Description of Venezuela. Venezuela: general information, population, economy, science and culture

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

Despite the resistance of 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 belong to the Federal possessions (including offshore islands).

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

Since the discovery of huge oil reserves here at the beginning of the 20th century, Venezuela has been one of the world's exporters of petroleum products. Oil exports account for most of the state's income. Along with petroleum products, Venezuela exports coffee and cocoa to the world market.

Climate and weather

The north of the country is located in the zone of tropical trade wind climate. Here the weather is hot all year round. As we move inland, the climate changes to subequatorial. Summers are hot and humid, while winters are warm and dry. In general, in the country, the temperature does not make sharp changes throughout the year and stays at around +21…+26 °С. average temperature January - +19 °С, July - +23 °С. Temperature is also affected by altitude. In flat 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 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 visit Venezuela is from November to May, after the end of the rainy season.

Nature

Venezuela can be divided into four areas that differ in relief, climate and vegetation: mountainous regions Andes, depression in the area lake maracaibo, the plain Apure and Orinoco rivers, Guiana Highlands. Through this division and different conditions In the regions, the flora of the country 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, coffee trees. Cypresses, various types of palm trees, tree ferns, agaves, and cacti are widespread. Mangroves grow in flooded areas.

The fauna of the forests, plains, lakes and rivers of Venezuela is extremely rich. About 20 species of chain-tailed monkeys live here, Andean bear and coati are found in the forests. Also here you can meet anteater, tree porcupine, armadillo. On the banks of the rivers you can see grazing tapirs. Large and small rodents, various types of wild goats, small deer, fallow deer are found in the savannah. Predators are represented by the South American raccoon, puma, jaguar and other types of small wild cats. The country has a huge number of poisonous snakes, other reptiles and amphibians. In freshwater rivers, there are electric eels, piranhas, and amphibian fish. Dolphins can be seen in the lower reaches of the Orinoco.

Attractions

Heart of Venezuela Caracas. The city has a long and rich history, parts of which are preserved in its architecture. The famous place in the city is Simon Bolivar Square. On the square there is a cathedral built in the 17th century, and the remains of Bolivar himself are kept in the National Pantheon. Another interesting place to see is the chapel of St. Rose, where the independence of the state was proclaimed in 1811. Caracas is full of museums, for example:

• Museum of Colonial Art;
• Gallery of National Art;
• Museum of Fine Arts;
• the Bolívar 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 with a monument to the national hero of Venezuela.

City Guanare considered the spiritual capital of the state. There is a temple of the patroness of the country, Virgen de Koromoto, and a 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 an ancient plateau, or tepui. Some of them rise thousands of meters high. The world's highest waterfall is also located here. Somersault Angel. Tourists are given the opportunity to take a sightseeing tour of the park by plane. Another beautiful place Venezuela - Canaima Lagoon with numerous waterfalls, near which you can swim 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 168 km off the coast of Venezuela on the archipelago. Most of the park 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 various fillings, ranging from vegetables to meat.

Since the country has access to the sea, seafood is widespread here. Be sure to try the avocado stuffed with shrimp or real crab meat with white sauce. Oysters in wine sauce and rice with clams are widespread.

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

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

All this is eaten by the civilized population of the country. The Indians have their own dietary habits. For example, they may eat snakes, cockroaches, and beetle larvae.

Accommodation

Arriving in Venezuela, tourists prefer to rent a hotel room, apartment or house at a local resort. margarita island. Hotels here are quite expensive, have 4-5 "stars" and work on an "all inclusive" system. It is also popular to rent 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 next to the national park will cost $ 480 per week. Lovers of life in colonial style can rent a house in a fishing village for $380 Choroni on the coast of the Caribbean. And everything is included in the price, even beach towels.

Entertainment and recreation

Venezuela is suitable for recreation and lovers of beach idleness and those who like an active lifestyle.

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

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

Since the country is replete with national parks and reserves, ecotourism lovers will love excursions to them. Popular places are Guiana Plateau, Angel Falls, Orinoco River, Andes.

Venezuela is a colorful country, the people here are cheerful, and accordingly the holidays are the same. New Year is celebrated here on January 1st. In Venezuela, it is associated with good luck, luck and the beginning of a new life. As in any other country in Latin America, people in Venezuela love carnivals. The main one is held forty days before Easter, is the most anticipated holiday and is celebrated on a grand scale. Bright outfits, incendiary rhythms, joyful cries and general fun - all this must be seen for yourself. April 19 is celebrated throughout the country as Venezuela's Declaration of Independence Day.

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

Purchases

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

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

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

Transport

Venezuela is connected with the world by air and sea transport. The country has two major international airports - International Simón 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 the major cities of the country is also carried out using air travel.

Railway communication in the country is practically not developed, so bus transportation is very popular. There are bus stations in major cities. All is not well in the provinces. It uses old technology, there are no bus stations, the schedule changes often and for no good reason, and during the rainy season the roads are washed 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 fare on the bus, but on weekends and holidays it can increase by 10-20%. When calling a taxi, it is necessary to agree on payment even before the trip, because tourists are often cheated by choosing the longest route to their destination.

The country also has car rentals. To rent a car, you need to have an international driver's license and be over 21 years old.

Connection

The telecommunication system of Venezuela is quite well developed. The streets of the city are full of pay phones, from which you can make calls even abroad. Payment is made with a 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 mobile operators in the country, 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 developed even better than mobile communications. You can go online even when you are in the village. There are three major Internet service providers providing a full range of services. In large cities, Internet cafes are located on almost every block. The cost of the connection 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 even in the evening it is dangerous to be in the city center. However, outside the capital, the crime rate is not so high and the farther 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 immunize 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 yellow fever vaccination is required. It is important to know that you will not be allowed out of 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 reservoirs because of the danger of catching some kind of infection. Also, you should not drink running water and eat vegetables and fruits without washing them and removing the peel.

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 have to be connected with the tourism sector.

Before opening a business in Venezuela, it is necessary to obtain the so-called residence - the status foreign citizen permanently residing in Venezuela. You can get a residence only after three years of permanent residence in the country.

It should be noted that not all activities require a special license. To deal with everyone legal subtleties registration of 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. The use of 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 tax on annual income, and an experienced accountant can reduce it to 7-9%.

Real estate

Compared to other countries and regions of the Caribbean, real estate in Venezuela can be purchased at a very low price. So, 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 country, away from major cities, will cost only $ 25,000-30,000.

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

Venezuela has a parallel exchange rate: when buying local currency from the hands of its course is twice as high as the bank offers.

In restaurants and cafes there is a service charge of 10% and it is customary to leave another 10% “for 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, the tourist must pay a government tax of 21%. Passengers who leave the country on the same day as they arrived and do not leave the airport, as well as children under 15 years of age, crew members and diplomats are exempt from paying the tax.

Republic of Venezuela.

Translated from Spanish, the name of the country means "little Venice".

Capital of Venezuela. Caracas.

Venezuela Square. 912050 km2.

Population of Venezuela. 23,917 thousand people

Administrative division Venezuela. Venezuela is a federation of 20 states, 1 federal territory, and federal possessions.

Venezuelan form of government. Republic.

Head of State of Venezuela. President elected for 5 years.

Higher Legislature Venezuela. National Congress (Senate and Chamber of Deputies).

Supreme executive body of Venezuela. Government.

Big cities Venezuela. Maracaibo, Valencia, Braquisimeto.

Official language Venezuela. Spanish.

Religion in Venezuela. The majority of the population professes.

Ethnic composition Venezuela. 67% - mestizos, 21% -, 10% - blacks, 2% - Indians.

Venezuela. The climate also prevails on the territory of Venezuela. The rainy season is from May to December. From January to May, dry weather prevails over the territory of Venezuela and is established. Monthly averages + 25-29 °С, precipitation falls from 280 mm to 2000-3000 mm per year.

Flora of Venezuela. The flora varies depending on the region. In the Orinoco floodplain, this is a selva, with a lower tier of vines and an upper one. In the central regions of Venezuela, it prevails, and in the region - deciduous, reaching an altitude of 1000-2000 m above sea level. Forests cover 53% of the country's territory.

Fauna of Venezuela. The fauna of Venezuela is quite diverse and is represented by monkeys, deer, sloths, anteaters, armadillos, tapirs, possums, jaguars, caimans, ocelots. It affects a large number of birds, including hummingbirds, parrots, herons, flamingos, toucans, etc.

Rivers and lakes of Venezuela. The largest is Orinoco, the largest lake is Maracaiba.

Sights of Venezuela. B - Monument to S. Bolívar, Cathedral, Creole Museum, Museum of Colonial Art, Museum of Modern Art, National Art Gallery, Pantheon, Capitol building complex, Botanical Garden. In Valencia, a quarter of colonial architecture, the largest bullring in the arena. Famous festivals with dances to the rhythms of "maracas".

Useful information for tourists

In restaurants, a 10% service charge is added to the bill, while it is customary to leave another 10% as a tip. It is customary for hairdressers, porters in hotels, and tourist guides to leave “a tip” of 200 bolivars. Taxi drivers are only tipped if they help carry the suitcases.

Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela(Spanish) Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela , " little Venice") - a state in the north of South America. It is washed by the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean in the north, borders with Guyana in the east, Brazil in the south and Colombia in the west.

Story

Main article: History of Venezuela

Spanish colonization

Making his third voyage to the shores of the New World, Columbus discovered north coast South America, and already in 1499 the Spanish conquistador Alonso de Ojeda arrived there. In the Maracaibo lagoon, the conquerors saw two dozen warao Indian huts built on stilts and interconnected by bridges. A native of Italy, Amerigo Vespucci, who arrived with the Spaniards, they reminded the city of the lagoons - Venice, and he called the pile village a little Venice, in Spanish, Venezuela. 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 a primitive communal system and were engaged in hunting, fishing, gathering, slash-and-burn agriculture. Their tools were very primitive and made of wood and bone. Most of the country was occupied by the Arawak Indians, but shortly before the arrival of the Europeans, the Arawaks were forced out of the northern regions to the south by the tribes of the Carib Indians.

In Venezuela, as in other countries of the New World, the Spanish conquistadors were attracted by the "gold rush". Gradually they moved inland, overcoming the resistance of the Indian tribes. The gold placers found in some places were soon depleted, and already in the first half of the 16th century, the Spaniards switched to agriculture. Both imported from Europe and local crops were grown, of which sugar cane and indigo turned out to be the most valuable, which became the basis of the colony's economy in the 16th-17th centuries.

Therefore, Venezuelans suffer from a kind of original ailment, which is called “bolivaromania”.

The name of this national hero in Venezuela is called almost everything. The highest peak in the country - five thousand meters - is Peak Bolívar. The climbers who conquered it carried the bust of Bolivar during their ascent in order to set it as high as possible. And they succeeded - the bust became the highest Bolivar in the world.

The central squares of all, even the tiniest, cities in Venezuela are named after Simon Bolivar. on them in without fail there is a monument to him.

The installation of monuments is carried out by the city authorities with the obligatory observance of a number of conditions: if Bolivar won the battle directly in the vicinity of this city, his bronze statue should sit on horseback with a naked weapon. Those cities through which or near which he at least once passed should be limited only to the bust of the hero.

True, sculptors from different provinces of Venezuela depict Bolivar in different ways, so sometimes it’s even impossible to believe that all these numerous monuments are dedicated to the same person.

Has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established with the USSR on March 14, 1945, interrupted on June 13, 1952, restored on April 16, 1970)

Political structure

Main article: Political structure Venezuela

The President of Venezuela is elected by a simple majority in a direct popular vote and is the head of state and government. The presidential term is 6 years. The President can be re-elected for an unlimited number of terms. The President appoints the Vice President, decides on the structure and composition of the government, and appoints its members with the consent of Parliament.

The president has the right of legislative initiative and can propose changes to existing legislation, but his proposals can be rejected by a simple parliamentary majority.

In addition to oil and gas, Venezuela has large deposits of iron ore (2nd place in Latin America), coal, bauxite, as well as nickel, copper, lead-zinc, manganese ores, gold, diamonds, sulfur, asbestos, phosphorites, talc.

The climate of most of the plains of Venezuela is subequatorial, seasonally humid, with an alternation of distinct rainy (April to October) and dry, hotter (November to March) seasons. For Llanos during the year, average monthly temperatures are 25-29ºС and 800-1200 mm of precipitation, for the lowland Caribbean coast, respectively, 28ºС and 240-400 mm of precipitation. In the basin of the upper reaches of the Orinoco and on the adjacent slopes of the Guiana Highlands, there is an equatorial, constantly humid climate with 2500-3000 mm of precipitation per year. In the mountains, average monthly temperatures decrease with altitude from 22ºС at 800 m to less than 10ºС at 3000 m. The windward slopes are more humid (3500 mm) than the leeward slopes. In the Cordillera de Merida at an altitude of 4700 m - eternal snow (the area of ​​\u200b\u200bmountain glaciers is 2 km², is rapidly declining).

The dense river network of Venezuela has an extremely uneven flow throughout the year and violent summer floods. Most of the territory belongs to the Orinoco basin, which flows within Venezuela for almost its entire length and receives numerous tributaries. The left tributaries (Apura, Arauca, Kapanapara…) have a flat flow with the possibility of navigation. During the rainy season, they spread widely, flooding large areas. The right tributaries, originating in the Guiana Highlands (Caroni, Kaura, Ventuari ...), have many rapids and waterfalls, including the highest Angel Falls in the world. The hydropower potential of these rivers is used at large hydroelectric power plants: Guri (the third largest in the world in terms of power), Macagua and Caruachi. When falling into Atlantic Ocean The Orinoco forms a vast delta. In the south of the country there is such a rare phenomenon as the bifurcation of rivers: from the Orinoco to upstream the Casiquiare river branches off, carrying its waters to the Rio Negro - a tributary of the Amazon. Short rivers flowing from the northern slopes of the Andes empty directly into the Caribbean Sea or Lake Maracaibo.

Forests occupy 56% of the territory of Venezuela, decreasing by 2.2 thousand km² per year. Hylaea is common in the south and southwest of the country. The slopes of the Andes and the Guiana Highlands up to a height of 800-1200 m are covered mainly with deciduous evergreen forests with cashew and seiba; on the windward slopes in the belt of mountainous moist evergreen forests grow cinchona, cedar, wax palms, ferns and epiphytes. Above the forest line (from 2200 m), the Caribbean Andes are covered with dense meadows with sparse shrubs, in the highlands of the Cordillera de Merida, paramos communities with grass cover, cushion and rosette plants are common. Endemic low-growing shrubs grow on the plateaus and ridges of the Guiana Highlands. On the plains of the Llanos-Orinoco, vast tracts of savannas were formed with cereal vegetation on the plains flooded during the rainy season, and gallery forests along the valleys. major rivers. In the drier northern part of the plains, among the sparse grass cover, xeromorphic trees and shrubs are scattered, cacti are found in places, and thickets of the Mauritian palm tree are found along the rivers. On the Caribbean coast, thorny shrub communities with numerous cacti, acacias, curatella, and divi divi are typical. The Orinoco Delta and the southwestern part of the Maracaibo depression are covered with intermittently flooded evergreen forests and swamps, the coasts are fringed with mangroves. The rich fauna is represented by broad-nosed monkeys, armadillos, anteaters, capybaras, peccaries, opossums, deer, otters, cougars, jaguars. Of the birds, toucans, parrots, guajaros, harpy, herons, storks, ibis are characteristic. Snakes (including the anaconda), lizards, crocodiles, turtles, electric eels are numerous.

Economy

The economy of Venezuela is based on oil production, which provides 90% of export earnings, more than 50% of the revenue state budget and about 30% of GDP. Annual gas production - about 30 billion cubic meters. m; oil - about 150 million tons.

Exports from Venezuela go mainly to the US (over 42% in 2007). The main supplier of imports to Venezuela is the USA (27% in 2007).

In addition to oil, Venezuela exports coffee, coal, nickel, emeralds, bananas, and flowers.

Armed forces

The national armed forces of Venezuela have approximately 129 thousand military personnel and are divided into:

Ground forces - 63 thousand;

Air Force - 12 thousand;

National Guard - 36 thousand people

Territorial claims

At the end of the 19th century, Venezuela announced its claims to the territory of British Guiana west of the Essequibo River - after deposits of gold and diamonds were discovered there. The International Arbitration Tribunal in 1899 decided the dispute mainly in favor of Britain, Venezuela was given a site in the north-west of British Guiana.

Since 1962, 4 years before Guyana gained independence from Britain, Venezuela again began to demand territories west of the Essequibo River - an area of ​​\u200b\u200babout 160 thousand km², that is, almost three-quarters of the entire territory of Guyana. These claims were repeated by all Venezuelan presidents, including the current one, Hugo Chavez.

In addition, Venezuela officially expresses its dissatisfaction with the line of the maritime border with Colombia.

Population

The population of Venezuela is 26.4 million (July 2008 estimate).

Annual growth - 1.5%;

Birth rate - 21 per 1000 (fertility - 2.5 births per woman, infant mortality - 22 per 1000);

Mortality - 5.1 per 1000;

Emigration from the country - 0.84 per 1000;

Average life expectancy - 70 years for men, 77 years for women;

Ethno-racial composition - mestizos 58%, whites 20%, mulattos 14%, blacks 4%, sambo 3%, Indians 1%.

Literacy - 93% (according to the 2001 census).

culture

Main article: Culture of Venezuela

Miscellaneous

• Lakes of Venezuela

Current events

From now on, the eighth star will appear on the flag of Venezuela, symbolizing the annexation of the easternmost region of Guayana at the beginning 19th century. In 1817, the use of the eighth star was suggested by the South American liberator hero Simon Bolivar.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, presenting the new symbolism, called his innovation "the star of Bolívar", presenting it as part of the policy of the socialist revolution and a tribute to the memory of the national hero.

In addition, now the horse, flaunted on the coat of arms of Venezuela, will change the direction of the run. If until now it galloped to the right, now it is recognized as not in line with the political line of the president. Chavez announced that the animal would run to the left on the new coat of arms.

Tropical fruits and flowers appeared on the coat of arms, as well as a bow and a machete, which are designed to symbolize the indigenous peoples of Venezuela.

Referendum August 15, 2004

The constitutional amendments were put to a referendum held on 2 December 2007 . According to its results, 50.7% of those who voted opposed the amendments and Chavez admitted his defeat.

On November 24, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced that the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (ESPV), of which he is the leader, may again raise the issue of constitutional amendments providing for an unlimited term of presidential rule this year. Chavez made the announcement the day after the EPUU won a landslide victory in the country's regional elections.

Indeed, in a referendum held in Venezuela on February 15, 2009, 54.68% of citizens voted for the constitutional amendments proposed by President Hugo Chavez, which allow the president to be re-elected to his post an unlimited number of times in a row. Thus, Hugo Chavez will be able to run for office in the upcoming 2012 elections. If he wins, he will remain president of Venezuela until at least 2019.

Chavez believes that the previous two stages of the Bolivarian revolution (the first - from 1999 to 2006, the second - from 2009) have been successfully completed. Their main result was the victory of the revolution, the independence of the country and the beginning of building socialism.

Among the obvious and indisputable achievements of Hugo Chavez, first of all, it is necessary to note the reduction of poverty among the general population. Even the opposition admits that Chavez managed to make the social issue the center of all government policy. Among the popular measures he took were the organization of "medical missions" in the urban slums, where high-class medical specialists from Cuba were invited, programs for the eradication of illiteracy and training technical specialties among all segments of the population, regardless of age, the introduction of scholarships for education, the creation of a network of cheap supermarkets "Mercal", where essential goods were sold at reduced prices. All this led to the fact that, according to the Economic Commission of Latin America (Cepal), in five years the poverty rate in Venezuela fell from 54 to 27 percent, unemployment fell below 10 percent and the purchasing power of the population increased significantly.

Of course, many of Chavez's welfare programs were based on oil revenues. Venezuela is the world's fourth largest oil exporter. Until recently, ever-increasing prices for hydrocarbons also contributed to the increase in oil revenues.

Russia and Venezuela

In November 2008, during the visit of Russian President Medvedev to Venezuela, an intergovernmental agreement was signed establishing a visa-free travel regime for Russian and Venezuelan citizens to visit each other for up to 90 days. The agreement entered into force on March 06, 2009.

Bolivarian time zone

Chavez's main motive for changing the country's time zone in 2007 is said to be anti-Americanism, which is confirmed by his statements about the "need to abandon the time imposed by American imperialism" .

Notes

see also

Links

• Boris Kagarlitsky Venezuela: who won, who lost?
• Gobierno en Línea - Government official website (Spanish)
• Presidencia de la República de Venezuela - Official website of the President (in Spanish)
• Asamblea Nacional - Official website of the National Assembly (Spanish)
• ABN - Agencia Bolivariana de Noticias - Official News Agency
• ABN - ENGLISH VERSION - It's the English version.
• - MinCI - Ministry of People's Power for Communication and Information.
• - teleSURtv TV channel "Telesur" (broadcasts to several countries in Latin America).
• Radio Nacional de Venezuela - National radio of Venezuela.
• On the roads of Venezuela: Ciudad Bolivar Photos
• Journey through the northern tropics of Venezuela to the Bolivar peak. Photo report
• Journey to Roraima - the land of waterfalls. Photo report

Venezuela in topics

Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Spanish
Hymn: Gloria al bravo pueblo ("Glory to the brave people")"
date of independence	July 5, 1811 (dated)
Official language	Spanish
Capital
Largest cities	Caracas, Valencia
Form of government	presidential republic
The president	Nicholas Maduro
Vice President	Delsie Rodriguez
Territory	32nd in the world
Total	916,445 km²
% water surface	0,3
Population
Score (2015)	▲ 30,761,000 people (44th)
Density	32 people/km²
GDP
Total (2015)	$239.6 billion (31st)
Per capita	$7780 USD
GDP (PPP)
Total	$515.7 billion
Per capita	$16,700 USD
HDI (2015)	▲ 0.748 (high; 71st)
Names of residents	Venezuelan, Venezuelan, Venezuelan
Currency	Sovereign bolivar (VES, code 928)
Internet domain	.ve
ISO code	VE
IOC code	VEN
Telephone code	+58
Time Zones	−4

Venezuela, full official form - Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela(Spanish) Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela , MFA (Spanish): listen)) is a state in the north. It is washed by the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean in the north, borders on the east, - in the south and - in the west.

Geography

Canaima National Park, located in the state of Bolivar, is the sixth largest national park in the world.

El Suero Lagoon, Sierra Nevada de Mérida (Andes)

Desert Medanos de Koro

Physical map of Venezuela

Archipélago Los Roques, the largest marine park in Latin America

Angel Falls - the most high waterfall in the world

The climate of Venezuela is determined by the alternation of moist equatorial air masses in calm weather in summer and dry trade winds in winter. Temperatures change little during the year and depend mainly on the altitude of the area. Coastal areas are distinguished by exhausting heat and high air humidity, at higher elevations temperatures are lower and conditions are more comfortable for human habitation. That is why all major cities are located at an altitude of 600 to 1850 meters above sea level. Above 1800 m, the climate is much cooler and close to the climate of temperate latitudes. At altitudes above 3,000 m, it is so cold that farming is almost impossible, and sheep breeding is the main agricultural activity. More than three quarters of the country's area is characterized by the rainy season, which lasts from May to November. Precipitation varies from 280 mm on the Caribbean coast to 2000 mm or more at the southern end of Lake Maracaibo and on the windward slopes of the mountains and the Guiana Plateau. The dry season lasts from December to April.

The territory of Venezuela, like most countries of South America, is diverse in terms of absolute heights, the amount of precipitation and other environmental conditions. This explains the heterogeneity of the vegetation cover and the richness of the country's flora.

Several floristic regions can be distinguished. On the northern coast, the flora is typically Caribbean, with a variety of legume trees, numerous cacti, species of Capparia, Jacquinia and Ziziphus. The Venezuelan Andes is a continuation of the Andean region of the west of South America. It is characterized by the vegetation of the paramo (high mountain meadows) and temperate forests of Colombia, in particular Espeletia, Geranium, Ceroxylon, Cinchona, Miconia and Gentiana. The flora of the richly vegetated Orinoco Basin has its origins in the more southerly uplands and rainforests. Plantations of exotic species, such as sugar cane and coffee tree, are widespread here. Many families are well represented, but legumes and palms stand out against the background of cereals. Substantial part southern regions The country is similar in flora to the Amazon. Economically important species grow here, such as Hevea brazilian and rubber-bearing castilla, as well as the rope palm (piassava). The most interesting floristic province is small in area and occupies the flat tops of the sandstone mountains of Serra Pacaraima, running along the southern border of the country from the Roraima massif at the junction of Venezuela, Guyana and Brazil west to Mount Duida near the river. Casiquiare, linking the headwaters of the Orinoco with the headwaters of the Rio Negro. This is a relic zone, so ancient that its closest floristic connections can be traced only with some hills in the south of Brazil, and more distant ones with the Andean region, the mountains of the Cuban region of Oriente and West Africa. Many narrowly endemic heathers, madders, bromeliads and cypresses grow here.

The Orinoco drainage basin occupies approximately four-fifths of the territory of Venezuela. The area of ​​the Llanos north of the river is a vast thicket of tall grasses interspersed with savannahs, palm groves and light forests. In many places grasslands are prevented from overgrowing by means of frequent burning. The forests, which occupy significant areas here, are of the tropical deciduous type and are similar to the monsoon forests of the tropics of the Old World. Closer to the Caribbean coast, they become drier and gradually acquire the character of thorny thickets with numerous cacti and thorny legumes. In the south and east of the country, along the borders with Brazil and Guyana, these deciduous forests are in many places replaced by a typical Amazonian rainforest of tall evergreen trees with a closed canopy of numerous lianas and little undergrowth. Forest areas are interspersed with savannahs. Small areas of similar rain forest are located in the north of the country, mainly at the southern tip of Lake Maracaibo. The slopes of the Venezuelan Andes are covered with dense and impenetrable moss forest, also called mountain rain or cloud forest. This is the belt of cinchona (Cinchona), often considered temperate in climate. Above the tree line are treeless paramos dominated by bizarre Espeletia species, shrubs and cushion plants. These high mountain communities are striking with their many bright colors that make them look like huge alpine gardens. Overgrazing has degraded the natural vegetation to scrub wasteland in many places.

In Venezuela, there are jaguar, puma, ocelot, bush dog, taira close to martens, otters, monkeys, pigs, nutria, tenacious porcupine, tapir and peccaries. There are also deer and opossums. Crocodiles, alligators and turtles are common in many rivers. Boa constrictors, other snakes and lizards are abundant in the jungle. In the lowlands there are many cranes, herons, storks, ducks and other water game, and in the mountains - birds of prey.

Story

After the restoration of democracy

Population

Venezuelan population - 28.1 million people

• Annual growth - 1.5%;
• Birth rate - 20 per 1000 (fertility - 2.5 births per woman, infant mortality - 21 per 1000);
• Mortality - 5 per 1000;
• Average life expectancy - 70.84 years for men, 77.87 years for women;
• Infection with the immunodeficiency virus (HIV) - 0.7% (2001 estimate).

Ethno-racial composition: mestizos - 67%, Europeans (Spaniards, Italians, Portuguese, Germans, French) - 21%, Africans - 10%, Indians - 2%.

Literacy - 95% (2005-2008).

Urban population - 93% (in 2008).

Aggravation economic crisis, increased political tensions and violence in 2016-2018 led to a sharp increase in emigration, which is controlled by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). From 2016 to the first half of 2018, according to various estimates, from 1.6 to 2.3 million people left the country, of which 90% arrived in various countries of South America. In addition, hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans are in other countries illegally. According to the UNHCR, illegal refugees "may become victims of human trafficking, sexual exploitation, discrimination and xenophobia." Due to its magnitude, the migration crisis in Venezuela is considered the largest in the history of South America.

Administrative division

Venezuela is administratively divided into:

• 23 states ( estados): Amazonas, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar, Delta Amacuro, Lara, Miranda, Sucre, ;

• 1 - district of the capital;
• (from August 3, 2011 - Miranda, possibly also became a territory) - islands in the Caribbean.

The states of Venezuela are grouped into 9 regions established by presidential decree.

Policy

The President of Venezuela is elected by a simple majority in a direct popular vote and is the head of state and government. The presidential term is 6 years. The President can be re-elected an unlimited number of times. The President appoints the Vice President, decides on the structure and composition of the government, and appoints its members with the consent of Parliament.

The president has the right of legislative initiative and can propose changes to existing legislation, but his proposals can be rejected by a simple parliamentary majority.

The unicameral parliament - the National Assembly of Venezuela - consists of 165 deputies. 162 deputies are elected according to the proportional-list system in multi-mandate constituencies, including 97 personally, and 65 - according to party lists. The remaining 3 places are reserved for representatives of the indigenous peoples of Venezuela. The term of deputy powers is 5 years. Deputies can be elected for a maximum of three terms.

The highest judicial body is the Supreme Tribunal of Justice ( Tribunal Supremo de Justicia). Its magistrates are elected by Parliament for one 12-year term.

Political parties

In the parliamentary elections in December 2015, the opposition coalition, the Round Table of Democratic Unity, won with 56.2% of the vote and 109 out of 164 seats in parliament. The pro-presidential left-wing coalition, the Great Patriotic Pole, won 40.9% of the vote and will have 55 seats. Parties represented in Parliament:

• United Socialist Party of Venezuela - leftist pro-government party, 52 deputies.
  • The Communist Party of Venezuela, which won two seats in the National Assembly, and a number of other left-wing parties (People's Electoral Movement, Fatherland for All, For Social Democracy), which remained without representation, participated in the elections in a bloc with the EPUV.
• Round Table of Democratic Unity (Spanish) Mesa de la Unidad Democratica, in opposition), 109 deputies. Includes several dozen different parties and organizations, almost the entire political spectrum - from the extreme right to the extreme left, including the conservative Project Venezuela party, the Christian Democratic parties National Convergence and KOPEI, the centrist parties For Justice and People's will”, the social democratic parties “New Time”, “Democratic Action”, “Movement to Socialism”, “Alliance of the Fearless People” and “Progressive Vanguard”, the socialist “Radical Cause” and the Hoxhaist “Red Banner”.

Crime

The rise in crime is one of the main threats to Venezuelan society. In 2015, almost 28 thousand people were killed in the country, or 90 murders for every 100 thousand of the population. According to this indicator, Venezuela is ahead of most countries in Latin America. 90% of murders remain unsolved. Starting in 2005, the government stopped publishing complete statistics on crime.

Foreign policy

Venezuela takes an active part in the work of the UN and the Organization of American States (OAS), of which it is a member. It was also among the founding members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), established in 1960. Venezuela is a member of the Latin American Integration Association and, together with, and - in the Andean Pact. Venezuela also has a significant impact on other Caribbean countries through preferential oil supplies under the Petrocaribe program, which has been in place since 2005. Under W. Chavez, Venezuela joined the alliance of Latin American countries ALBA.

During high prices on oil, in the 1970s and early 1980s, Venezuela pursued a very tough and independent course during foreign policy. Having nationalized the oil industry, the country began to expand its sphere of influence, especially in the Caribbean. She played a leading role in the Contadora Group of Latin American States, created to promote a peaceful settlement of the crisis in (which was actively opposed). Together with other countries of the region, Venezuela actively participated in the development of collective measures to overcome the non-payment crisis and called on international organizations to pay close attention to the economic problems of the third world countries.

Venezuela has a long history of claiming west of the Essequibo River, about two-thirds of the area of ​​Guyana, and has border disputes with Colombia and the Netherlands Antilles. The 30-year-old dispute with Colombia over the ownership of the Gulf of Venezuela escalated in the late 1980s and early 1990s due to the fact that drug trafficking routes pass through it, as well as in connection with the discovery of new oil fields in the area.

In 1989, the UN sent a mediator to help Venezuela and Guyana resolve the dispute over the Essequibo region. After a series of border incidents, both countries signed an agreement in 1997 to establish a bilateral control commission. The mid-1990s were marked by border conflicts c on the basis of smuggling weapons and drugs across the border, as well as attacks by Brazilian gold miners on the Yanomamo Indians living in Venezuela.

In August 2015, a diplomatic conflict broke out between Venezuela and Colombia due to measures taken by Venezuela to combat paramilitary groups and smugglers, which included mass deportations of Colombians living in Venezuelan territory and the closure of the border.

In April 2017, Venezuela announced its withdrawal from the OAS. The process of the country's withdrawal from this association will take about two years.

Territorial claims

Map of Venezuela along with the disputed territory of Guyana (in the east).

At the end of the 19th century, Venezuela announced its claims to the territory of British Guiana to the west of the Essequibo River - after deposits of gold and diamonds were discovered there. In 1899, the International Arbitration Tribunal decided the dispute in favor of Britain; only a small area in the northwest of British Guiana was transferred to Venezuela.

Most of the country's Protestants are Pentecostals. The largest Pentecostal denomination is the Venezuelan Assemblies of God - 410 thousand believers. The Pentecostal movement is also represented by the United Pentecostal Church, the Fourfold Gospel Church, the Church of God, the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, and others. Adventists number 197,000 believers in their ranks. The National Baptist Convention unites 550 churches and 45 thousand believers, the Plymouth Brethren - 23 thousand, the Lutherans - 7 thousand, the Church of the Nazarene - 5 thousand.

Miscellaneous

• Venezuela is traditionally famous for the beauty of the female representatives. Girls from Venezuela have won the most prestigious beauty contests more often than girls from any other country: they have won seven Miss Universe, six Miss World, six Miss International and two Miss Earth contests.
• The asteroid 9357 Venezuela is named after Venezuela.

Bolivarian time zone

On August 19, 2007, President Chavez, speaking on his TV show, proposed changing the Venezuelan time zone. The Minister of Science and Technology of Venezuela, Hector Navarro, then stated that the transition to the new time will be carried out in mid-September 2007, it will move half an hour further from the current time of Venezuela (from UTC-4 to UTC-4:30), will bring the beginning of work and study of Venezuelans with daylight hours and "will have a beneficial effect on their health and well-being."

The UTC-4:30 time zone was already in use in Venezuela from 1912 to 1964.

Scheduled for September 24, 2007, the time change was delayed due to "bureaucratic formalities with international organizations". January 2008 was announced as the new time changeover time.

On November 26, 2007, the Decree of the President of Venezuela was issued on the transition to a new time zone from December 9, 2007.

Chavez's main motive for changing the country's time zone in 2007 is said to be anti-Americanism, which is confirmed by his statements about the "need to abandon the time imposed by American imperialism."

see also

• Hugo Chavez
• List of cities in Venezuela
• Klein-Venedig

Venezuela is located in South America just north of the equator, that is, on its territory, summer lasts all year round. In fact, the country beautiful place for a beach holiday with good developed infrastructure. In coastal waters, you can see a variety of fish and bizarre corals, which are carefully protected by the state. In Venezuela, there is the highest waterfall in the world - Angel, the spurs of the Andes come here, there is also the Guiana Plateau with mesas, which was described by Conan Doyle as the "Lost World". Numerous national parks and reserves amaze with the richness of flora and fauna - from the communities of the local savanna-llanos and rainforest along flat rivers, up to forested mountain slopes, which are pierced by hiking trails.

Geography

The Republic of Venezuela is located in the northern part of South America, in the east it borders on Guyana, in the south - on Brazil, in the southwest and west - on Colombia. In the north, its shores are washed by the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, Venezuela owns 72 offshore islands, the largest of which is Margarita. The country is divided into four geographic region. In the northwest and north is the Venezuelan Upland with the highest point country - Mount Pico Bolívar (5007 m), named after this outstanding fighter for the independence of Venezuela, whose bronze bust stands on the very top of the mountain. Capital: Caracas.

Time

Time difference with Moscow: from November to March it is 7 and a half hours behind Moscow, from April to October - by 8 and a half hours.

Climate

The climate is subequatorial. The average monthly temperature is 25-29 C. In the western part of the country, the rainy season is longer. In the northwest, the climate is drier than on the tropical coast. In the Andes, climatic and temperature conditions are more diverse and depend on the height above sea level. The highest peaks are constantly covered with snow.

Language

The main language is Spanish. English, French, German are also used.

Religion

Catholicism (96% of the population).

Population

21 million people. The population is divided into 3 large ethnic groups - whites (Spaniards), mestizos and mulattoes. Main nationalities and ethnic groups: 91% - Venezuelans, 3% - Colombians, 2% - Italians, 1% - Spaniards, 1% - Indians.

Electricity

Mains voltage: 110-120 V. Plugs are suitable - with two flat pins or with three pins - one round and two flat. It is necessary to stock up on an adapter in advance, because. not everywhere it is possible to buy an adapter, especially if your route runs through areas very remote from cities (Delta Orinoco, Gran Savana, Canaima, etc.).

Emergency Phones

emergency service - 120
fire department - 122
police - 133
ambulance - 144
information and references - 11 811 (within the country), 11 812 (outside the country)

Connection

The mobile communication system in Venezuela is quite well developed. Several mobile operators operate in the country: Corporacion Digitel, Digital Celular Gsm C.A. (Consortio Elca), Infonet Redes de Informacion CA and others. However, the coverage of mobile communications is limited: there are no problems with mobile communications mainly in the northern part of the country and in large cities, and in remote areas (especially in the Amazon, in the Orinoco Delta, in the Gran Savana areas, or in high mountainous regions) mobile communications may work only in places or not work at all. Tourists can purchase SIM cards of various operators immediately upon arrival at Caracas airport, and to replenish the account, you can use express payment cards sold everywhere in shops, kiosks and in the offices of mobile operators. Roaming with Russia is available to subscribers of the largest Russian operators (MTS is an exception so far).

Internet cafes are found in abundance in almost every locality, even in some large villages. Providers CantvNet (www.cantv.net), Compuserve Venezuela (www.csi.com.ve), Internet Venezuela (www.internet.ve) and others provide almost all types of network services. Internet cafes in large cities are found in almost every quarter.

Venezuela has a quite modern telecommunications system. Domestic and international calls can be made both from the offices of telephone companies, and from the numerous pay phones that are found in abundance on the streets of cities. Prepaid phone cards of various names and denominations are sold in almost any store or newsstand. Domestic calls usually cost no more than $0.1 per minute, long-distance calls about $0.2, and international calls from $1 (in the US) to $1.25 (most European countries).

Currency exchange

The country's currency is the bolivar, equal to 100 centimos. US dollars, French francs and Dutch guilders are widely circulated, especially in markets and private establishments. Major department stores and hotels accept credit cards and traveler's checks. Currency exchange is carried out at airports. banks, specialized exchange offices. Tips are 5-10% of the bill. In hotels and restaurants, it is often already included in the bill, but additional tips are not forbidden. For taxis, round the amount up. You can exchange money almost everywhere (in hotels, agencies, shops), but most favorable exchange rate exchange at the international airport of Caracas, so it is better to change at least the minimum amount immediately upon arrival. Attention! The services of individuals offering currency exchange are illegal (although they sometimes have a favorable exchange rate) - in such a case tourists are not guaranteed either safety or good faith when calculating the amount. A reliable way to exchange - in banks and exchange offices (casa de cambio). The reverse exchange of local currency (that is, the purchase of dollars and other types of currency) is quite difficult, so it is recommended to transfer only the amount you really need into bolivars. The indicative exchange rate is approximately US$1 = 2.15 Venezuelan bolivars (since July 2008)

Visa

On March 6, 2009, a visa-free regime between Russia and Venezuela comes into force. citizens Russian Federation holders of valid passports (with the exception of diplomatic and official) may enter, exit, transit and stay in Venezuela without visas for 90 days during each six months, starting from the date of first entry.

Customs regulations

Import and export of currency is not limited, for amounts over 10 thousand US dollars a declaration is required. Gold and jewelry are also declared. The transit of drugs and drug-containing medicines, weapons, pesticides is prohibited. The export of stuffed animals, skins and living specimens of rare representatives of the animal world is prohibited.

Holidays and non-working days

1st of January - New Year
January-February - Epiphany
March-May - Easter and Easter holidays
April 19 - Declaration of Independence
May 1 - Labor Day
June 24 - Day of the Battle of Carabobo during the Venezuelan War of Independence
July 5 - Independence Day
July 24 - Simon Bolivar's birthday
October 12 - America's Discovery Day and Columbus Day
December 25 - Christmas

Transport

Moving around Venezuela, much of which remains an unsolved book, is possible by car, including: minibuses, taxis and a rented SUV if you are already 21 years old, and of course buses: regular and first class. They differ from each other, first of all, in comfort, the first class is clearly in the lead in this correspondence dispute, besides, its routes are faster and more profitable. Large cities, hard-to-reach areas and numerous islands of Venezuela are connected by the movement of light aircraft. In addition, an important component of the Venezuelan transport system can be attributed to Indian canoes moving along full-flowing rivers, which, winding through the labyrinths of mangroves and impenetrable jungles, acquaint tourists with the delights of pristine nature.

There are no direct flights to Venezuela, so the flight will be with a transfer either in Europe, or in the USA, or in the Caribbean. Inside the country it is better to use local airlines. There is only one in the country Railway, which connects Barquisimeto and Puerto Cabello. There is a subway in Caracas, which consists of 3 lines. It operates from 5:30 to 23:00 every day.

Tips

Tipping is 10% of the amount indicated on the bill, but you can leave more for good service. Porters leave about 2 bolivars.

The shops

Of interest are gold items, llama wool carpets, traditional wooden masks, pearls from Margarita Island, as well as handicrafts - seed beads, woven hammocks, patterned woolen capes. Shops are open on weekdays and Saturdays from 9 am to 7 pm. Shopping is best on Margarita Island because it is a free trade zone and prices are lower.

National cuisine

The national cuisine is rich and varied. For Christmas and National holidays the main Venezuelan dish is alyaka - chicken, pork or beef stewed with spices. One of the most beloved national dishes is pabellon - rice, dark beans, minced beef and tajadas (ripe bananas cut into pieces and fried). In the Andes, squeak is popular - a thick and fragrant soup, as well as local delicacies from trout and sausage. In the state of Zulia, be sure to try the conejo en coco (rabbit cooked in coconut milk), which has a large selection of sweets and candies. Also try the arepa, a traditional Venezuelan taco. As drinking water It is recommended to use mineral or purified bottled water. Tourists are also recommended to try "aguacate-releno-con-camarones" - avocado stuffed with shrimp or crab meat with white sauce, "sancocho" - a thick soup of vegetables and meat or fish, "pabellon" - a mixture of spicy minced meat with vegetables, rice , beans and bananas. tropical fruits excellent, as are some of the local drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic): beer, "chicha" - milk with sugar, vanilla and rice paste, "batida" - milk with sugar, ice and fruit pulp. Venezuelan rum is considered one of the best in the world, the most popular cocktails are "ponche crema" based on egg liqueur and "cube libre" based on rum.

Attractions

flat landscape Llanos adorn palm groves with bizarre tropical flora and fauna. In the valleys - mangrove swamps, jaguars, bears, crocodiles, anacondas, boa constrictors (boas) and many other exotic species of plants and animals are found. Koeman - picturesque town with architecture in the Spanish colonial style - the first settlement of Europeans in South America. To the east of the town lies the Mochima National Park. City Porlamar to the island of Margarita, 60 km away from the continent, is the main seaside resort countries. The island has 315 km of coastline dotted with magnificent beaches, numerous high-end hotels and resort areas. There is also a cosmetology center La Samana Spa with treatment with sea salts. The colorful and diverse city of Porlamar is a duty-free zone. Once in Venezuela, you can not only relax on margarita island but also to visit Trinidad island(visa not needed, 19 km to mainland Venezuela), on the three Dutch islands - each of these air routes lasts no longer than 50 minutes.

Aruba island, located 20 km from Venezuela, has a reputation as one of the best Caribbean resorts- 18 hotels on the beaches with amazing white sand. A little to the east - the famous curacao island(80 km to the Venezuelan coast, 30 miles to the islands of Bonaire and Aruba) - 8 first-class hotels, 6 of which are on the beach. Bonaire Island, the most modest of all three in terms of comfort and entertainment, only 4 hotels. On all three islands, half of the hotels have a casino and are five-star, everything is clean everywhere, like in Holland itself (and the islands belong to it) and are very conducive to relaxation. Aruba even has a submarine, golf, canoe, catamaran, scuba diving, carnival, gorgeous old town streets, just like Curaçao. Aruba and Curaçao are among the few points of entry for US cruise ships from Florida on the Caribbean.Islas los Roques Archipelago, fairy world corals, these are 340 tiny islands, shoals and atolls, surrounded by a coral barrier reef of marvelous beauty. Water near the archipelago, depending on the place and time of day, takes on all kinds of shades - from dark blue to emerald green. Complements this idyllic picture of sparkling white coral sand and the shining sun. Here is a heavenly place - the Archipelago los Roques National Park. State of Merida tourists visit most often, as one of the highest and most impressive mountain peaks- Bolivar Peak. Espejo Peak rises next to it, with the highest and longest cable car in the world - 12 km of the path with a height difference from 1577 to 4765 meters above sea level, built by the French in 1956, with trailers for 40 people. San Cristobal, the modern and prosperous capital of the state of Tachira, is best known for its bullfighting and late-night fiestas. IN barquiscimento, famous for its wines, every year on January 14 a religious procession takes place, people from all over the country come here to participate in this colorful holiday. The most attractive tourist routes are: Caracas - Ciudad Bolivar - El Dorado (to the reserve of the same name and Canaima National Park), as well as along the coast of the Caribbean Sea and to the Lesser Antilles. Interesting Lagoon Maracaibo, known as the main base area for pirates in the 15th-17th centuries, 39 National Parks: Serrania de Neblina, Jaua Sarisarinama, etc.

Resorts

O. Margarita- one of the most beautiful islands of Venezuela, the coastline of which is famous for its magnificent beaches and numerous high-level hotels. The island is located in the Caribbean Sea at 45 min. flight from Caracas. total area is 930 sq. km/ The beaches of the island stretch for 244 km. The climate is tropical, the average annual temperature is 25 ° - 30 ° C. On about. Margarita is the famous El Yake beach, where international windsurfing competitions are held. There are two national parks on the island and as many national reserves. Margarita is the most large island country - located in the Caribbean Sea, 38 km from northern shores Venezuela (25 minutes flight from Caracas) and together with the islands of Coche and Cubagua makes up the state of New Esparta. On an island of 930 sq. km reigns tropical climate co average annual temperature air +25°-+30° С.

Caracas is the capital and the most populated city in Venezuela. It is located 30 km from the Caribbean coast and Puerto de La Guaira, where the national international Airport Simon Bolivar. It reaches a height of 800 meters, located at the foot of the Avila National Park, which provides it with a favorable microclimate. Ávila is home to the Magical Ávila Park and the Humboldt Hotel, which can be reached by cable car (Teleferico). This is undoubtedly one of tourist attractions which is in the city. At an altitude of 2100 meters you can enjoy skating, breathing fresh high mountain air, admiring the magical panorama of the Caribbean Sea on the one hand and a huge modern city on the other (if there is no cloudy weather).

The main attraction Coche Islands, located a few kilometers south of about. Margarita, are its white sandy beaches and absolutely transparent, clean coastal waters. Not far from the island passes coral reef attracting snorkellers. For the pursuit of others water sports Playa la Punta beach, which is popular with tourists, is especially suitable for sports. The island, which is 11 km long and 6 km wide, is dominated by desert landscapes, composed of intricately curved hills and deserted beaches. The locals are peaceful and leisurely, which is facilitated by the activity fishing and the extraction of salt, which is considered one of the highest quality in the region. At the beginning of the 16th century, colonizers found pearls in local salt deposits. The island is ideal for lovers of solitude who can combine beach holiday with quad bike rides and trips to about. Margarita with the world's best surf beach, nightclubs and duty free shops. Special ferries run between the islands twice a day.

If dinosaurs could survive somewhere on Earth, then only in Canaime one of the largest national parks in the world. Canaima is located in the most ancient part of our planet: the age of the "Guayana massif" is more than 2 million years. The presence of plateaus inaccessible from the earth contributed to the fact that on the flat tops of the mountains, unique flora and fauna were preserved, which are no longer on our planet. A characteristic feature of this region is tepui - mountains with flat tops that grow right out of the Earth in the savannah or jungle.

Main attraction Cumans and its environs - magnificent beaches, the fame of the pearl sand of which spread throughout Europe in the 16th century. Marine park-reserve Made up of dozens of small islands between Cumana and Puerto de la Cruz, Mochima attracts divers and snorkelers from all over the world. In the underwater realm of the national park among the coral reefs and mysterious caves rest the remains of wrecked ships.

Los Roques Islands are famous for their white sandy beaches, the most popular of which are on the islands of Gran Roque and Kraska. The sand is light cream, clean and soft, which happens only in the Caribbean, and the water is 26-28°C. Los Roques is the place for those who want to completely disconnect from civilization, relax, swim and walk around barefoot. But some of the benefits of civilization are still present: there is a shop where you can buy fine rum, a pizzeria and two or three bars serving mojitos.