Venezuela
America · South America
Overview
Venezuela lies on the northern coast of South America, along the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, bordering Colombia, Brazil, and Guyana. According to OPEC data, the country holds the world's largest proven oil reserves. The official language is Spanish, and the capital, Caracas, was founded by Spanish colonists in 1567.
Angel Falls, located in Canaima National Park, is the world's tallest waterfall with an uninterrupted drop, falling 979 meters. It was brought to international attention in 1933 by American pilot Jimmie Angel, after whom it is named. Canaima National Park has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1994, and its landscape includes tepuis, flat-topped sandstone plateaus; one of them, Mount Roraima, inspired Arthur Conan Doyle's novel The Lost World. The Los Roques archipelago in the Caribbean Sea consists of about 300 small islands surrounded by coral reefs and is protected as a national park.
The Catatumbo lightning phenomenon over Lake Maracaibo holds the Guinness World Record for the highest concentration of lightning strikes on Earth, occurring on as many as 260 nights per year. The southern extension of the Andes, the Sierra Nevada de Mérida, forms Venezuela's highest mountain range, with peaks exceeding 5,000 meters. Local cuisine is built around arepa, a cornmeal flatbread served with various fillings, and pabellón criollo, the national dish, which combines rice, black beans, shredded beef, and fried plantain.
Map
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Browse all UNESCO sites →Coro and its Port
With its earthen constructions unique to the Caribbean, Coro is the only surviving example of a rich fusion of local traditions with Spanish Mudéjar and Dutch architectural techniques. One of the first colonial towns (founded in 1527), it has some 602 historic buildings.
Canaima National Park
Canaima National Park is spread over 3 million ha in south-eastern Venezuela along the border between Guyana and Brazil. Roughly 65% of the park is covered by table mountain (tepui) formations. The tepuis constitute a unique biogeological entity and are of great geological interest. The sheer cliffs and waterfalls, including the world's highest (1,000 m), form a spectacular landscape.
Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas
The Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas, built to the design of the architect Carlos Raúl Villanueva, between 1940 and 1960, is an outstanding example of the Modern Movement in architecture. The university campus integrates the large number of buildings and functions into a clearly articulated ensemble, including masterpieces of modern architecture and visual arts, such as the Aula Magna with the Clouds of Alexander Calder, the Olympic Stadium, and the Covered Plaza.
Data: UNESCO WHC · CC BY-SA 4.0
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Venezuela?
The capital of Venezuela is Caracas.
What is the area of Venezuela?
The area of Venezuela is 916,445 km².
What is the population of Venezuela?
The population of Venezuela is 28,405,543.
What is the currency of Venezuela?
The currency of Venezuela is Venezuelan bolívar soberano (VES).
What is the official language of Venezuela?
The official language of Venezuela: Spanish.
What side of the road does Venezuela drive on?
Venezuela: Right-hand traffic.
Is Venezuela a member of the United Nations?
Yes, Venezuela is a member of the United Nations.