1. Venezuela
Official Name: RepublicaBolivariana de Venezuela

3. Geography
• Continent: South America
• Capital: Caracas
• Largest City: Caracas
• Natural Resources: petroleum, natural gas*, iron ore,
gold, bauxite, other minerals, diamonds
• Terrain: Andes Mountains y Maracaibo Lowlands in
NW, central plains, Guiana Highlands in SE
• Angel Falls- world’s highest waterfall
• On major sea and air routes linking North/South
America

6. Government
• Federal republic
• Head of State: Hugo Chavez Frais
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/08/world/americas/venezuela-presidential-
election.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/08/us-venezuela-election-
idUSBRE89601Z20121008
• Independence: 5 July 1811 (from Spain)
• 23 states– administrative divisions
Amazonas, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar,
Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, DependenciasFederales,
Distrito Federal, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda,
Monagas, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo,
Vargas, Yaracuy, Zulia note: the federal dependency consists of
11 federally controlled island groups with a total of 72 individual
islands

7. Language
• Primary Language: Spanish
• Other Languages: Spanish (official), numerous
indigenous dialects

8. Ethnicity
• Ethnic Groups:
Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, Af
rican, indigenous people
• Nationality: VENEZUELAN

9. Religion
• Primary Religion: Roman Catholic
• Other Religions: nominally Roman Catholic
96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%
Holidays: Three Wise Men Day (Jan 6)
Carnival (February)
Indigenous Resistance Day (Oct 12)
Catholic Holidays

10. Food

11. Climate
• General Climate: tropical; hot, humid; more
moderate in highlands
• Natural Hazards: subject to
floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic
droughts

12. Economy
• Currency: bolivar
• Currency Exchange Rate History: bolivares per
US dollar - 2,089.8 (2005), 1,891.3 (2004), 1,607
(2003), 1,161 (2002), 723.7 (2001)
• Agricultural Products: corn, sorghum,
sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee;
beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish
• Primary Industries: petroleum, construction
materials, food processing, textiles; iron ore
mining, steel, aluminum; motor vehicle
assembly

13. People