| Venezuela Information |
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| Cover art for the 2007/8 edition. |
| Information (in Venezuela): |
| e-mail: ekline@cantv.net |
| Information (Outside of Venezuela): |
| Elizabeth Kline: telefax: (0212)342.0482, Cel: (0416)633.9245 |
| Elizabeth Kline's Guide to Camps, |
| e-mail: notkalvin@yahoo.com |
| Mike Kline: Tel (734)397.9442 |
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| Posadas & Cabins in Venezuela |
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| Population: The population of Venezuela is approximately 26,000,000, with a growth rate of 2.4%. The population is made up of 67% mestizo, 21% European descent, 10% African descent, and 2% Indian. While the official language of Venezuela is Spanish, more than 25 Amerindian languages are still used in throughout the country. 96% of the country is Roman Catholic, and 2% are Protestant. Environment: Located on the northern coast of South America, between Colombia and Guyana, and north of Brazil, Venezuela is host to several diverse environments. In the southeast region of the country are the Guyana Highlands, and a large portion of the country is covered by grassland plains (the Central Llanos). The northern end of the Andes Mountains rise near Venezuela's largest inland lake, Lake Maracaibo. At their tallest point in Venezuela, Pico Bolivar, they rise to just over 5000 meters. Venezuela is also home to South America's third largest river, the Rio Orinoco. In the south of the country is the Amazonas region, which is criss-crossed with rivers, and is thick with tropical rain forests, and is home to a number of isolated Indian tribes. Tours into the Venezuelan Amazon can be arranged from the town of Puerto Ayacucho. The climate is predominantly tropical, and the temperatures rarely vary by more than a few degrees within any given region. Caracas is generally in the range of 18-27 degrees Celcius, and Maracaibo 25-35 degrees. Venezuela's seasons are distinguished by rainfall rather than temperature, with a dry season from December to April, and a rainy season for the rest of the year. The major exception to this is the Amazon region which has an annual rainfall in excess of 200cm, and has no dry season. Fast Facts: Area: 912,050 square kilometers / 355,700 square miles Capitol: Caracas Language: Spanish (predominantly) Religion: 96% Roman Catholic, 2% Protestant Population: roughly 27 million Currency: Bolivar Fuerte (Bs.F.) Industry: Petroleum, iron ore, sugar, fruit, coffee History: When Christohper Columbus became the first European to arrive in Venezuela, he found the country inhabited by around 500,000 indigenous people from three main groups: the Arawak, The Cariban, and the Chibcha. The name Venezuala was given to the country by another European Explorer, Alonso de Ojeda. The first Spanish settlement was established at Cumana in 1521. The conquest of Venezuela was lead by the Spanish and the Germans, and aided by the diseases the Europeans brought to the new world. They remained in power until Simon Bolivar (El Liberatador) seized control from Spain in 1821, aided by British mercenaries and an army of horesemen from Los Llanos. The liberation of Venezuela was not Bolivar's first, as he had already done the same for Colombia. He went on to liberate Ecuador, Peru and Bolivar. When Bolivar died in 1830, Venezuela drafted a new constitution and declared full independence. Despite their independence, the country was in a political turmoil for nearly 80 years as it paid witness to a succession of military dictators, political coups and economic instability. The discovery of the oil reserves in Maracaibo in the early 1900's introduced some prosperity to the country, and by the late 20's Venezuela was the world's third largest oil exporter. Travel Info: US Nationals, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, British and most Western and Scandanavian Europeans do not require a visa if they fly directly to Venezuela. All foreigners entering Venezuela by land require a valid visa; get one before you leave for South America. Once in the country, it is important to carry your identification with you at all times (passport, travel visa, drivers license). Throughout the country you will encounter checkpoints (alcabalas), and it is very important that you produce the necessary paperwork when requested. As is the case anywhere in the world, it is recommended that you show your respect and compliance to the police, and obey the local laws. People living in the country are issued identification cards (cedulas) that they carry with them at all times. There are some health risks associated with travel in Venezuela: cholera, dengue fever, hepatitis, malaria, and yellow fever. While the dry season is generally considered the most pleasant for traveling around Venezuela, some sights such as Angel Falls are more impressive during the rainy season. There are three periods of time during which a high percentage of the people in Venezuela are traveling: Christmas, Carnaval (several days before Ash Wednesday), and Holy Week (Semana Santa) which is the week before Easter Sunday. During these times there are many exciting and colorful festivals, although it becomes much more important to secure your lodgings prior to departure. |
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