Venezuela Essay Research Paper VenezuelaGeographical Features Venezuela

Venezuela Essay, Research Paper

Venezuela

Geographical Features-

Venezuela has seven physical geographic regions; The Andes Mountains, which include the highest peaks in the country, extend northward into Venezuela in two branches divided by the Lake Maracaibo Lowlands. Pico Bolivar is the highest point of the Venezuelan Andes at 16,427 feet and it is located in the eastern branch, the Cordillera de Merida The Sierra de Perija, the western branch, extends along the border with Colombia.

The lowlands of Lake Maracaibo are overlooked by the Andean ranges. The lake itself is approximately 100 miles long from north to south and 75 miles in width at its widest point. The lake itself is a large shallow inlet of the sea with a narrow strait connecting the lake to the Caribbean. This area is the main oil-producing region of the country.

The third geographical feature of Venezuela are the coastal plains and islands that make-up another region which are located to the north and northeast of the country. It includes Caribbean islands such as Margarita, Tortuga and Los Roques. The coastal plains extend from the Colombian border and the Gulf of Venezuela eastward to the foothills of the Coastal Range, a coastline being 1,512 miles long. The

coastal plains includes the Orinoco+s delta which is Venezuela+s longest

river at 1,600 miles long.

The coastal mountain system consists of two ranges that are parallel to each other, the Coastal Range and the Interior Range. This area makes up 3% of the national territory and contains the majority of Venezuela+s population.

In the valleys are the major cities of Caracas, Valencia, and Maracay, with all but the steepest slopes being populated. In the northwest valleys and hill ranges lies the only desert in Venezuela wherein lies the city of Coro.

The sixth area is the Llanos, a savanna region, which is located between the Merida mountain range and the Orinoco River. The Llanos extend approximately 800 miles with a width varying from 100 miles to 300 miles.

The seventh region is the Guiana Highlands which occupies almost 50 percent of the country and is the most remote and least explored area. A most often visited landmark is located in this region, the Angel Falls, which is world+s highest waterfall at 3,212 feet.

Climate-

Venezuela is considered tropical with its southernmost point almost

touching the equator. There is little variation in temperature in Venezuela throughout the year,with an average annual temperature of above 75., with the only differences in temperature due to the changes in elevation. There are two climatic seasons in Venezuela; the wet season occurs from May to November, and the dry season begins in December lasting until the end of March.

Language-

Spanish is the national language of the majority (97%). Local idioms, colloquial phrases, and simplified verb usage distinguish Venezuelan Spanish from other Latin-American and Iberian forms. English is the country+s most popular second language with it being favored in business communications, and private schools in Caracas have encouraged

bilingualism in their students.

Historical –

The capital city of Caracas has historical monuments like the Plaza Bolivar commemorating the liberator of Venezuela, Simon Bolivar. Bolivar+s birthplace is open to the public, as well as a museum in his honor. A monument representing the Battle of Carabobo is significant. It represents the final major military engagement of the War for Independence in Venezuela on June 24, 1821. There is a statue honoring Romula Gallegos, famous Venezuelan author and who also has the honor of being the first popularly elected civilian president in Venezuelan history, in 1948. There are many examples of colonial architecture in major cities such as Valencia, Merida, Isla Margarita, as well as in Caracas. Pico Bolivar in the Andes Mountains has a beautiful statue of a Virgin Mary. Cathedrals stand in all major cities, as well as a Basilica in the city of Maracaibo.

Religion-

Ninety-two percent of Venezuelans practice Roman Catholicism. The other eight percent is made up various Protestant sects with small groups of Jews and Muslims. Some of the Indian population continue to practice their native religions but most have converted to Catholicism with the help of the Franciscans, Capuchins, Dominicans, Jesuits, and Augustinians who were active in Venezuela during the colonial period. The Venezuelan

constitution guarantees freedom of religion with religious tolerance

generally observed. Venezuela is officially a secular state even though

the Roman Catholic church has over time become more and more an

instrument for social progress.

Festivals-

CARNIVAL

Probably the most celebrated event of them all, Carnival takes place during the month of February, forty days before Good Friday, but has no fixed date because Easter is a floating holiday. Carnival has existed in

Venezuela since the colonial period, and was much celebrated in Caracas. Today, however, Carnival has lost its importance in the major cities, and is taken more seriously in the coastal towns, and other provinces, especially in El Callao.

LA CRUZ DE MAYO

This religious act is in the n

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