting him emergency powers. At the end of March, Congress was forced to recognize the president's rights to legislative measures to improve the budget for a period of 180 days, and on April 15 - after Chavez's threats to introduce a state of emergency - additional emergency powers in the economic field.

In April 1999, Chavez held a referendum in which 90% of the participants (only 47% of voters voted) were in favor of convening a Constituent Assembly to develop a new constitution for the country. Assembly elections were held in July, 120 of the 128 seats (another three seats were reserved for Indian communities) were won by supporters of the president, and he was reconfirmed in office. The Supreme Court tried to limit the powers of the Constituent Assembly by ruling that it did not have the power to dissolve democratically elected bodies. However, on August 12, the assembly, ignoring the opinion of the courts, announced the assumption of emergency powers to reform government bodies, and on August 19, it introduced a “state of emergency” in the field of justice. It also decided to conduct an investigation into the activities of all judicial authorities in the country, including the Supreme Court, and also to purge them of persons involved in corruption. After this, the resistance of the Supreme Court was broken, and its chairman, Cecilia Sosa Gomez, resigned. The authorities opened cases against 75 judges at various levels on charges of abuse of office and corruption.

Now the main blow of the Chavez government was directed at the opposition National Congress. On August 25, 1999, the Constituent Assembly decided to strip the Congress of legislative powers; its meetings were banned and a commission was appointed to investigate the activities of deputies and senators. The severity of the conflict was softened by the mediation of the Catholic Church (Hugo Chavez himself is a deeply religious Catholic). According to the compromise reached, Congress was able to resume its meetings on October 1, 1999, but was forced, in essence, to accept its own powerless situation. The Supreme Court rejected the claim of parliamentarians who sought the repeal of emergency laws passed by the Constituent Assembly. Finally, both the assembly and the congress approved the text of the new constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and on December 15, it was approved by a popular referendum. The provisions contained in the text, which provided for the expansion of government intervention in the economy, caused discontent among business organizations.
After the constitution came into force in January 2000, the Constituent Assembly was dissolved and replaced by a temporary congress committee until new elections.

The next conflict arose between the Chavez government and the press. By order of the authorities, an opposition television magazine was closed, which caused violent protests by journalists who accused the regime of violating press freedom. Venezuela's private television channels openly opposed the president. The presidential elections on July 30, 2000, were won by a large margin by Hugo Chavez, who received more than 59% of the votes and began a new term in office on August 19. The president's main rival this time was his former comrade-in-arms in the 1992 military uprising, Lieutenant Colonel Francisco Arias Cardenas, who has now joined the opposition against Chavez. Having united around himself the opponents of the current president, Arias Cardenas collected more than 37% of the votes. 3% went to another opposition candidate, Claudio Fermin. The Patriotic Pole also won the parliamentary and gubernatorial elections, winning 99 seats in the National Assembly and 13 governorships.

In the field of foreign policy, Chavez sought to expand contacts with oil-producing countries and establish cooperation with Cuba, but at the same time did not want relations with the United States, the main consumer of Venezuelan oil, to deteriorate. Throughout 2001, the confrontation between President Chavez and his opponents from among the old elites grew, and the following year resulted in open confrontation. Dissatisfaction among some of the top military circles increased, some of whose representatives publicly called on Chavez to resign. In April 2002, the government replaced the entire leadership of the state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela, and in response, opposition leaders of the Confederation of Venezuelan Workers called for an open-ended general strike. The speech of oil workers and trade unions was supported by entrepreneurs' unions. After clashes broke out in Caracas between hundreds of thousands of supporters and opponents of the president, during which dozens were killed and wounded, military commanders carried out a military coup on April 11. Chavez was forced to resign, after which he was arrested. At the head of the transitional government, the rebel generals installed the President of the Venezuelan Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Associations (the largest association of entrepreneurs), Pedro Carmona. However, most of the army remained loyal to the president, and many hundreds of thousands of his supporters, mobilized by the Bolivarian Committees, took to the streets, mainly in poor areas of cities. As a result of the counter-coup, Chavez returned to power, and his leading opponents were arrested.

The failure of the April coup did not end the political crisis in Venezuela. During the year, the opposition, taking advantage of increasing economic difficulties and inflation, organized four general strikes against the government of President Chavez. The largest of them began in early December 2002 and lasted more than 2 months. The protests were organized by the leaders of the trade union Confederation of Workers of Venezuela and the political bloc "Democratic Coordination". They demanded Chavez's resignation and a referendum on his presidency. But this strike (like the previous one, in October 2003) ended in failure.

Having become president, Hugo Chavez gradually moved away from the policy of good neighborliness with the United States and wanted to carry out the so-called “Bolivarian Revolution” in the country, named after his idol - the liberator of South America Simon Bolivar. Consistent Bolivarianism is one of the hallmarks of Chavez's reign. Bolivarianism is a left-wing political movement that aims to unite countries Latin America into one state based on people's democratic and anti-capitalist values ​​(democratic socialism). The ideology of this movement is to fight against the global dominance of the United States and American corporations, to establish economic sovereignty (anti-imperialism), economic self-sufficiency (which naturally became one of the reasons for antagonism), the fight against corruption, direct democracy - all decisions in the country must be made with participation of the people. In foreign policy, Chavez took a strong anti-American position.

Once upon a time, Arthur Conan Doyle wrote a science fiction novel " lost World", which described the adventures of an English scientific expedition in South America. Few people know that Conan Doyle was inspired to write this novel. National Park Canaima, located in Venezuela. Now Venezuela can hardly be called a “lost world”. Thanks to large oil reserves, coastal recreation infrastructure is rapidly developing in this country Caribbean Sea.

Geography of Venezuela

Venezuela is located on the northern coast of South America. Venezuela is bordered in the west by Colombia, in the east by Guyana, and in the south by Brazil. In the north, the country is washed by the waters of the Caribbean Sea. Total area – 916,445 sq. km., and the total length of the state border is 4,993 km.

Venezuela includes numerous small islands, the largest of which is Margarita Island, which is now a popular South American resort.

The territory of Venezuela can be divided into four physical-geographical regions: the Maracaibo lowlands in the northwest, the mountains in the north, the plains in the central part, and the Guiana Highlands in the southeast. The highest local peak is Bolivar Peak, whose height reaches 4,979 meters.

In the south of the country, in the Canaima National Park, there is the world's highest waterfall - Angel Falls, whose total height is 979 meters.

There are about 1,000 rivers in Venezuela, but most of them are very small. The largest and most important local river is the Orinoco, which is 2,500 kilometers long.

Capital

Caracas is the capital of Venezuela. More than 3.2 million people now live in this city. Caracas, like many other South American cities, was founded by the Spaniards (this happened in 1567).

Official language of Venezuela

There is only one official language - Spanish.

Religion

About 92% of the population is Catholic.

Government structure of Venezuela

According to the Constitution, Venezuela is a federal presidential republic, headed by a President elected for 6 years. Executive power belongs to the President, as well as the Vice-President and ministers.

The unicameral local parliament is called the National Assembly and consists of 162 deputies.

The main political parties are the ESPV (United Socialist Party of Venezuela), the Coalition of Democratic Unity and the Communist Party.

Administratively, the country is divided into 23 states, one Federal District (Caracas region) and Federal Domains (islands in the Caribbean). The states, in turn, are divided into 335 municipalities.

Climate and weather

The climate varies from alpine to humid tropical, with slight temperature changes (the country is located near the equator). Therefore, you can relax in Venezuela all year round.

Cool weather occurs from November to February, especially in high mountain areas. The hottest months are July and August. The average annual air temperature is +30C.

The rainy season is from May to mid-November. However, heavy rains sometimes occur during the dry season, which lasts from December to April.

Sea in Venezuela

In the north, the country is washed by the waters of the Caribbean Sea. The length of the sea coast is 2,800 km. The average sea temperature near the coast from January to March is +26C, and from July to September - +28C.

Rivers and lakes

There are about 1,000 rivers in Venezuela. The largest of them is the Orinoco River, which is 2,500 kilometers long. The Orinoco is considered the eighth longest river in the world and the second in South America (the Amazon is in first place).

Culture

The culture of Venezuela was formed under the influence of local Indians and immigrants from Africa and Europe. For example, after the arrival of the Spaniards in this country, violins and guitars began to be used as folk musical instruments, and after the arrival of Africans, drums began to be used.

The traditional local folk dance is “Joropo”, which has 36 variations of basic steps (it is a pair dance).

The main religious holiday is Christmas, its celebration begins on December 16 and continues until January 6. To this day, during the Christmas season, local musicians go from house to house and perform traditional “aguinaldos” songs.

In February, Venezuela hosts a grandiose Carnival, which, according to some tourists, is no worse than in Brazil.

Venezuelan cuisine

The cuisine of Venezuela was formed under the influence of the culinary traditions of local Indians, French, Italians and Spaniards. Near the sea coast, the menu of Venezuelans is dominated by fish and seafood, while in the interior of the country – corn and rice. A very important part of Venezuelan cuisine is meat (beef, lamb, chicken, etc.).

We recommend that tourists try “Pabellon” (beef stew with rice, black beans and banana), “Hallaca” (beef, chicken or fish soup with potatoes and vegetables), “Pernil” (fried pork with garlic, vinegar and oregano), “ Chivo al coco (goat meat in coconut milk, served with mashed green bananas), Empandas (fried cornmeal pies with various fillings), Tequeños (long small buns filled with hot cheese or chocolate).

Traditional soft drinks are Batido (very thick fruit juice), Cocada (milkshake made from coconut milk, common in coastal areas), Frescolita (similar to cream soda).

Traditional alcoholic drinks are Chicha (fermented drink with rice, milk and sugar), rum and beer.

Attractions

The most important tourist attraction in Venezuela is Angel Falls, which is the tallest waterfall in the world. Every year tens of thousands of tourists from different countries peace. True, to get to this waterfall, you first need to overcome a road through the jungle, about 3 kilometers long.

Venezuelan national parks are of great interest to tourists, the best of them being the National Parks of Avila, Mochima, Medanos de Colo, Morocoy, Canaima, Enri Pitié, La Mucuy, El Avila and Sierra Nevada.

In Medanos de Colo National Park, tourists can see real sand dunes, characteristic of Asian and African countries. It is very unusual to see them in a tropical country. But the strangest thing is that the height of these dunes often reaches 40 meters, and they disappear very quickly. The reason for this is the constant wind.

We also recommend visiting Canaima National Park. Many of us have read Conan Doyle's novel The Lost World. So, it was the Venezuelan Canaima National Park that inspired the famous Englishman to write this novel.

Pay attention to the Orinoco River Delta with its untouched tropical forest nature. Such beautiful jungles with unique flora and fauna cannot be found in any other country in the world.

Cities and resorts of Venezuela

The largest big cities– Maracaibo, Caracas, Valencia, Ciudad Guayana, Maracay, Barquisimeto and Barcelona.

The most famous place in Venezuela for beach holiday is Margarita Island, located in the southern Caribbean Sea. Margarita has a well-developed beach holiday infrastructure, beautiful snow-white beaches, palm trees and excellent conditions for aquatic species sports

There are also excellent beaches in the Mochima National Park. Sandy bays, numerous small islands, snow-white and red sandy beaches await tourists there. This location is excellent for water sports, including diving and sailing.

North of Caracas are the coral islands of the Los Roques archipelago, where the tourism industry has been actively developing in recent years.

Beautiful, secluded beaches can be found in the Morokoi National Park, near which, by the way, there is a rare bird reserve.

Souvenirs/shopping

Typical souvenirs from Venezuela include handicrafts, hammocks, dolls, jewelry, figurines of Indian chiefs, traditional Indian clothing, sandals, Indian bows and arrows, coffee and cocoa.

Office hours

Countries:
The states and largest cities of Venezuela are presented to your attention.

Venezuela

State in northern South America. The population of Venezuela is 27,635,743 people. Venezuela is administratively divided into 23 states, 1 federal district and 1 separate administrative-territorial unit of federal possessions, including most of the islands belonging to Venezuela. The capital is Caracas. The territory area is 916,445 km².

Federal District of Venezuela

A territorial unit of Venezuela that includes the capital of Venezuela - the city of Caracas. Formed in 1999. Area - 433 km². Population - 1,943,901 people.

Cities:

• Caracas - capital of Venezuela. The city, together with the adjacent territory, is allocated to the Federal Capital District, the area of ​​which is 1900 km². Population 3,051,000 people.

Federal possessions of Venezuela

A separate administrative-territorial unit of Venezuela, uniting most of its islands (12 island groups) in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Venezuela. The administrative center is the Los Roques archipelago. Population 2,155 people. The total area of ​​the territory is 342 km².

Island group

• Los Monges Archipelago
• La Tortuga Island
• La Sola Island
• Los Testigos Archipelago
• Los Frailes Archipelago
• Patos Island
• Los Roques Archipelago
• La Blanquilla Island
• Los Hermanos Islands
• Orchila Island
• Las Aves Archipelago
• Aves Island

States

Amazonas

One of the 23 states of Venezuela. The administrative center of the state is the city of Puerto Ayacucho. Until the beginning of the 20th century, the administrative center was the city of San Fernando de Atabapo. The name of the state comes from the Amazon River, which flows here. The state area is 180,145 km², population is 146,480 people. The most Indian state of Venezuela. Indians make up half of the state's population.

Cities:

• Puerto Ayacucho - Since 1928, the capital of the Venezuelan state of Amazonas. A city with a population of 80 thousand inhabitants, located on the Orinoco River.

Anzoategui

The administrative center of the state is the city of Barcelona. The state's area is 43,300 km², population - 1,469,747 people.

Cities:

• Barcelona - capital of the Venezuelan state of Anzoategui. The population is 424,819 inhabitants.
• Anako - city ​​in the Venezuelan state of Anzoategui. The city is located near a natural gas field and lives primarily at the expense of the state oil and gas company PDVSA. Revenues in this region are the highest in Latin America. They have a decisive influence on the economic direction of the region. Population 124,431 people.

Apure

State of Venezuela. It got its name in honor of the river of the same name. The administrative center of the state is the city of San Fernando de Apure. The state area is 76,500 km², population is 459,025 people.

Cities:

• San Fernando de Apure - a locality in Venezuela, the capital of the state of Apure.

Aragua

State in northern Venezuela. Area - 7014 km². The administrative center is the city of Maracay. Area 7,014 km².

Cities:

• Maracay - city ​​in northern Venezuela. The capital and largest city of the state of Aragua. Population - 396 thousand inhabitants. The city is located 25 km from the Caribbean coast, from which it is separated mountain range, 80 km west of Caracas, 3 km east of Lake Valencia.

Barinas

State of Venezuela. The administrative center of the state is the city of Barinas. The state area is 35,200 km², population is 816,264 people.

Cities:

• Barinas - capital of the Venezuelan state of Barinas. The population is 271,535 inhabitants.
• Barrancas - city ​​and municipality in northeastern Colombia, in the department of Guajira. Population 32,254 people.

Bolivar

State in southeastern Venezuela. Area 238,000 km². Population 1,410,964 people.

Cities:

• Ciudad Bolivar - city ​​in Venezuela. Capital of the state of Bolivar. Population - 338 thousand inhabitants, the second largest city in the state after Ciudad Guayana. The city is located on the right bank of the Orinoco River, 330 km from its mouth, 450 km southeast of Caracas.

Carabobo

One of the 23 states of Venezuela, located in the north of the country, approximately 2 hours drive from Caracas. The administrative center of the state is the city of Valencia, which is the main industrial center of the country. The state covers an area of ​​4,650 km² and has a population of 2,245,744 people.

Cities:

• Valencia - city ​​in northern Venezuela. The capital and largest city of the state of Carabobo. Population - 830 thousand inhabitants (1.3 million within the urban agglomeration). The city is located 30 km from the Caribbean coast (port of Puerto Cabello), 125 km west of Caracas, on a hill 11 km west of Lake Valencia.
• Guacara - a city in Venezuela, the state of Carabobo, the center of the urban district of the same name. Population 142,227 people.
• Los Guayos - a city in Venezuela, the center of the urban district of the same name, located in the Valencia agglomeration. Population - 30 thousand inhabitants.
• Puerto Cabello - city ​​in Venezuela, Carabobo state. Population - 173 thousand inhabitants. The city is located on the shores of the Triste Bay of the Caribbean Sea, 30 km north of the capital of the state of Valencia.

Cojedes

One of the 23 states of Venezuela. The state of Cojedes is divided into 9 municipalities, which in total consist of 15 districts. Population 323,165 people. Area 14,800 km².

Cities:

• San Carlos - administrative center of the state of Cojedes.

Delta Amacuro

One of the 23 states of Venezuela, located in the northeast of the country. The state of Delta Amacuro is divided into 4 municipalities, which in total consist of 22 districts. Population 167,676 people.

Cities:

• Tucupita - administrative center of the state of Delta Amacuro.

Falcon

State in Venezuela. Area - 24,800 km². Population - 902,847 people. The state is named after President Juan Falcon. The administrative center is the city of Koro. The territory area is 24,800 km².

Cities:

• Koro - a city in northwestern Venezuela, the administrative center and largest city of the state of Falcon.
  Population - 174 thousand inhabitants. The city is located on a sandy plain at the base of the Paraguana Peninsula. The port of La Vela de Coro on the Caribbean Sea is located 12 km northeast of the city center.

Guarico

One of the 23 states of Venezuela. The administrative center of the state is the city of San Juan de los Morros. The state's area is 64,986 km², population - 747,739 people.

Cities:

• San Juan de los Morros - a city in central Venezuela, the capital of the state of Guarico. San Juan de los Morros is the fourth largest city in Venezuela by area, but the population density is much lower. According to the census conducted in 2001, the city's population was 103,706 people.

Lara

State in northwestern Venezuela. Area - 19,800 km². Population - 1,774,867 people. The administrative center is the city of Barquisimeto.

Cities:

• Barquisimeto - a city in northwestern Venezuela, the capital and largest city of the state of Lara.
  Population - 1,018,900 inhabitants. Is located in mountain valley the Cardillera de Merida ridge, 260 km west of Caracas, with which it is connected by railway and highway.
• El Tocuyo - city ​​in Venezuela, in Lara. Population - 41 thousand inhabitants. This city is one of the oldest cities in Venezuela.

Merida

State in western Venezuela in the Andes. Area - 11,300 km². Population - 828,592 people. The administrative center is the city of Merida, located at an altitude of 1630 m above sea level.

Cities:

• Merida - city ​​in western Venezuela. The capital and largest city of the state of Merida. The population is about 300 thousand inhabitants, with the suburbs - more than 500 thousand.
• Ejido - it is the third most important city in the state of Merida. Population - 120,000 people. Together with the cities of Tabay and Merida, it forms the Greater Merida agglomeration, which is home to more than 350,000 people. Ejido is the administrative center of the municipality of Campo Elias.
• Bayladores - city ​​and surrounding area in Venezuela. Administrative center of the municipality of Rivas Davila. Population - 16,001 people, employed mainly in agriculture and tourism.

Miranda

One of the 23 states of Venezuela. Enrique Capriles Radonski - governor. The state area is 7950 km², population is 2,675,165 people.

Cities:

• Los Teques - administrative center of the state of Miranda.

Monagas

One of the 23 states of Venezuela. The administrative center of the state is the city of Maturin. The state's area is 28,930 km², population - 905,443 people.

Cities:

• Maturin - city ​​in Venezuela. The city of Maturin is the administrative center of the Venezuelan state of Monagas. The population is 283,318 people. Located at an altitude of 67 meters above sea level.

Nueva Esparta

One of the 23 states of Venezuela. Consists of 3 islands: Margarita, Coche and Cubagua. The administrative center of the state, the city of La Asuncion, is located on Margarita Island. Population 491,610 people. The territory area is 1,150 km².

Cities:

• La Asuncion - a city in Venezuela, the administrative center of the state of Nueva Esparta. Located on Margarita Island, north of the city of Porlamar. Population - 36,806 thousand inhabitants.

Portuguesa

State in northwestern Venezuela. Area - 15,200 km². Population - 876,496 people. The administrative center is the city of Guanare.

Cities:

• Guanare - a city in northwestern Venezuela, part of the state of Portuguesa, municipality of Guanare. Population - 113,000 people.

Sucre

State in northern Venezuela. Area - 11,800 km². Population 896,291 inhabitants. The administrative center of the state is the city of Cumana.

Cities:

• Koumana - city ​​in northeastern Venezuela. The capital and largest city of the state is Sucre.
  Population - 270 thousand inhabitants. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the eastern entrance to the Gulf of Cariaco, 300 km east of Caracas, northeast of the cities of Barcelona and Puerto la Cruz.

Tachira

One of the 23 states of Venezuela. The state's name comes from "tachure", the name of a plant in the Chibcha language. The administrative center of the state is the city of San Cristobal. The territory area is 11,100 km². Population 1,168,908 people.

Cities:

• San Cristobal - a city in western Venezuela, the capital and largest city of the state of Tachira. Population - 307 thousand inhabitants. The city is located on the eastern slopes of the southern part of the Cordillera de Mérida range, part of mountain system Andes.

Trujillo

One of the 23 states of Venezuela. The state area is 7,400 km², population is 686,367 people.

Cities:

• Trujillo - administrative center of the state of Trujillo.

Yarakuy

One of the 23 states of Venezuela. It is located in the north of the country and borders the federal states of Falcon, Lara, Portuguesa, Cojedes and Carabobo. The administrative center of the state is the city of San Felipe. The state area is 7,100 km², population is 600,852 people.

Cities:

• San Felipe - capital of the Venezuelan state of Yaracuy. The population is 103,121 inhabitants. The city is the seat of the Catholic Diocese of San Felipe.

Vargas

State of Venezuela. The administrative center of the state is the city of La Guaira. The state's area is 1,496 km² and its population is 352,920.

Cities:

• La Guaira - city ​​in the north of the Republic of Venezuela. It is the capital of the coastal state of Vargas. Population 275,000 people.

Zulia

One of the 23 states of Venezuela. The administrative center of the state is the city of Maracaibo. The state's area is 63,100 km², population - 3,704,404 people.

Cities:

• Maracaibo - a city in northwestern Venezuela, the capital of the state of Zulia. Population - 1,220,000 inhabitants, the second largest city in the country after Caracas.

Official name - Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela . It has had its current official name since 2000.

Square- 916.5 thousand km 2

Population - 27,730,469 people. (2007).

Official language- Spanish.

Capital- Caracas

National holiday - Independence Day July 5 (1811).

Currency unit- bolivar.

Geography.Venezuela is located in the northern part of South America, between Brazil in the south (total length of the border is about 2200 km), Colombia in the west (2050 km) and Guyana (743 km) in the east. From the north it is washed by the Caribbean Sea (length coastline about 2800 km). Venezuela also owns the islands of Aves, Orchila, Los Hermanos, Los Testigos, Margarita, La Tortuga, Los Roques and Blanquilla, as well as a number of small coral islands (about 72) and reefs (about 200) in the southern Caribbean.

Attractions

Venezuela is one of the most colorful countries in South America. Here, the snowy peaks of the Andes and the Amazon jungle coexist, the beautiful Gran Sabana plateau and almost 3000 km of sandy shores, the most big lake South America - Maracaibo and the third longest river on the planet - Orinoco, the highest waterfall on the planet - Angel and the longest cable car in the world. And all this is surrounded by a luxurious and diverse flora, under whose shelter more than 3,000 species of exotic animals live, including the jaguar, ocelot, tapir, armadillo, anteater and the longest snake in the world - the anaconda.

The bustling capital of Venezuela, multimillion-dollar Caracas, lies at an altitude of about 1000 m, in a picturesque valley on the northern coast of the country. The city was founded by Captain Diego de Losada in 1567 and originally bore the name Santiago de Leon de Caracas, which was composed of the names of the patron saint of Spain - Santiago, the governor Pedro Ponce de Leon and the name of the Indian tribal group that inhabited these land - "Caracas".

Most of the cultural and architectural attractions of Caracas are concentrated in the old part of the city, which is called El Centro. The area surrounding Plaza Bolivar is replete with historical monuments - on the south side of the square rises the building of the Museum of Caracas, on the ground floor of which the Conchejo Municipal (Municipal Council) is located. The museum's collection includes numerous paintings and documents related to the struggle for independence and other significant events of the past. On the eastern side of the square rises a colorful colonial-style cathedral - the Catedral de Caracas (built in 1575, restored in 1666 after the earthquake of 1641).

Just two blocks west along Avenida Universidad lies complex El Capitolio Nacional(1873), in which the country's parliament sits (inside there is a small gallery of all the country's presidents). Directly opposite stands the city's most recognizable church, the Iglesia de San Francisco ( XVI c, one of the oldest churches in Venezuela). The church's whimsical interior contrasts sharply with its neoclassical façade, which was reconstructed in XVIII century, but Iglesia de San Francisco gained its fame as the place where Bolivar was declared a “liberator” in 1813. Now the church and its altar of San Onofre serve as a real place of pilgrimage. Also located within the central part of the city, around Plaza Morellos, often called the "Plaza of the Museums", are the Museum of Modern Art, the Museum of Colonial Art and the Museum of Transport. Also noteworthy is the neo-Gothic church of Santa Capiglia ( XIX c), the monumental Palacio de Miraflor, the colonial district of Petares, the bustling nightlife areas of Las Mercedes, El Rosal, La Floresta and La Castellana, as well as the largest and most modern racetrack in South America - La Rinconada.

There are also many around Caracas interesting places. First of all, it is famous Avila National Park, stretching along the spurs of the ridge of the same name just north of the city. The uninhabited emerald slopes of Avila rise above the city, like a huge green wave frozen in motion. And just 15 km to the north, behind the ridge, stretches the luxurious Caribbean coast - the center of beaches and resort areas.

Andes mountain rangecrosses the entire western part of Venezuela, from the Colombian border to the Caribbean coast. The ridges are formed by three main branches - the Sierra Nevada, Sierra de La Culata and Sierra de Santo Domingo, rising above sea level by almost 5000 meters (the highest point of the country - Bolivar Peak has a height of 5007 m, and the rest are only slightly - almost fall short of this mark). The green mountains of the Sierra Nevada de Mérida are the northernmost tip of the Andes system. Here, small villages stretch for hundreds of kilometers, whose inhabitants still live a traditional way of life, and the mountains themselves, whose foothills are practically bathed in the warm waters of the sea, serve as a well-known attraction for all lovers active rest.

Colorful city Merida, lying in the mountains just 12 km from the high peak country - Pico Bolivar, is one of the most popular tourist centers in Venezuela, with many trails and routes for hiking, trekking and other outdoor activities. The picturesque and bustling student city of Merida was founded in 1558 by the Spaniard Juan Rodriguez Suarez, who named it Santiago de Los Caballeros de Merida. It is now a university city (about 40,000 students), widely known for the proverbial politeness of its people and its parks (there are 28 city parks, more than any other city in Venezuela).

Its attractions include the old district of La Parocchia, the colorful colonial-style airport building, the Jardin Acuario park, the Museum of Science and Technology, the monument to Juan Rodriguez Suarez, the Plaza de Los Geronas, the colorful church in the Rangel del Llano square , University (the largest in the country), Plaza de Toros, Flower Clock, Albarregas Park with the Museum of the sculptor Mariano Pisin Salas, Miranda Viaduct (in a city located at the intersection of several rivers, there are many viaducts and bridges), colorful Mercada street market -Principal de Mérida, the artisanal market of Mercado Artesanal Manuel Rojas Guillen and the Mercado Murache market, the Lagoon of Mucubaja, the well-known “Black Lagoon”, as well as the numerous churches and chapels scattered in abundance throughout the area.

And the hallmark of Merida is the longest and highest cable car on the planet - Teleferico de Merida (1958). It stretches from the city center (altitude 1639 m above sea level) to the top of the second highest peak in Venezuela - Espejo (4765 m), forming a thread of three cables with a length of 12.6 km.

10 km from the town of Apartaderos lies the “condor park” Estacion Biologica Juan Manuel Paz, widely known for its research work on the protection of famous birds.

Most high waterfall planets - Angel (Salto Angel ) is located on one of the branches of the Carrao River (Churun, a tributary of the Caroni River), in the very center of Canaima National Park. With the total height of the ledge being huge mountain range Auyantepui, from which the water erupts, at 979 m, highest height The free fall of water is 807 m, which is 20 times higher than Niagara and 15 times higher than Iguazu. The waterfall was officially discovered in 1935 by American pilot James Angel ( James Crawford Angel ), who conducted air reconnaissance of these places. However, from time immemorial the waterfall was known to the local Pemon Indians under the name Kerepakupai Meru ( Kerepakupai - Meru - "falls at the very deep place "). They believed that a "mawari" (spirit in human form) lived on the mountain, who stole the souls of people, and for this reason the Indians never climbed to the top of the "tepui" and never told Europeans about the waterfall.

Roraima Plateau(“big blue-green mountain”) stretches along the border of Venezuela with Guyana and Brazil for 280 square meters. km. This South part The Guiana Highlands, which includes vast areas occupied by a fantastic mixture of “tepui” and “simas”. Described in Arthur Conan Doyle's novel The Lost World, the plateau is considered by the Indians " center of the earth", for it is here, according to their mythology, that lives goddess Quinn - ancestor of people. The plateau got its name from the very high mountain massif - Roraima (2772 m), but there are many others in the vicinity famous mountains, like Cerro Autana (the sacred mountain of the Piaroa Indians, who believe that this cave-riddled massif, about 1220 m high, is the trunk of a tree through which the juices of the Earth flow), Cerro Pintado, or “Painted Mountain”, (on Several dozen petroglyphs were discovered here on the rock surface, many of which have no analogues on the continent), Serra de La Neblina (“Mountain of Mists”, up to 3014 m), Cerro Sarizarinama with huge canyons at its top (1670 m, " sari-sari" - this is how the local Indians imagine the clanging jaws of a demon living at the top, who supposedly swallows people).

Margaret Island located 40 km from north coast country, forming, together with the islands of Coche and Cubagua, a small archipelago (3 islands, about 70 reefs), which is the independent state of Nueva Esparta. The first European to see the island was Christopher Columbus, whose ships approached the coast of Margarita on August 15, 1498, and the first inhabitant of the Old World to set foot on its land was Pedro Alonso Niño, who exchanged 38 kg of pearls from the Indians, which became the most expensive prey of the Spaniards in XV V. Pearls, for which this island has always been famous, became the reason for its rapid colonization. Since then, pearl banks have faded into the background, although the title “Pearl of Venezuela” remained, and tourism became the main source of income for the islanders - more than a hundred luxury hotels were built on Margarita, long beaches (about 315 km) are considered one of the best in the country, and the absence Manifestations and political conflicts so characteristic of the continental part of the country make holidays here calm and serene.

In the north-west of the country, at the base of the narrow isthmus of Medanos, connecting the Paraguana Peninsula with the continent, is located city ​​of Koro. The city was founded under the name Santa Ana de Coro in 1527 by the Spaniard Juan de Ampies. Thus, Koro competes with Kumano for the title of oldest spanish city on the continent. The first land expeditions in search of the legendary Eldorado were sent from Coro. It also became the first capital of the new Spanish province of Venezuela, although it was quickly leased to Germany and after the end of the Coro Treaty it became an ordinary provincial city, repeatedly plundered by corsairs. Smuggling of goods and profitable geographical location each time led to the city rising from the ruins. And now it is a perfectly preserved colonial city - the only settlement in Venezuela included in the UNESCO World Heritage List (1950).

Maracaibo attracts few tourists. Founded in 1574, it has preserved a fairly limited number of monuments from the colonial era, and those, for the most part, are located outside the city limits. The lake-lagoon of Maracaibo, located next to the city, is known as the main base area for pirates in XV - XVII centuries, is the largest freshwater body of water on the continent (area water mirror about 12,800 sq. km), but oil pollution prevents its use for recreation. However, almost all routes through the region inevitably pass through the Rafael-Urdaneta bridge, which spans the throat of the lake (with a total length of 8679 m - the longest long bridge South America), through the coastal stilt village of Santa Rosa de Agua, famous for its fish restaurants, and past Sinamaic, the place where Amerigo Vespucci named new land, opened to them, Venezuela.

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, or simply Venezuela, is located on the northern coast of South America.

Despite resistance local residents, in 1522, Venezuela was colonized by the Spaniards. It is the first Spanish colony to declare independence in 1811. But until 1830, Venezuela was part of the Republic of Colombia.

Venezuela consists of 23 states, some of which are part of the Federal (Capital) District, and some of which belong to the Federal Domains (including offshore islands).

Although 92% of the country's population identifies as Roman Catholic, relations between the government and the Catholic Church are extremely tense. Some even predict a further breakdown in relations between the Vatican and Venezuela. Since 2006, the Reformed Catholic Church Venezuela. The remaining 8% of the population are either undecided, Protestants, or representatives of other religions.

Since the discovery of huge oil reserves here at the beginning of the twentieth century, Venezuela has been one of the world's exporters of petroleum products. Oil exports account for the majority of government revenue. Along with petroleum products, Venezuela exports coffee and cocoa to the world market.

Capital	Caracas
Population	27,150,095 people
Population density	30.2 people/km 2
	Spanish
Religion	Christianity
Form of government	presidential republic
	Venezuelan Bolivar (VEB)
Timezone
International dialing code
Internet domain zone
Electricity

Climate and weather

The north of the country is located in the tropical trade wind climate zone. The weather here is hot all year round. As you move deeper into the country, the climate changes to subequatorial. Summers are hot and humid, and winters are warm and dry. In general, the temperature in the country does not make sharp changes throughout the year and remains at around +21…+26 °С. Average temperature in January - +19 °С, July - +23 °С. Temperature is also affected by altitude. In lowland areas and on the coast, the air can warm up to +32 °С. And with increasing altitude, the temperature decreases; in the mountains its average value is +8 °С. The same thing happens with precipitation. On the plain their number is equal 250 mm, and in the mountains it falls up to 3000 mm precipitation per year. Venezuela is located away from the zone of formation and movement of tropical hurricanes, thereby not being exposed to their destructive power.

The best time to travel to Venezuela is from November to May, after the end of the rainy season.

Nature

Venezuela can be divided into four regions, differing in topography, climate and vegetation: mountainous areas Andes, depression in the area Lake Maracaibo, the plain Apure and Orinoco rivers, Guiana Highlands. Thanks to this division and the different conditions in the regions, the country's flora is diverse. There are more than 7,000 varieties of wild plants alone. More than 600 tree species grow in the forests - three times more than in Europe. Here you can find black, red, iron, cinchona, and coffee trees. Cypress trees, various types of palm trees, tree ferns, agaves, and cacti are widespread. Mangroves grow in flooded areas.

Extremely rich animal world forests, plains, lakes and rivers of Venezuela. About 20 species of prehensile-tailed monkeys live here, and the Andean bear and coati live in the forests. You can also find anteater, tree porcupine, and armadillo here. Along the river banks you can see tapirs grazing. The savannah is home to large and small rodents, various types of wild goats, small deer, and fallow deer. Predators are represented by the South American raccoon, puma, jaguar and other species of small wild cats. The country has a huge number of poisonous snakes, other reptiles and amphibians. Electric eels, piranhas, and amphibian fish are found in freshwater rivers. In the lower reaches of the Orinoco you can see dolphins.

Attractions

The heart of Venezuela Caracas. The city has a long and rich history, parts of which are preserved in its architecture. Famous place in the city - Simon Bolivar Square. Located on the square Cathedral, built in the 17th century, and the National Pantheon houses the remains of Bolivar himself. Another interesting place to see is the Chapel of St. Rose, where the independence of the state was declared in 1811. Caracas is full of museums, for example:

• Museum of Colonial Art;
• Gallery of National Art;
• Museum of Fine Arts;
• Bolivar Museum;
• transport museum.

City Merida located at an altitude of 1640 meters above sea level. The main attraction of the city is Bolivar Peak, the top of which is crowned by a monument to the national hero of Venezuela.

City Guanare considered the spiritual capital of the state. Here is the temple of the country's patroness Virgen de Coromoto and the monument that was erected in her honor in 1996.

There is something to see in Venezuela and outside the cities. You can go to Canaima National Park. The territory of the park is made up of ancient plateaus, or tepuis. Some of them rise thousands of meters into the air. The world's tallest waterfall is also located here. Somersault Angel. Tourists have the opportunity to take a sightseeing tour of the park by plane. Another picturesque place in Venezuela - Laguna Canaima with numerous waterfalls, which you can sail near on an Indian boat.

Great Savannah located in the southeast of the state of Bolivar. Here you can admire untouched nature. Los Roques National Park is located on the archipelago 168 km from the coast of Venezuela. Most of The park's territory is closed to the public, but open areas are considered the best for diving.

Nutrition

The basis of Venezuelan cuisine is legumes, rice, potatoes, meat, various spices and other vegetables. A popular dish here is flatbread. arepa" The flatbread is served with a variety of fillings, ranging from vegetables to meat.

Since the country has access to the sea, seafood is widely available here. You should definitely try the avocado stuffed with shrimp or real crab meat in white sauce. Oysters in wine sauce and rice with shellfish are widely available.

Dessert is usually served with fruit, of which there is a huge abundance here. It could be guava or strawberries with cream, mango, watermelon, papaya, bananas, guava, oranges. You can also enjoy caramel, pastries or sweets for dessert. Despite the fact that Venezuela is one of the leading exporters of cocoa to the world market, it is extremely difficult to find in the country along with chocolate.

Alcoholic drinks are mainly represented by strong beer, rum, and moonshine made from wheat and rice. There is a large selection of juices from papaya, mango, pineapple, and melon. Coconut juice is popular and is most often drunk through a straw straight from the nut.

All this is consumed as food by the civilized population of the country. Indians have their own dietary habits. For example, they can eat snakes, cockroaches and beetle larvae.

Accommodation

Coming to Venezuela, tourists prefer to rent a hotel room, apartment or house at a local resort Margaret Island. The hotels here are quite expensive, have 4-5 stars and operate on an all-inclusive basis. Renting apartments in a place called Rio Chico. Here in the residential complex " Los Flamingos» You can rent a two-room apartment for only $490 per week. House in a small coastal town Tukakas near the national park will cost $480 per week. Those who love colonial-style living can rent a house in a fishing village for $380 Choroni on the shores of the Caribbean Sea. Moreover, everything is included in the price, even beach towels.

Entertainment and relaxation

Venezuela is suitable for relaxation both for those who like to do nothing on the beach and for those who like an active lifestyle.

The coast of the country is indented with small and cozy bays with snow-white sandy beaches. The best of them are located on the island of Margarita - Manzanillo, Juan Griego, Caribe. A distinctive feature of the beaches is their large area and length.

Large resorts offer tourists canoe and catamaran trips, horseback riding, sailing, diving, and also have golf courses. In the mountains Sierra Nevada de Merida From December to May, ski resorts offer their services.

Since the country abounds national parks and nature reserves, lovers of ecotourism will enjoy excursions around them. Popular places are Guiana Plateau, Angel Falls, Orinoco River, Andean regions.

Venezuela is a colorful country, the people here are cheerful, and therefore the holidays are the same. New Year January 1st is celebrated here. In Venezuela, it is associated with good fortune, luck and the beginning of a new life. Like any other Latin American country, Venezuela is adored carnivals. The main one is held forty days before Easter, is the most anticipated holiday and is celebrated on a grand scale. Bright outfits, fiery rhythms, joyful screams and general fun - all this needs to be seen for yourself. On April 19, Venezuelan Declaration of Independence Day is celebrated throughout the country.

The country's capital has more restaurants and bars than any Latin American city. Restaurants and cafes are the center of social life. People come here not only for food, but also to discuss business issues or just talk. Tips are 5-10% of the bill amount.

Purchases

Many shops in the country are open from Monday to Saturday from 8:00 to 18:00. The lunch break is usually between 14:00 and 15:00. Large work shopping centers extended until 21:00, sometimes until 22:00.

The “tax free” system is not practiced here, and value added tax is included in the price of the goods and is equal to 16%. Sometimes local tax is added to the amount.

Margarita Island is located in a free trade zone, so prices here are lower. The most popular souvenirs among tourists are rum, cocoa, coffee, chocolate, things made by Indians, and jewelry.

Transport

Venezuela is connected to the world by air and sea transport. The country has two major international airports - International Simon Bolivar Airport near Caracas and international Airport La Chinita in Maracaibo. The main seaports are located in Maracaibo, La Guaira And Puerto Cabello. Communication between major cities of the country is also carried out through air travel.

The country's railway service is practically undeveloped, so bus transportation is very popular. IN major cities There are bus stations. Things are not so good in the provinces. The equipment used here is old, there are no bus stations, the schedule changes frequently and without good reason, and during the rainy season the roads wash out, which makes traveling by bus dangerous. Caracas and Maracaibo have subways.

Minibuses and taxis are also widespread in the country. In minibuses, the fare is equal to the cost of travel on a bus, but on weekends and holidays it can increase by 10-20%. When calling a taxi, it is necessary to agree on payment before the trip, because tourists are often shortchanged by choosing the longest route to their destination.

There are also car rentals in the country. To rent a car, you must have an international driver's license and be over 21 years old.

Connection

Venezuela's telecommunications system is quite well developed. The streets of the city are full of payphones, from which you can make calls even abroad. Payment is made using phone card. The cost of a call to Europe will be $1.25, to the USA - $1, to local settlements — 0,2 $.

There are several operators in the country mobile communications, the coverage is quite good, a SIM card and payment cards can be purchased at any store, post office, newsstand.

The Internet in Venezuela is even more developed than mobile communications. You can go online even while in the village. There are three large Internet providers providing a full range of services. In large cities, Internet cafes are located in almost every block. The connection cost is approximately $1 per hour.

Safety

In recent years, the crime rate has increased significantly in the country. This is especially noticeable in the capital of Venezuela, where it is dangerous to be in the city center even in the evening. However, outside the capital, the crime rate is not so high and the further from the city, the lower it is. The country has created a special Tourist Police Brigade, which is obliged to help tourists in case of problems with the local population.

It is advisable to be immunized against hepatitis B and D, measles, tetanus and cholera before traveling to Venezuela. If you are planning to visit the valley Orinoco or areas south of Lake Maracaibo, vaccination against yellow fever is required. It is important to know that you will not be allowed to leave the country unless you have a rubella and measles vaccination certificate. You can get vaccinated at the airport health department.

You should not swim in freshwater bodies because of the risk of contracting some kind of infection. You should also not drink running water or eat vegetables and fruits without washing them and peeling them.

The country is full of insects, so you should take care of the availability of special protective sprays and creams.

Business climate

Venezuela is currently experiencing rapid economic growth. The country provides ample opportunities to start your own business. Moreover, this business does not necessarily have to be related to the tourism sector.

Before opening your own business in Venezuela, you must obtain the so-called residence - the status of a foreign citizen permanently residing in Venezuela. You can obtain a residence permit only after three years of permanent residence in the country.

It is worth noting that not all types of activities here require a special license. To deal with everyone legal subtleties When registering a business, you can use the services of lawyers who specialize in working with foreign citizens.

To establish business contacts, it is better to involve a local intermediary. Such services are widely provided by private and public financial companies. Using an intermediary will help bring the services or goods of a novice businessman to the consumer market.

As for taxation, it is very low in Venezuela. For example, only 13% is the tax on annual profit, and an experienced accountant can reduce it to 7-9%.

Real estate

Compared to other countries and regions Caribbean real estate in Venezuela can be purchased at a very low price. Thus, the cost of a two-room apartment with an area of ​​70-80 m² in the capital will be about $100,000-120,000. A six-bedroom house here will cost $550,000. But a bungalow somewhere in the village, far from major cities, will cost only $25,000-30,000.

Since brokerage activities in Venezuela are not licensed, transactions for the sale/purchase of housing can be carried out by anyone, so care should be taken. There is a rule that the intermediary is paid a certain percentage of the transaction. It is usually 5% and is paid by the real estate seller. There is one more feature of concluding a deal - the agreement must be concluded in handwritten form. Only in this case does it have legal force. Therefore, even if the agreement is typed on a computer, it must be accompanied by exactly the same handwritten copy. As for taxes related to real estate, they are under the jurisdiction of municipal authorities, so there is no single rate.

Venezuela has a parallel exchange rate: when you buy local currency in person, the rate is twice as high as what the bank offers.

In restaurants and cafes there is a service charge of 10% and another 10% is usually left as a tip. You should only tip the taxi driver if he is carrying your suitcase.

It is important to remember that when leaving the country, a tourist is required to pay a government tax of 21%. Passengers leaving the country on the same day as they arrived and not leaving the airport, as well as children under 15 years of age, crew members and diplomats are exempt from paying the tax.