Caracas

CAPITAL CITY OF Venezuela: Caracas
LANGUAGE OF Venezuela: Spanish
CURRENCY OF Venezuela: Bolivar (VEB)
COMMENTS ABOUT Venezuela:
Venezuela, known since 1999 as the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish: República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America.
Cities : Caracas (capital), Barquisimeto, Ciudad Bolivar, Ciudad Guayana, Coro, Maracaibo, Maracay, Merida, Puerto La Cruz, Valencia
Best Places : Margarita Island, Los Roques Archipelago, Angel Falls, Choroní, Mochima, Los Llanos, Orinoco Delta, La Gran Sabana, Morrocoy, Canaima National Park
Electricity : 120-240/60Hz (US plug)
Calling Code : +58
Time Zone : UTC -4
Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Colombia and Ecuador). For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some social reforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since 1959. Current concerns include: a polarized political environment, a politicized military, drug-related violence along the Colombian border, increasing internal drug consumption, overdependence on the petroleum industry with its price fluctuations, and irresponsible mining operations that are endangering the rain forest and indigenous peoples.
CLIMATE OF Venezuela: tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
RELIGION OF Venezuela: nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%
POPULATION OF Venezuela: 25,375,281 (July 2005 est.)>>>>>>
ECONOMY OVERVIEW OF Venezuela: Venezuela continues to be highly dependent on the petroleum sector, accounting for roughly one-third of GDP, around 80% of export earnings, and over half of government operating revenues. A disastrous two-month national oil strike from December 2002 to February 2003, temporarily halted economic activity. The economy remained in depression in 2003, declining by 9.2% after an 8.9% fall in 2002. Despite continued domestic instability, output recovered strongly in 2004, aided by high oil prices. Both inflation and unemployment remain fundamental problems.