Though best known for its oil politics and feisty president,
Venezuela is in fact an action-packed traveller’s destination endowed with an astonishing array of landscapes and experiences. Tropical
beaches, vast
wetlands, great
rivers, idyllic
colonial towns, little-explored
jungle and majestic
mountains are among the South American country’s varied settings. Visitors can choose from a wealth of
adventure activities or just kick back and enjoy the resort experience. The clear, warm waters of its
Caribbean coastline and numerous offshore
islands are ideal for snorkeling and diving. The tropical lowlands harbor an enormous array of
wildlife, lush vegetation and dramatic
waterfalls, while high
Andean peaks challenge trekkers and mountaineers.
Originally inhabited by Carib and Arawak
Indians, Venezuela was claimed as a
Spanish territory by Christopher
Columbus in 1498. Spanish rule was administered from a distance, leaving the various regions to develop separately from the capital, Caracas. In the 18th century,
Simón Bolívar led widespread resistance to colonial meddling, and Venezuela finally became a sovereign state in 1830.
Today’s politics are dominated by President Hugo Chávez, who draws on the support of the disaffected masses of poor Venezuelans. Despite attempts by the opposition to remove him, Chávez has remained a formidable political force, gaining another six-year term after an overwhelming victory in 2006.
GeographyVenezuela is bordered to the north by the Caribbean, to the east by Guyana and the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by Brazil, and to the west and southwest by Colombia. The country consists of four distinctive regions: the Venezuelan Highlands in the west; the Maracaibo Lowlands in the northwest; the vast central plain of Los Llanos around the Orinoco River; and the Guyana region in the extreme south, which includes part of the Amazon rainforest and the Guyana highlands.
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