10 main facts about Venezuela that tourists need to know
1.Venezuela was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1498. And the name was given to it by Amerigo Vespucci, who wandered near Lake Maracaibo and saw Indian dwellings on the water. They reminded him strongly of Venice, and then it was decided to call new land"Venezuela", that is, "Little Venice".
2. There is a cult of Simon Bolivar in Venezuela.. At one time (in the first half of the 19th century), he liberated the countries of South America from colonists, and almost created a huge state similar to the USA - the United States of South America, Gran Colombia. According to his plan, it would be one of the most influential states in the world.
The veneration of Bolivar by Venezuelans is similar to the veneration of Vladimir Lenin by the inhabitants of the USSR during the era of communism. The highest peak in the country is 5000 meters, called Bolivar Peak. Money in Venezuela is “bolivar”. You will see the image of the national hero everywhere: on the streets, in homes and offices. In schools, children study Bolivar's biography in detail. In big and small cities there is always a place named after the leader of the revolution. Usually this central square, on which his monument is erected. According to the existing rule, if Bolivar won a battle near the city, then his bronze statue should “sit” on a horse and with weapons.
In the capital of Venezuela, Caracas, there are three main places: the house where Simon Bolivar was born and raised, the National Pantheon, where his remains are located, and presidential palace, in which there is an empty chair that participates in all cabinet meetings. Former President of the country Hugo Chavez said that this is the chair in which the ghost of Simon Bolivar sits.
Interesting ending political path Bolivar. “With tears in his eyes, he said: “Independence is the only thing we have achieved. At the cost of everything else." After this he went into exile. Eight months later, the former leader of the revolution died of tuberculosis. And Gabriel Garcia Marquez was inspired by this story and wrote a book about the collapse of all illusions, “The General in His Labyrinth.”
3. 1 liter of gasoline in Venezuela costs about 47 kopecks. For 1 dollar you will fill the tank full. Venezuela is one of the world's richest countries in terms of mineral reserves (the country ranks 4th in the world in oil production and third in its exports).
4. Venezuela has the world's tallest waterfall. It is called Salto Angel, and has nothing to do with angels. Its name comes from the American pilot James Angel, who crashed near the falls in 1935. The Pemon Indians who live nearby call it "Waterfall" deepest place" Water pours from a height of almost 1 kilometer (979 meters). It is so high that the water does not reach the ground, turning into dense fog. The waterfall is located in the tropical Canaime National Park of Venezuela.
5. The capital of Venezuela, Caracas, has one of the highest crime rates in the world.. Venezuelans are even a little proud of this, as one of their strong qualities. In Caracas there is such a thing: barrios. The poor live there, and the level of crime there is such that the state police do not even dare go there without heavy equipment. In fact, Barios residents do not pay taxes, and of course, they do not pay for utilities. The most interesting thing is that the inhabitants of these slums consider themselves happy people. About 95% of Venezuelans answered the question “Are they satisfied with their lives” - “Yes”.
6. The official language in Venezuela is Spanish. Few people speak English, even in tourist places.
7. 96% of the country's believers are Catholics, about 2% are Protestants, and 2% are from other denominations. On the island of Margaret, Saint Virgen del Valle is especially revered. Locals affectionately call her “virgensita” and worship her in almost every home.
9. The most traditional fast food in Venezuela– arepas (corn tortillas) and empanadas – fried corn flour pies filled with meat, cheese, fish, eggs or vegetables. The national snack is “tequeños” - crispy cheese sticks fried in dough. The most popular drinks on Margarita: alcoholic cocktail “cuba libre” - rum and cola, “hugo de parcita” - passion fruit juice with sugar, “hugo de licosa” - papaya juice and coffee (“con leche” - with milk) , “cocada” is a coconut drink with milk and rum, “papellon con lemon” is sugar cane juice with lemon.
10. Mañana– a concept that characterizes the character of Venezuelans. Manyana means “tomorrow”. That is, “let’s leave everything for later.” Writer Isabel Allende in her book “Eva Luna” explained the reasons for the Latin American mentality: “There has never been hunger here. Whatever it is, you can reach out and pick a mango. It shaped our character."
Christina Lebedinskaya lived in Venezuela for three years, having traveled this country far and wide. The girl has been living in Belarus for about six months, but she can talk about Venezuela for hours.
- Venezuela has a rather hot climate. Do they add a lot of spices to local dishes?
There are practically no spices. They have their own local spice, Adobo, which is light, not cloying, but monotonous. I remember in India I was amazed by the abundance of different tastes. The countries are similar in climate and economic situation, but in Venezuela, compared to India, everything tastes the same. Do you want to change it? Snack on a fried banana! Basically everything is fried and very fatty. For frying, and for salads, they use corn or soybean oil. In street eateries healthy eating you won't meet. But I had the opportunity to eat amazingly delicious steamed dishes when visiting locals.
- What are the main products consumed in Venezuela?
Rice, beans, corn, vegetables and beef. Corn flour is mainly used to prepare national dishes. The most affordable meat is beef. Although it is not cheap. There is a crisis in Venezuela now, and as a result there are frequent shortages of one product or another. Either there is no flour in the country, then there is no sugar, then there is no milk. Official rate dollar - 6.3 bolivars. But banks are prohibited from selling currency. This is the policy. On the black market, the dollar is worth 72 bolivars, and people are willing to pay at that rate. My salary was not enough. An acquaintance wrote that now a kilogram of beef costs... 250 bolivars, tomatoes - 50. This is with an average salary of 5 thousand. Rice, corn flour, and milk powder are cheap. A couple bags of flour can feed a family for a week. And they buy it. But when there are interruptions in the supply of food, then quotas are introduced: no more than two packs of flour, the same amount of sugar and two bottles of corn oil per person. But seasonal vegetables are tolerable, although prices are rising incredibly quickly.
- How is street food in Venezuela?
There is street food. These are small cafes - dirty and unpleasant. Or iron carriages - in America they are used to sell hot dogs. But not every Venezuelan will eat such food. They sell local stuff there National dish- arepa. It is a cornmeal tortilla filled with ham, butter and cheese. Everything is covered with ketchup and mayonnaise. In fact, this is what they eat for breakfast all over the country. If you are a visitor and decide to have breakfast, then in the morning you will not find anything except arepas. Maybe in Caracas, in some large cities there are expensive restaurants where you can find English breakfast on the menu.
You can't eat cheese for the first two weeks!
When I first went to Venezuela, I was warned that for at least two weeks I should not eat anything that was not thermally processed. You can only eat rice, boiled meat, and stewed vegetables. But, of course, I wanted cheese.
And poisoning. It happens to almost everyone who comes there. Now a friend was poisoned immediately upon arrival. The fact is that local cheese is literally called “made by hand.” It’s like our young cheese, like a rustic one. It just takes time for your stomach to get used to it. I remember on my first visit to Venezuela I tried seafood from local merchants on the coast. Intoxication, temperature below 40, rash, vomiting. After that incident, I no longer experiment with beautiful shrimp and octopus. And I try my best to dissuade the guys from buying them. This is Russian roulette.
- Did you have the feeling that the products there were somehow different? Do bananas look and smell different or are the potatoes not the same as in Belarus?
Oh, there are three types of bananas. Large feed ones - they are not as sweet and are mostly deep fried or made into chips as a side dish. There are medium bananas, like ours. And there are small ones, about 12 centimeters - they are very sweet. Bananas are added everywhere. In sushi bars you can often find tempura maki (fried sushi - Ed.) wrapped in fried banana!
- Apparently there is a lot of fruit?
The national fruits are mangoes, tangerines, oranges, passion fruit and lechosa (small papaya). Juices are made from lechos. This is a very healthy fruit that cleanses the kidneys and liver, and is eaten for gastritis. Puddings are made from passion fruit and added to baked goods. But there are no cherries or cherries at all. Strawberries are picked only in one region and transported throughout the country - a great delicacy. Apples, pears, grapes and large blue plums are imported from the USA.
“I come to the store and there is no flour”
Venezuelan cuisine is not monotonous. In large cities you can find both Asian and European cuisine. In addition, each region has its own specifics. For example, on Maracaibo (this is the coast - Ed.) they prepare a very tasty dish that you will not find anywhere else. These are cheese sticks with the addition of cottage cheese, which are rolled in flour and fried in a large amount of corn oil. Oddly enough, the taste is reminiscent of our donuts. The best cuisine - and all Venezuelans recognize this - is in the Merida region. There are many places where trout are raised artificially. As a rule, Venezuelans go there to unwind, because it is the beginning of the Andes, which extend all the way to Patagonia! Many tourists catch the fish themselves, which is immediately prepared by local chefs. In the morning here you can have breakfast with scrambled eggs with a pita-like flatbread, a large slice of avocado and bacon, and drink fresh strawberry juice. This is bliss! For me, Merida is a break from the hustle and bustle.
In Merida, you can stay in a quiet and relaxing hotel, like a house with turnkey rooms. By the way, this is the only place where you can buy sour cream. Usually you won't find it in Venezuela. But we love this product so much!
Near Caracas there is a German village, Colonia Tovar. Strawberries are grown here and German sausages and knuckle are made. Amazing place. Three hours by car along the serpentine road - and you feel like you’re in Germany! The thing is that this German settlement lives its own life, making money from tourism. There you can find all the vegetables of Venezuela!
- Do food shortages happen often?
Once I celebrated my birthday in Venezuela. And I wanted to make an anthill for the guests. I come to the store and there is no flour. I had to negotiate with the saleswoman to give me a kilogram of flour, which they use to bake bread, from under the counter. I felt like a smuggler. But this doesn't happen often.
- What drinks do Venezuelans prefer?
Alcohol is always rum mixed with Coke or Pepsi. There is beer, but it's like water. Mostly everyone drinks soda. I do not recommend buying fresh juices for those who have just arrived in the country. They put ice in them, but you don't know what kind of water it was made from. Regarding water: only bottled. And it’s even better to boil it and add a slice of lemon.
-Where do you mostly buy food?
Everything on the market is one and a half times cheaper, but there is no guarantee of quality. Everything seems to be fine in the store, but for some reason it always smells like something rotten. Although I have never been poisoned by the products I bought there. And one more thing about nutrition. Venezuelans, due to the fact that the food is fatty and fried all the time, suffer in most cases overweight. But they also eat a lot of so-called food garbage - all kinds of waffles, cookies, buns...
WORTH COOKING
Pabillon
Needed: banana, rice, beef, various vegetables, black beans.
How to cook: boil the beef and tear it into strips. We cut the vegetables and simmer together with pieces of beef in their own juice. Cut the banana into large pieces and fry in plenty of corn oil. Serve with rice and black beans on the same plate.
Arepa
Water, salt and cornmeal are mixed into a stiff dough. The flatbreads are rolled out and fried in a frying pan. Then the flatbread is cut and butter, ham, and cheese are placed inside. Everything is covered in ketchup and mayonnaise.
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brief information
Once upon a time, Arthur Conan Doyle wrote a science fiction novel, The Lost World, which described the adventures of an English scientific expedition V South America. Few people know that Conan Doyle was inspired to write this novel by the Canaima National Park, 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 state border– 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 branch 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.
Basic political parties– ESPV (United Socialist Party of Venezuela), Coalition of Democratic Unity and Communist Party.
Administratively, the country is divided into 23 states, one Federal District(Caracas area) and Federal possessions (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 vacation 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 as folk musical instruments Violins and guitars began to be used, and after the arrival of Africans, drums.
Traditional local folk dance– “Joropo”, which has 36 variations of basic steps (this is a pair dance).
Main religious holiday– 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. Very an important part Venezuelan cuisine - 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 without alcoholic drinks– “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 are National parks 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's very unusual to see them in 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 are Maracaibo, Caracas, Valencia, Ciudad Guayana, Maracay, Barquisimeto and Barcelona.
The most famous place in Venezuela for a beach holiday is Margarita Island, located in the southern Caribbean Sea. Margarita has a well-developed beach recreation infrastructure, beautiful snow-white beaches, palm trees and excellent conditions for water 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 great for water sports, including diving and sailing.
North of Caracas are coral islands Los Roques archipelago, where last years The tourism industry is actively developing.
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 are handicrafts, hammocks, dolls, Jewelry, figurines of Indian leaders, traditional Indian clothing, sandals, Indian bows and arrows, coffee and cocoa.
Office hours
Venezuela, official name The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish: República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country in the northern part of the South American continent, the sixth largest state by area (more than 912 thousand km²). In the north it is washed by waters and Atlantic Ocean, in the east it borders with (border length - 743 km), in the west and southwest - with (urban region 2050 km), in the south and southeast - with (urban region 2200 km).
Venezuela also includes more than 40 islands, the largest of which is (Spanish: Isla Margarita), more than 70 coral islets and about 200 reefs in the southern Caribbean Sea. Capital - (Spanish: Caracas).
By existing version, the name of the country was given by an Italian explorer (Italian: Amerigo Vespucci), who visited these places as part of the admiral’s expedition in 1499. Entering and seeing the houses of the local population, built on stilts in the middle of the water and reminiscent of the European Venice, he named the area Venezuela ( "Little Venice").
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general information
Political system: independent federal Republic with a presidential form of government. Elected for a 6-year term by universal suffrage, the president is the head of government and state. After the death of the permanent president of the state, since April 19, 2013, he has been (Spanish: Nicolás Maduro Moros).
The legislative body of the state is bicameral National Assembly or Assembly-Nacional (Spanish: Asamblea Nacional). 167 deputies (Spanish: diputados) are elected to the unicameral parliament at the local level for a period of 5 years, three seats are traditionally reserved for indigenous representatives Indian population countries.
Venezuela is divided into 23 administrative states (estado) and one capital district (district), along with this, 11 groups of Caribbean islands are separated into independent federal states.
Official language: Spanish. Also in use are English, German, French and more than 30 dialects of local Indian peoples (, Carib, etc.).
Religion: Freedom of religion is constitutionally guaranteed in Venezuela. More than 96% of the country's believers are adherents Roman Catholic Church, about 2% are Protestants, about 2% are representatives of other faiths.
Currency: Bolivar, 1 Bolivar = 100 centimos. The following banknote denominations are in use: 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 coins: 1, 5, 10, 12.5, 25, 50 and 1 bolivar.
Favorite sports games: baseball, basketball, football (no error, chronographic order is correct)
Excursion into history
The first inhabitants of Venezuela were settled Indian tribes who were engaged in agriculture, hunting or fishing. These fertile lands were discovered in 1498. For more than 25 years, Europeans did not move further than the coast; the first European settlement was founded in 1523. In the second half of the 16th century, active colonization of the country by the Spaniards began. On sugar, tobacco and cocoa plantations, the labor of the local population was mercilessly exploited. The country's lands were formally part of the viceroyalty, but political and religious power belonged to officials and bishops sent from Spain. As a result of the revolutionary struggle in 1812-1821. under the command of (Spanish: Simón Bolívar), the Spaniards were defeated, and in 1829 Venezuela declared its independence. In the 1840s and 1850s. Slavery was abolished and progressive reforms were introduced.
In the period 1899 -1948. the country was ruled by caudillos (Spanish “caudillo” - leader), called “Andinos”. When oil fields were discovered here before the First World War, British, Dutch, and then American capital began to penetrate here. In 1928, the country was second only to the United States in oil production. During the period 1940-1960. The country was ruled by military dictators, often replaced by military coups. In 1969, for the first time in the history of the state, power was transferred constitutionally from one president to another. As a result of the Arab-Israeli war in 1973, oil prices increased sharply. For the country, this resulted in a sharp increase in commodity imports, a wave of illegal immigration, and increased corruption. After the decline in the oil boom on the world market, the country was gripped by a deep, long-term economic crisis.
In the 1980s all government efforts were aimed at overcoming it. Venezuela entered the 21st century with new hopes. Today Venezuela, without exaggeration, is the most influential country in South America.
Population
The total population is more than 31.9 million people (December 2017), the majority of whom (about 67%) are mestizos, 21% come from European countries (Spaniards, Italians, Germans, Portuguese), 10% - Africans and 2% - Indians, descendants of indigenous semi-nomadic peoples.
More than 90% of the country's population lives in urban areas of the coastal (northern) part of the country.
Climate
The entire territory of the state is located within the South American tropical zone; the southernmost point of Venezuela is located slightly north of the equator. However, due to differences in altitude, the climate in the country varies markedly: from the humid, sweltering heat on the Caribbean coast to the severe cold in the Andean eternal snow zone (western region of the country).
More comfortable conditions for human habitation are found at higher elevations. It is as a result of this that all major cities of the country are located at an altitude of 600-1850 m above sea level. At altitudes exceeding 1800 m, weather close to the climate of temperate latitudes. At altitudes exceeding 3 thousand m it is quite cold, farming here is almost impossible, sheep breeding becomes the main activity. On more than 3/4 of the country, the climate is characterized by alternating seasons: the rainy season (May - November) and the dry season (December - April). On the coast, the average annual air temperature is +28°C. In the mountains, the average annual temperature decreases: from +22°C (at an altitude of about 800 m) to +10°C (at an altitude of about 3 thousand m). You can swim in the sea all year round.
Cities
Venezuela is characterized high degree urbanization: 9 out of 10 Venezuelans live in cities. The largest city in the country is Caracas, with a population of 1.8 million people. The country's major cities include: (1.75 million), (about 1.5 million), (more than 1 million), (830 thousand), (424.9 thousand), (411 thousand), Petare (364.7 thousand ), Ciudad Bolivar (338 thousand), Cumana (257.8 thousand) and San Cristobal (246.6 thousand).
The southern zone of the country, from the Orinoco rivers to the borders with Brazil and Colombia, has never been distinguished by population density: here rocky plateaus alternate with short-grass dry steppes and impenetrable forests, and the population density is no more than 2-3 people per 1 km².
Economy
Venezuela is not a rich country. The basis of the economy is oil production. It is oil that provides about 80% of export revenues; in addition, approximately 30% of the gross domestic product and more than 50% of the state budget revenues also come from oil. In addition to oil production, the oil refining, sugar and textile industries have developed here; the production of building materials, iron ore mining, steel and aluminum smelting, the production of car tires and automobile assembly are important.
With the support of the government, the country is developing the heavy and petrochemical industries.
Since 2016, the Venezuelan economy has been experiencing a severe crisis with the highest inflation rate in the world.
Agriculture accounts for only about 14% of the country's gross domestic product. Rice, corn, sugar cane, bananas, coffee, sorghum, and various vegetables are cultivated on the territory of the state. Beef, pork, eggs, milk are produced, and fishing is quite developed. Yet Agriculture satisfies only ¹⁄3 of the country's food needs.
It is worth noting that the Bolivarian Republic has never been in such a deplorable situation. The country that has the largest on earth natural resources, by 2019 was on the verge of collapse. Skyrocketing inflation, rolling blackouts, shortages of food and essential goods - all these problems faced the population in full height. With the exception of some support from Cuba and Russia, Venezuela found itself isolated with a virtually empty treasury. The IMF estimated the country's annual inflation at 1,500%, calling it the highest in the world.
Nature, flora and fauna
Venezuela is a country of mountains and plains, forests and savannas. Basic natural regions: Andes mountains (almost the entire north and west of the country are occupied by mountain spurs) and (Spanish: Maracaibo) in the northwest, plains in the center, delta in the east, Guiana Highlands in the southeast.
The country's territory is very diverse in terms of altitudes above sea level, precipitation and other climatic conditions. This explains rich variety fauna and flora of the country.
The northern coast has a typically Caribbean flora, with a variety of legume trees and many species of cacti. The Venezuelan Andes are characterized by vegetation of high-altitude grasslands and temperate forests. The flora of the Orinoco basin is incredibly diverse, its origin is associated with rain forests. Sugarcane and coffee plantations are located here, and many families of legumes and palm trees are represented. South of the country: Hevea brasiliensis, rubber castilla and rope palm - piaçaba - are common here. Small in area, but the most interesting floristic region is occupied by the Serra Pacaraima mountains (Spanish: Sierra Pacaraima), a ridge in the center at the junction of the borders of Venezuela, Guyana and Brazil. This is an ancient relict zone; narrowly endemic heathers, bromeliads, madder and cypress grow here.
The natural splendor of Venezuela
The Orinoco Basin occupies about 4⁄5 of the state's territory. (Spanish Llanos), located north of the river, is a succession of vast thickets of cereals, savannas, woodlands and palm groves. Approaching the Caribbean coast, deciduous tropical forests become drier, gradually acquiring the character of thorny thickets. In the south and east of the country, deciduous forests turn into typical Amazonian rainforests - tall evergreen trees and numerous vines. An impenetrable dense moss forest, also called rain or cloud forest, covers the slopes of the Venezuelan mountains. This is a temperate climate zone, the habitat of the cinchona tree (Cinchona). Higher up are treeless (Spanish: Páramo) dominated by exotic species of Espeletia (Spanish: Espeletia), low shrubs and cushion plants. These alpine plant communities are striking in their abundance of vibrant colors.
Venezuela is home to the puma, jaguar, ocelot, bush dog, tayra (a relative of the marten), otter, prehensile-tailed porcupine, tapir, nutria, as well as a variety of monkeys, piggies and peccaries. A variety of rodents are found in abundance in the forests and savannah areas, including the opossum and agouti hare, many species of fallow deer, wild goats, and small deer. Venezuelan rivers and the warm Caribbean Sea are home to a wide variety of fish. Crocodiles, alligators and turtles live in the rivers. The jungle fauna is represented by a huge variety of lizards. The lowland regions are home to cranes, storks, herons, ducks and other aquatic game. There are an abundance of birds of prey in the mountains.
Venezuela: Attractions
Venezuela is often called the “Pearl of Travelers.” This is an absolutely amazing country that can enchant you with its unique landscapes, sandy beaches, warm waves of the Caribbean Sea, sparkling mountain peaks and excellent recreational conditions. The global popularity of these places is growing day by day.
Venezuela - a pearl for travelers
We could list all the attractions endlessly, but let’s try to highlight the main ones.
Simon Bolivar, an extraordinarily revered national hero of the war of 1812-1821. for the independence of the country, had a serious influence on the culture of Venezuela. A kind of cult of this famous political leader reigns here. On city streets you can see many monuments to Bolivar. Each of the monuments is unique, sometimes the creation of one monument lasts several years. Venezuelans consider the Capitol (el Capitolio), where Simon Bolivar was buried in 1636, to be the most important attraction of their country. This grandiose building with amazing architecture represents the great deeds of the national hero.
A must-see is the Fine Arts Museums and Natural Sciences. Large History museums in Maracaibo and Trujillo will provide insights into the history of Venezuela and its neighboring countries, as well as other world civilizations.
It is impossible to imagine a country without bullrings. This terrible and at the same time majestic spectacle has long been one of the main attractions of the country; you can watch the battles in Valencia.
Cumaná (Spanish: Cumaná) is the oldest city in the country on the Caribbean Sea, the largest port in the country. The port of Cumana has often become a tasty bait for pirates; it is considered the birthplace of pearl seekers. It is from here that the Indians originate, which, of course, affected the culture of the city. There is such an abundance of attractions here that Cumana seems to be rediscovered every time.
(Spanish: Caracas) is the capital of Venezuela, located near the coast, on a plateau (altitude 835 m above sea level). The city's architecture features an amazing mix of ultra-modern high-rise buildings and colonial-era buildings. The capital is located in a picturesque valley surrounded Caribbean Andes, and is cultural center states. There are several museums in the city: Colonial Art, Fine Arts, Contemporary art, the Bolivar Museum, the Creole Museum and the Gallery of National Art (it exhibits more than 400 works by authors of the colonial period, as well as ancient objects found in archaeological excavations of indigenous Indian tribes of pre-colonial eras). In Caracas you can visit one of the most beautiful and richest botanical gardens in the world.
Mérida is a city located in a mountain valley at an altitude of about 1640 m. The main attraction of the city is Pico Bolívar, 4981 m - highest peak Venezuela, where the monument to Simon Bolivar is erected. From Merida, tourist excursions depart to the mountain village of Los Nevados, the only settlement lying at such an altitude (2711 m).
(Spanish: Trujillo), next to which is Mount Pena de La Virgen, where the Virgen de la Pena Chapel (Spanish: de la Virgen de la Peña) is carved into the rock and a 47-meter figure of the Virgin is installed, which, according to legend, has miraculous powers. by force. In clear weather, from the height where the statue stands, a stunning view of the snowy peaks and Lake Maracaibo opens.
Guanare (Spanish: Guanare) is a city in northwestern Venezuela, the spiritual capital of the country. Here is the Virgen de Coromoto Church in honor of the country's patron saint.
In ancient times, pirate camps were located near Lake Maracaibo. The Rafael Urdaneta Bridge, one of the longest in the world, spans the lake, surrounded by picturesque vegetation. The Sinamaiko lagoon (Canaima lagoon) is very interesting, on the banks of which live the red-skinned Anu Indians, who build their houses on tree stilts.
(Spanish: Llanos) - Venezuelan savanna, habitat of more than 350 species of birds and many mammals (up to 50 species). There is no major cities and industries, there are practically no roads, hunting is prohibited here, so nature has been preserved in its original form, and animals are not afraid of people. There are livestock ranches where guinea pigs, iguanas, crocodiles and various birds are bred. The capital of the Llanos - (Barquisimeto) - one of oldest cities country, the fourth largest.
In the region of the Guiana Plateau there is an abundance of “table mountains”, one of which is the same “ lost World", described by Conan Doyle. This mountain stands at the junction of the borders of Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana.
The most popular resort today is considered to be beautiful, named after the Austrian princess and famous for its white sand beaches. Windsurfing fans come here from all over the world. An interesting feature of the island: while on one side there are always strong waves, on the other there is a light sea breeze. The island has 3 nature reserves and 2 national parks, where you can see magnificent flamingos, pelicans and countless parrots. In addition, the island is a free (duty-free) trade zone, which means shopping here will be very pleasant.
The main natural Venezuelan miracle is the highest mountain in the world (Spanish: Salto Ángel, 979 m). Having seen it at least once with your own eyes, it is impossible to forget this fantastic spectacle.
The country’s special pride is its National Parks. Avila Park (Spanish: Ávila, area 81.8 thousand hectares) is located on the slope of a mountain range. Here you can take the cable car to the top of El Avila peak (height 2175 m), where observation deck A breathtaking panorama of the capital and the coast opens. Macarao Park (Spanish Parque Nacional Macarao, area 15 thousand hectares) is designed to preserve the biodiversity of the Macarao, San Pedro and Jarillo rivers, as well as the natural world of the coastal mountains. To the south of the capital lies Guatopo Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Guatopo).
In the southwest of the country there is a vast (Spanish: Parque Nacional Canaima), which is a fabulous corner of nature with titanic table mountains, dense forests and vast savannas, with deep rivers, enchanting lagoons, majestic waterfalls and rich natural world. Here you can get acquainted in natural conditions with the life and culture of the Pemón Indian tribe, with its traditional crafts, folklore and original cuisine.
Undoubtedly, visiting the country will give you a lot of pleasure and leave you with the most unforgettable experience, because holidays in this amazing country are endlessly varied. Venezuela will delight lovers of beach holidays by the sea and those who are interested in the original culture of ancient peoples, as well as connoisseurs of wildlife.
Some interesting facts
This phenomenon is attributed to Andean winds that cause thunderstorms and swampy soils that produce methane gas that fuels electrical discharges.
- It’s strange, but football is only in third place in popularity in the country, after baseball and basketball. All Latin America“fans” football.
- Alas, Venezuela is a dirty country, with garbage strewn everywhere on the streets. But never throw garbage yourself, as this will offend the local residents. Although the city streets are dirty, the beaches are always clean.
- Venezuelans are very emotional people; they talk loudly and actively gesticulate.
- It is customary to pay with cards everywhere in the country, even in street stalls.
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Venezuela is a small but very interesting and in many ways contradictory country. It is inhabited by Latin Americans, in whose blood flows the blood of the conquistadors from Spain and the Indians. Today, more and more not only tourists, but also immigrants are flocking to Venezuela. What is interesting in this country?
Venezuela – Second Venice
This country owes its name to an Italian navigator named Vespucci, who, upon arriving here, compared this region with Venice. The name "Venezuela" is derived from the Italian "Venezia" or "Venesia". Indeed, many travelers note the similarities between the landscapes and architecture of Venezuela and Venice.
Some of the most beautiful girls in the world are in Venezuela
It is girls and women from Venezuela who are the most frequent winners at beauty contests of various sizes. Like many Latin Americans, Venezuelans have a bright, memorable appearance, and this applies not only to the fair sex.
Venezuelans are baseball fans
The most popular sport in this country is baseball. Each country has its own “favorite” sport - for example, in Canada it is hockey, in the USA it is American football, in Great Britain it is polo. Venezuelans enjoy playing baseball from a very young age.
Clanism is developed in Venezuela
The people of Venezuela have very strong family ties. Children are in no hurry to separate from their parents and often live with them until they get married. Often, even after marriage, young people continue to live with the family of one of the spouses. Houses under the roofs of which several generations live at once are not uncommon here.
The capital of the country is one of the most dangerous cities in the world
This is perhaps the most important fact for tourists - the city, which is the capital of Venezuela, is officially recognized as one of the most dangerous cities in the world. When going here, you must follow all precautions to avoid becoming a victim of crime.
Venezuelans have a sweet tooth
Despite the fact that residents of Latin American countries are usually considered lovers of spicy foods (for example, in Mexico, hot red pepper is added to almost all dishes), in Venezuela, ingredients that serve as sweeteners are added to many dishes and drinks. The inhabitants of this country have a big sweet tooth.
Venezuela has the ninth place in the world in oil production
This state ranks ninth in the world ranking in terms of oil production. It is for this reason that Venezuela was included in another rating - countries where gasoline is cheap. Revenues from the oil industry largely shape the country's economy.
You shouldn't practice English here
Just as the French don’t like it when people try to speak to them in English, the Venezuelans don’t like it either. Therefore, it is advisable even for tourists to use Spanish in order to communicate with local residents. In addition, even minimal knowledge of Spanish will allow you to gain special respect and sympathy.
The highest waterfall in the world is in Venezuela
In this country you can admire the highest waterfall in the world, called “Angel”. The maximum point from which the water falls reaches 979 meters. This is one of the favorite places to visit for tourists coming to Venezuela from different countries.
Venezuelans are among the most frequent patients of plastic surgeons
Another curious feature of Venezuelans is their close attention to their own appearance. Both men and women of all ages are very careful about their appearance. This country is one of those where residents most often resort to the services of plastic surgeons.
Dollars are under government ban
Tourists need to stock up on the country's national currency in advance - the so-called bolivars. Because the dollar is officially banned here. It is impossible to buy dollars here, and they can only be sold through illegal means, which can be fraught with unpleasant consequences.
You can’t live without gasoline generators in Venezuela
People who want to move to Venezuela permanently should consider purchasing a gasoline generator in advance. They are found in almost every home and this is due to the fact that power outages are widespread throughout the country.
Bolivar Street - in every city
In every city of this state you can find Bolivar Street. It is as natural for Venezuelans as for residents of Russia - the presence of Lenin Street in every even the smallest provincial town.
There are many houses in Venezuela without glass in the windows.
An interesting feature of many residential buildings in Venezuela is the lack of glass. This is especially common in homes where poor or low-income people live.
Venezuela – the country of street art
The so-called “street art”, or graffiti, is widespread here and is not punished in any way by the authorities or the police. It will be extremely difficult to find a house whose walls are not brightly painted. At the same time, such graffiti often represents art, and does not consist of obscene language.
Real estate in Venezuela is affordable for many
Interestingly, real estate in Venezuela is relatively inexpensive. For example, even in the center of the state - the city of Karkas - a good apartment can be purchased for around thirty thousand dollars. This is what attracts immigrants and downshifters from all over the world.
Concrete is the most popular building material
The most popular and most commonly used building material in this country is concrete. It is from concrete that houses, fences, and any other structures are built here. Finding a house that isn't made of concrete will be almost as difficult as finding a house that isn't covered in graffiti.
Venezuela is one of the first countries to adopt democracy
Despite the fairly high crime rate, especially in large cities, and not yet the highest standard of living, Venezuela was included in the list of countries that were among the first to adopt democracy. This is another one interesting feature country that attracts immigrants here. Human rights are respected here.
More than 160 lightning strikes per year are recorded in Venezuela
Interesting natural fact is that in Venezuela lightning strikes can be observed at least one hundred and sixty times a year - that is, in fact, every two days! In this case, lightning strikes the ground multiple times.
Venezuelans are more likely than men of other nationalities to use Viagra
According to medical statistics, it is Venezuelans who use Viagra most often.
Having visited Venezuela, you can discover many more interesting facts about this unusual, but very beautiful and interesting country.