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{{Infobox Country
|native_name = ''República Bolivariana de Venezuela''
|conventional_long_name = Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela{{ref_label|name|1|none}}</small>
|common_name = Venezuela
|image_flag = Flag of Venezuela.svg
|image_coat = Coat of arms of Venezuela.svg
|image_map = South America location VEN.png
|national_motto = ''Dios y Federación''{{spaces|2}}<small>{{es icon}}<br/>"God and Federation"</small>
|national_anthem = '']''{{spaces|2}}<small>{{es icon}}<br/>Glory to the Brave People</small>
|official_languages = ]{{ref_label|languages|2|none}}
|languages_type = ]
|languages = ] ('']''){{ref_label|languages|2|none}}
|demonym = ]
|capital = ]
|latd=10 |latm=30 |latNS=N |longd=66 |longm=58 |longEW=W
|largest_city = capital
|government_type = ] ] ]
|leader_title1 = ]
|leader_name1 = ]
|leader_title2 = ]
|leader_name2 = ]
|area_rank = 33rd
|area_magnitude = 1 E11
|area_km2 = 916,445
|area_sq_mi = 353,841
|percent_water = 0.32{{ref_label|area|3|none}}
|population_estimate = 28,199,822
|population_estimate_rank = 40th
|population_estimate_year = February 2008
|population_census = 23,054,985
|population_census_year = 2001
|population_density_km2 = 30.2
|population_density_sq_mi = 77
|population_density_rank = 173rd
|GDP_PPP = $334.850 billion<ref name=imf2>{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2008/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2004&ey=2008&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=299&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=62&pr.y=4 |title=Venezuela|publisher=International Monetary Fund|accessdate=2008-10-09}}</ref>
|GDP_PPP_rank =
|GDP_PPP_year = 2007
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $12,176<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank =
|GDP_nominal = $227.753 billion<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_nominal_year = 2007
|GDP_nominal_per_capita = $8,282<ref name=imf2/>
|sovereignty_type = ]
|established_event1 = from Spain
|established_date1 = July 5, 1811
|established_event2 = from ]
|established_date2 = January 13, 1830
|established_event3 = Recognized
|established_date3 = March 30, 1845
|HDI = {{increase}} 0.792
|HDI_rank = 74th
|HDI_year = 2007
|HDI_category = <font color="#ffcc00">medium</font>
|Gini = 48.2<ref name="CIA"/>
|Gini_year = 2003
|Gini_category = <font color="#e0584e">high</font>
|currency = ]{{ref_label|currency|4|none}}
|currency_code = VEF
|country_code =
|time_zone = ]
|utc_offset =
|time_zone_DST =
|utc_offset_DST =
|cctld = ]
|calling_code = 58
|footnotes = {{note_label|name|1|none}} The "Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela" has been the full official title since the adoption of the new ], when the state was renamed in honor of ].<br/>{{note_label|languages|2|none}} The Constitution also recognizes all ] spoken in the country.<br/>{{note_label|area|3|none}} Area totals include only Venezuelan-administered territory.<br/>{{note_label|currency|4|none}} On January 1, 2008 a new bolivar, the ''bolívar fuerte'' (ISO 4217 code VEF), worth 1,000 VEB, was introduced.
}}

'''Venezuela''' ({{pronEng|ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə}}, {{IPA-es|beneˈswela}}), officially the '''] Republic of Venezuela''' (Spanish: '''República Bolivariana de Venezuela'''), is a country on the northern coast of ].

The country comprises a continental mainland and numerous islands located off the Venezuelan coastline in the ]. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela possesses borders with ] to the east, ] to the south, and ] to the west. ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and the ] lie just north, off the Venezuelan coast. Falling within the ], Venezuela sits close to the ], in the ].

A former ], which has been an independent republic since 1821, Venezuela holds territorial disputes with ], largely concerning the ] area, and with ] concerning the ]. In 1895, after the dispute over the Guyana border flared up, it was submitted to a neutral commission, which in 1899 decided it mostly in Guyana's favour.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/venezuela1895.htm |title=Venezuela Boundary Dispute, 1895&ndash;1899}}</ref> Today, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is known widely for its ] industry, the ] of its territory, and its natural features. Venezuela is considered to be among the world's ].<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |coauthors= |title=South America Banks on Regional Strategy to Safeguard Quarter of Earth's Biodiversity |date= |publisher= |url=http://www.conservation.org/xp/news/press_releases/2003/091603_andean_eng.xml |work=Conservation International |pages= |accessdate=2007-06-29 |language=}}</ref>

Venezuela is among the most urbanized countries in ];<ref name="encartaSA">{{cite web |url=http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761574914_3/South_America.html |title=South America |accessdate=2007-03-13 |publisher=Encarta}}</ref><ref name="UNpopstats">{{cite web |url=http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/wup1999/WUP99ANNEXTABLES.pdf |title=ANNEX TABLES |accessdate=2007-03-13 |publisher=United Nations |work=World Urbanization Prospects: The 1999 Revision |format=pdf}}</ref> the vast majority of Venezuelans live in the cities of the north, especially in the capital ] which is also the largest city. Other major cities include ], ], ], ] and ]. Venezuela is also home to a diversity of ] in a variety of ].

== Etymology ==
]'', similar to those seen by ].]]
The name "Venezuela" is believed to have originated from ] who, along with ], led a 1499 naval expedition along the northwestern coast's ]. On reaching the ], the crew observed villages ('']s'') that the people had built over the water. This reminded Vespucci of the city of ] ({{lang-it|Venezia}}), so he named the region "''Venezuola''",<ref name="Dydynski_Beech_2004_177">{{Harvard reference |Surname1=Dydynski |Given1=K |Surname2=Beech |Given2=C |Year=2004 |Title=Venezuela |Publisher=Lonely Planet |ID=ISBN 1-74104-197-X |URL=http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&vid=ISBN174104197X&id=JDdb1alDGYIC |Access-date=March 10, 2007}}. p. 177.</ref> meaning "little Venice" in Italian. In Spanish, the ] ''-zuela'' is used as a ] term (e.g., ''plaza / plazuela'', ''cazo / cazuela''); thus, the term's original sense would have been that of a "]".<ref name="Thomas_2005_189">{{cite book|last=Thomas|first=Hugh|year=2005|title=Rivers of Gold: The Rise of the Spanish Empire, from Columbus to Magellan|publisher=Random House|isbn=0-37550-204-1|pages=p. 189}}</ref>
*
], a member of the Vespucci and Ojeda's crew, states in his work ''Summa de Geografía'' that the indigenous population they found were called "''Veneciuela''", suggesting that the name "Venezuela" may have evolved from a native word.<ref name="ICH_1958_386">{{cite journal|year=1958|title=Cuadernos Hispanoamericanos|publisher=Instituto de Cultura Hispánica (Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional)|pages=386|language=Spanish}}</ref> The Vespucci story, however, remains the most popular and accepted version of the origin of the country's name. In English, the word ''Venezuela'' is pronounced as {{IPAEng|ˌvɛnɨzˈweɪlə}}. The ] is {{IPA2|beneˈswela}}.

==History==
{{main|History of Venezuela|History of the Venezuelan oil industry|German colonization of the Americas}}

] destroys the Spanish Fleet at ], in ]]]
Human habitation of Venezuela is estimated to have commenced at least 15,000 years ago from which period ]-shaped ] ]s, together with ]ping and ]-] ] implements, have been found exposed on the high riverine terraces of the Rio Pedregal in western Venezuela.<ref name="Kipfer_2000_91">{{cite book|last=Kipfer|first=Barbara Ann|year=2000|title=Encyclopedic Dictionary of YUPArchaeology|publisher=Springer|isbn=0-30646-158-7|pages=p. 91}}</ref> ] hunting artifacts, including ] tips, have been found at a similar series of sites in northwestern Venezuela known as "El Jobo"; according to ], these date from 13,000 to 7,000 BC.<ref name="Kipfer_2000_172">Kipfer 2000, p. 172.</ref> In the 16th century, when the ] of Venezuela began, ] such as the ], themselves descendants of the ]s, were systematically killed. Indian ]s (leaders) such as ] and ] attempted to resist Spanish incursions, but were ultimately subdued; Tamanaco himself, by order of Caracas' founder ], was also put to death.<ref name="UNE">{{cite web |publisher=Universidad Nueva Esparta |url=http://www.une.edu.ve/hatillo/historia.htm |title=Alcaldía del Hatillo: Historia |accessdate=2007-03-10 |language=Spanish}}</ref>
]]]

Venezuela was first ] by Spain in 1522, when it hosted the ]'s first permanent South American settlement{{Fact|date=March 2007}} in what is now ]. These portions of eastern Venezuela were incorporated into ]. Administered by the ] of ] since the early 16th century, most of Venezuela became part of the ] in the early 18th century, and was then reorganized as an autonomous ] starting in 1776. After a series of unsuccessful uprisings, Venezuela—under the leadership of ], a Venezuelan marshal involved in the ]—] on July 5, 1811. This began the ]. However, a devastating earthquake that struck Caracas in 1812, together with the rebellion of the Venezuelan '']s'', helped bring down the ].<ref name="Chasteen_2001_103">{{Harvard reference |Surname1=Chasteen |Given1=J |Year=2001 |Title=Born in Blood and Fire: A Concise History of Latin America |Publisher=Norton |ID=ISBN 0-39305-048-3 |URL=http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0393050483&id=fC90B5xkYyIC&pg=PP1&lpg=PP1&ots=XlrvsIB381&dq=Born+in+blood+and+fire&sig=CkLd_-rnp2QQK_m8Da3C6Yha6QE |Access-date=March 10, 2007}}. p. 103.</ref> A ], proclaimed on August 7, 1813, lasted several months before being crushed as well.
]
], liberator of not only Venezuela, but also ], ], ], ], and ]]]
Sovereignty was only attained after ], aided by ] and ], won the ] on June 24, 1821. ] and ]'s victory in the ] on July 24, 1823 helped seal Venezuelan independence. New Granada's congress gave Bolívar control of the Granadian army; leading it, he liberated several countries and founded ]. Sucre, who won many battles for Bolívar, went on to liberate Ecuador, and later become the second president of ]. Venezuela remained part of Gran Colombia until 1830, when a rebellion led by Páez allowed the proclamation of a new Republic of Venezuela; Páez became its first president.

Much of Venezuela's ] history was characterized by political turmoil and ]ial rule.<ref name="LOC_2005">{{cite web |publisher=Library of Congress (Federal Research Division) |title=Country Profile: Venezuela |year=2005 |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Venezuela.pdf |accessdate=2007-03-10}}</ref> During first half of the 20th century, '']s'' (military strongmen) continued to dominate, though they generally allowed for mild social reforms and promoted economic growth. Following the death of ] in 1935 and the demise of ''caudillismo'' (authoritarian rule), pro-democracy movements eventually forced the military to withdraw from direct involvement in national politics in 1958. Since that year, Venezuela has had a series of democratically elected governments.<ref name="CIA">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ve.html|title=Venezuela|accessdate=2007-03-13|publisher=CIA|date=]|work=The World Factbook}}</ref> The discovery of massive ]s, totaling some 400 million&nbsp;]s,{{Fact|date=March 2007}} during ] prompted an economic boom that lasted into the 1980s; by 1935, Venezuela's per capita ] was Latin America's highest.<ref name="Crow_1980_616-617">{{Harvard reference |Surname1=Crow |Given1=JA |Year=1980 |Title=Epic of Latin America |Publisher=University of California Press |ID=ISBN 0-52004-107-0}}. pp. 616&ndash;617.</ref>
] in Caracas]]
After ] the ] and heavy immigration from Southern Europe (mainly from Spain, ], ]) and poorer Latin American countries markedly diversified Venezuelan society.

The huge public spending and accumulation of internal and external debts by the government and private sector during the Petrodollar years of the 1970s and early 1980s, followed by the ], crippled the Venezuelan economy. As the government devalued the currency in order to face its mounting local and non-local financial obligations, Venezuelans' real standard of living fell dramatically. A number of failed economic policies and increasing corruption in government and society at large, has led to rising poverty and crime and worsening social indicators and increasing political instability,<ref name="Schuyler_2001_10">{{cite journal |last=Schuyler |first=George W. |work=The Policy Studies Organization |title=Health and Neoliberalism: Venezuela and Cuba |year=2001 |pages=p. 10}}</ref>{{Lopsided|date=September 2008}} resulting in two major ].

In the February 1992 coup, ], a former paratrooper, attempted to overthrow the government of President ] as anger grew against the President's economic austerity measures. Chávez was unsuccessful and landed in jail. In November of that year, another unsuccessful coup attempt occurred, organized by other revolutionary groups in the Venezuelan Armed Forces and those that remained from Chávez’s previous attempt.<ref>{{cite web |title=Profile: Hugo Chavez |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/1925236.stm |accessdate=2007-06-05}}</ref>

In 1998, Hugo Chávez (who led the first unsuccessful coup in 1992) was elected president as a reaction against the established political parties and the corruption and inequalities their policies created. He remains president today. Since coming to power, Chávez has attracted some controversy through his reforms of the Constitution, the implementation of his "]", and in April 2002 (though now a democratically elected president) Chávez was temporarily ousted from power by right-wing elements in the army and the business sector.

==Government==
{{main|Government of Venezuela}}

The Venezuelan president is elected by a vote with direct and ], and functions as both ] and ]. The term of office is six years, and a president may be re-elected to a single consecutive term. The president appoints the vice-president and decides the size and composition of the ] and makes appointments to it with the involvement of the legislature. The president can ask the legislature to reconsider portions of laws he finds objectionable, but a simple parliamentary majority can diminish these objections.

The ] Venezuelan ] is the ] or ''Asamblea Nacional''. Its 167 deputies, of which three are reserved for indigenous people, serve five-year terms and may be re-elected for a maximum of two additional terms. They are elected by popular vote through a combination of party lists and single member constituencies. The highest ] body is the ] or ''Tribunal Supremo de Justicia'', whose magistrates are elected by parliament for a single twelve-year term. The ] (''Consejo Nacional Electoral'', or ''CNE'') is in charge of electoral processes; it is formed by five main directors elected by the National Assembly.

The voting age in Venezuela is 18 and older. Voting is not ].<ref name="TG">{{cite web |publisher=] |title=Compulsory voting around the world |date=July 4, 2005 |url=http://politics.guardian.co.uk/apathy/story/0,,1521096,00.html |accessdate=2007-03-10}}</ref>

== Politics ==
<!---missing "Government of Venezuela" section. Part of that article is contained in "Politics of Venezuela" but not summarized in this, the main article at all--->
{{main|Politics of Venezuela}}
], official workplace of the president of Venezuela]]
]
There are currently two major blocs of ]: the incumbent leftist bloc ] (PSUV), its major allies ] (PPT) and the ] (PCV), and the opposition bloc led by ] (UNT) together with its allied parties ], ], ] and others. Following the fall of ] in 1958, Venezuelan politics was dominated by the ] ] ] and the center-left ] ] (AD) parties; this ] was formalized by the '']'' arrangement. However, this system has been sidelined following the initial ] of current president ], which started the Bolivarian Revolution.

Most of the political opposition boycotted the ]. Consequently, the MVR-led bloc secured all 167 seats in the National Assembly. Then, the MVR voted to dissolve itself in favor of joining the proposed ], while Chávez requested that MVR-allied parties merge themselves into it as well. The National Assembly has twice voted to grant Chávez the ability ] in several broadly defined areas, once in 2000 and again in 2007. This power has been granted to previous administrations as well.<ref name="polar">{{cite web|url=http://www.fpolar.org.ve/Encarte/fasciculo24/fasc2402.html|title=Historia de Venezuela en Imágenes. Capítulo VIII 1973 /1983. La Gran Venezuela|accessdate=2007-01-21|publisher=Fundación Polar|work=La experiencia democrática 1958 / 1998}}{{es icon}}</ref><ref name="globovision20061128">{{cite web|url=http://www.globovision.com/news.php?nid=43974|title=El tema: Historia democrática venezolana |accessdate=2007-01-21|publisher=]|year=]}}{{es icon}}</ref><ref name="cidob">{{cite web |url=http://www.cidob.org/es/documentacion/biografias_lideres_politicos/america_del_sur/venezuela/ramon_jose_velasquez_mujica |title=Ramón José Velásquez Mújica |accessdate=2007-01-21 |publisher=Centro de Investigación de Relaciones Internacionales y desarrollo |date=]}}{{es icon}}</ref>
Chavez has also established alliance with several Latin American countries which have elected leftist governments, such as ], ], ], ], ], ] and ].\

==Public health==
{{seealso|Water supply and sanitation in Venezuela}}
]
] in Venezuela stood at 16 deaths per 1,000 births in 2004, much lower than the South American average (by comparison, the U.S. stands at 5 deaths per 1,000 births in 2006).<ref></ref><ref name="UNDP_2006">]. . Accessed March 8, 2007.</ref><ref name="WRI_2003c">{{cite web |publisher=World Resources Institute |work=EarthTrends Country Profiles |year=2003 |title=Population, Health, and Human Well-Being—Venezuela |url=http://earthtrends.wri.org/pdf_library/country_profiles/pop_cou_862.pdf |accessdate=2007-03-10}}</ref> Child ] (defined as stunting or wasting in children under age five) stands at 17%; Delta Amacuro and Amazonas have the nation's highest rates.<ref>FAO. . Accessed September 20, 2006.</ref> According to the ], 32% of Venezuelans lack adequate sanitation, primarily those living in rural areas.<ref>Unicef. . Accessed September 20, 2006.</ref> Diseases ranging from ], ], ], ], ], and ] are present in the country.<ref> Guardian. Accessed September 20, 2006.</ref> Only 3% of sewage is treated; most major cities lack treatment facilities.<ref>''Appropriate Technology for Sewage Pollution Control in the Wider ] Region'', Caribbean Environment Programme Technical Report #40 1998 available online at http://www.cep.unep.org/pubs/Techreports/tr40en/chapter5.html</ref> 17% of Venezuelans lack access to potable water.<ref>UNICEF. . Accessed September 20, 2006.</ref>

Travelers to Venezuela are advised to obtain vaccinations for a variety of diseases including ], ], ], ], ] and ].<ref> Guardian. Accessed September 20, 2006.</ref> In a cholera epidemic of contemporary times in the ] Delta, Venezuela's political leaders were accused of ] of their own indigenous people to deflect blame from the country's institutions, thereby aggravating the epidemic.<ref></ref>

As had previous administrations, the government is attempting to create a national universal health care system that is free of charge. The current vehicle for this idea is ].<ref name="Venezuela Information Office">{{cite web |publisher=Venezuela Information Office |year=2007 |title=Health Care for All: Venezuela's Health Missions at Work |url=http://www.rethinkvenezuela.com/downloads/Healthcare%20for%20All.htm |accessdate=2008-01-18}}</ref>

== Foreign relations ==
{{main|Foreign relations of Venezuela}}
] and ], during an official meeting for the Alliance for Progress ], ]]]
]
Throughout most of the 20th century, Venezuela maintained friendly relations with most Latin American and Western nations. Relations between Venezuela and the United States government worsened in 2002, after the ] during which the U.S. government recognized the short-lived unconstitutional regime of ]. Correspondingly, ties to various leftist-led ]n and Middle Eastern countries not allied to the U.S. have strengthened. Venezuela seeks alternative ] integration via such proposals as the ] trade proposal and the newly launched pan-Latin American ] ]. The Venezuelan government has also expressed its support for the Russian position on the ], which United States and its allies strongly oppose. Venezuela was a proponent of ]'s decision to adopt its Anti-Corruption Convention, and is actively working in the ] trade bloc to push increased trade and energy integration. Globally, it seeks a "]" world based on strengthened ties among ] countries.

== Military ==
{{See also|Military of Venezuela}}
]
]
Venezuela's national armed forces include roughly 100,000 personnel spread through four service branches: the ], the ] (including the ]), the ], and the Armed Forces of Cooperation (FAC), commonly known as the ]. As of 2008, a further 600,000 soldiers were incorporated into a new branch, known as the Armed Reserve.{{Or|date=June 2008}} The ] is the ] of the national armed forces.

== Subdivisions ==
{{main|States of Venezuela|Regions of Venezuela}}
Venezuela is divided into twenty-three states (''Estados''), a ] (''distrito capital'') corresponding to the city of Caracas, the Federal Dependencies (''Dependencias Federales'', a special territory), and ] (claimed in a border dispute with Guyana). Venezuela is further subdivided into 335 ] (''municipios''); these are subdivided into over one thousand ]es (''parroquias''). The states are grouped into nine administrative regions (''regiones administrativas''), which were established by presidential decree. Historically, Venezuela has also claimed all ] territory west of the ]; this {{convert|159500|km2|sqmi|0}} tract was dubbed ''Guyana Esequiba'' or the ''Zona en Reclamación'' (the "zone to be reclaimed").<ref name="mre_ginebra">{{cite web|url=http://www.mre.gob.ve/metadot/index.pl?id=3870&isa=Category&op=show|title=EL ACUERDO DE GINEBRA DEL 17 FEB 1966 |accessdate=2007-12-01|publisher=Ministerio del Poder Popular para Relaciones Exteriores}}{{es icon}}</ref>

{{Venezuelan subdivisions}}

== Geography ==
{{main|Geography of Venezuela}}
], a ] in ] in southeastern Venezuela. The park lies atop the ]; its ] geological formations rank among the world's oldest.]]
]]]
] in the northwestern state of ].]]
]]]

Venezuela's mainland rests on the ]; With {{convert|2800|km|mi|0}} of coastline, Venezuela is home to a wide variety of landscapes. The extreme northeastern extensions of the ] reach into Venezuela's northwest and continue along the northern ] coast. ], the nation's highest point at {{convert|4979|m|ft|0}}, lies in this region. The country's center is characterized by the '']'', extensive plains that stretch from the Colombian border in the far west to the ] ] in the east. To the south, the dissected ] is home to the northern fringes of the ] and ], the world's highest ]. The Orinoco, with its rich ]s, binds the largest and most important ] of the country; it originates in one of the largest ]s in Latin America. The ] and the ] are other major rivers.

The country can be further divided into ten geographical areas, some corresponding to climatic and biogeographical regions. In the north are the Venezuelan Andes and the ], a mountainous tract in the northwest, is home to several ]s and valleys. East of it are lowlands abutting ] and the ]. The ] runs parallel to the coast and includes the hills surrounding ]; the Eastern Range, separated from the Central Range by the ], covers all of ] and northern ]. The ] region comprises a third of the country's area north of the Orinoco River. South of it lies the ], a massive two billion year old ] geological formation featuring '']s'', mysterious table-like mountains. The ] includes all of Venezuela's ] possessions: ] and the various ]. The ], which forms a triangle covering ], projects northeast into the ].

Though Venezuela is entirely situated in the ]s, its climate varies substantially; it varies from that of humid low-elevation plains, where average annual temperatures range as high as {{convert|28|°C|°F|0}}, to glaciers and highlands (the ''páramos'') with an average yearly temperature of {{convert|8|°C|°F|0}}. Annual rainfall varies between {{convert|430|mm|in|0}} in the semiarid portions of the northwest to {{convert|1000|mm|in|0}} in the Orinoco Delta of the far east. Most precipitation falls between June and October (the rainy season or "winter"); the drier and hotter remainder of the year is known as "summer", though temperature variation throughout the year is not as pronounced as at temperate latitudes.<ref name="LOC_2005"/>

== Flora and fauna ==
{{main|Fauna of Venezuela|Flora of Venezuela|National symbols of Venezuela|List of birds of Venezuela}}
]'' (''Tabebuia chrysantha''), Venezuela's national tree.]]

Venezuela lies within the ]; large portions of the country were originally covered by ]. One of seventeen ] and among the top twenty countries in terms of ], some 38% of the over 21,000 plant species are unique to the country; 23% of ] and 50% of ] species are also endemic.<ref name="GFW">{{cite web|title=Venezuela: Overview|publisher=Global Forest Watch|url=http://www.globalforestwatch.org/english/venezuela/|accessdate=2007-03-10}}.</ref> Venezuela hosts significant ] across habitats ranging from ] in the extreme northwest to coastal ] forests in the northeast.<ref name="LOC_2005"/> Its ] and lowland ]s are particularly rich, for example hosting over 25,000 species of ]s.{{inote|Dydynski & Beech 2004, p. 42.}} These include the ''flor de mayo'' orchid (''Cattleya mossiae''), the national flower.

] is among the more common of Venezuela's ]s.]]

Venezuela's national tree is the '']'', whose characteristic lushness after the rainy season led novelist ] to name it ''«a primavera de oro de los araguaneyes''» ("the golden spring of the ''araguaneyes''"). Notable ]s include the ], ], and the ], the world's largest ]. More than half of Venezuelan avian and ]ian species are found in the ] south of the Orinoco.<ref name="Bevilacqua_2002">{{Harvard reference |Surname1=Bevilacqua |Given1=M |Surname2=Cardenas |Given2=L |Surname3=Flores |Given3=AL et al. |Year=2002 |Title=State of Venezuela's forests: A case study of the Guayana Region |Journal=World Resources Institute |URL=http://pubs.wri.org/pubs_content_text.cfm?ContentID=1607 |Access-date=March 10, 2007}}.</ref> ]s, ] ]s, and ]s, which reach up to {{convert|7|m|ft|0}} in length, are notable aquatic species. Venezuela also hosts a huge number of bird species, a total of 1,417, 48 of which are ].<ref>{{cite web|last=Lepage|first=Denis|authorlink= |coauthors= |year= |url=http://www.bsc-eoc.org/avibase/avibase.jsp?region=ve&pg=checklist&list=clements|title=Checklist of birds of Venezuela|format= |work=Bird Checklists of the World|publisher=Avibase|accessdate=2007-05-04}}</ref> Important birds include ]es, ]s, ]s,{{inote|Dydynski & Beech 2004, p. 42.}} and the yellow-orange ]<!--(''Icterus icterus'')-->, the national bird.

In recent decades, logging, mining, ], development, and other human activities have posed a major threat to Venezuela's wildlife; between 1990 and 2000, 0.40% of forest cover was cleared annually.<ref name="GFW"/> In response, federal protections for critical habitat were implemented; for example, 20% to 33% of forested land is protected.<ref name="Bevilacqua_2002"/> Venezuela is currently home to a ] that is part of the ]; five wetlands are registered under the ].<ref>{{cite web |last=Peck |first=D |year=2000 |title=The Annotated Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance: Venezuela |work=The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands |publisher=Ramsar Convention Secretariat |url=http://www.ramsar.org/profile/profiles_venezuela.htm |accessdate=2007-03-10}}</ref> In 2003, 70% of the nation's land was under conservation management in over 200 protected areas, including 43 national parks.<ref name="WRI_2003a">{{cite web |title=Biodiversity and Protected Areas&mdash;Venezuela |publisher=World Resources Institute |work=EarthTrends Country Profiles |url=http://earthtrends.wri.org/pdf_library/country_profiles/bio_cou_862.pdf |year=2003 |accessdate=2007-03-10}}</ref>

== Economy ==
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{{main|Economy of Venezuela}}
] banknote featuring a portrait of ].]]

The ] sector dominates Venezuela's ], accounting for roughly a third of ], around 80% of exports, and more than half of government revenues. Venezuela contains some of the largest oil and natural gas reserves in the world. It consistently ranks among the top ten crude oil producers in the world.<ref>, ], Accessed June 25, 2008.</ref> The country's main petroleum deposits are located around and beneath ] (]), the ] (]), and in the Orinoco River basin (towards the east side of the country), where the country's largest reserve is located. Venezuela is currently trying to diversify its economy to be less dependent on its petroleum industry.{{Fact|date=June 2007}} Venezuela has the ] in the world, due to high government subsidies.

=== Petroleum and other resources ===
{{See also|Energy policy of Venezuela}}
]
When oil was discovered at the ] strike in 1922, Venezuela's dictator, ], allowed Americans to write Venezuela's petroleum law (Daniel Yergin, ''The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money, and Power'' , pp. 233-36; 432). But oil history was made in 1943 when ] accepted a new agreement in Venezuela based on the 50-50 principle, "a landmark event" (ibid., p. 435). Terms even more favorable to Venezuela were negotiated in 1945, after a coup brought to power a left-leaning government that included ]. In 1958 a new government again included Pérez Alfonso, who devised a plan for the international oil cartel that would become ] (ibid., pp. 510-13). In 1973 Venezuela voted to nationalize its oil industry outright, effective Jan. 1, 1976, with ] (PDVSA) taking over and presiding over a number of holding companies; in subsequent years, Venezuela built a vast refining and marketing system in the U.S. and Europe (ibid., p. 767).

Economic prospects remain highly dependent on oil prices and the export of petroleum. A founding member of the ] (OPEC), Venezuela reasserted its leadership within the organization during its year as OPEC's president, hosting the organization's Second Leadership Conference in 40 years, as well as having its former ], ], appointed as Secretary General. The collapse of oil prices in 1997-98 prompted the Rodriguez administration to expand OPEC-inspired production cuts in an effort to raise world oil prices. In 2002, this sector accounted for roughly a quarter of GDP, 73% of export earnings, and about half of central government's operating revenues. Venezuela is the fourth-leading supplier of imported crude and refined petroleum products to the United States.

]
The Government of Venezuela has opened up much of the hydrocarbon sector to foreign investment, promoting multi-billion dollar investment in heavy oil production, reactivation of old fields, and investment in several petrochemical joint ventures. Almost 60 foreign companies representing 14 different countries participate in one or more aspects of Venezuela's oil sector. The Venezuelan national oil company ], S.A. (]) and foreign oil companies have signed 33 operating contracts for marginal fields in three bidding rounds. New legislation dealing with natural gas and petrochemicals is further opening the sector. A new domestic retail competition law, however, disappointed investors who had been promised market-determined prices.

On November 13, 2001, under the enabling law authorized by the ], President ] enacted the new Hydrocarbons Law, which came into effect in January 2002. This law replaced the Hydrocarbons Law of 1943 and the Nationalization Law of 1975. Among other things, the new law provided that all oil production and distribution activities were to be the domain of the Venezuelan state, with the exception of joint ventures targeting extra-heavy crude oil production. Under the new ], private investors can own up to 49% of the capital stock in joint ventures involved in upstream activities. The new law also provides that private investors may own up to 100% of the capital stock in ventures concerning downstream activities, in addition to the 100% already allowed for private investors with respect to gas production ventures, as previously promulgated by the National Assembly.

During the December 2002-February 2003 lock-out where managers and skilled highly-paid technicians of PDVSA locked out PDVSA and sabotaged the industry, petroleum production and refining by PDVSA almost ceased. This oil sabotage was politically motivated; at the same time, many business owners across Venezuela closed down their stores in order to create instabilitiy within Venezuela. Despite the lock-out, these activities eventually were substantially restarted when the rank-and-file oil workers restarted PDVSA without the managers. Out of a total of 45,000 PDVSA management and workers, 19,000 were subsequently dismissed; many of which are managers and highly paid technicians.
Like most South American countries, Venezuela depends upon hydroelectricity for the bulk of its electricity needs.

===Manufacturing, agriculture, and trade===
]
]
Manufacturing contributed 17% of GDP in 2006. In spite of low foreign investment the manufacturing sector continues to increase dramatically at a rate of 26.93% anually. Venezuela manufactures and exports ], ], transport equipment, ]s, ], ]s, and ]s. It produces ], ], ], ], and assembles cars both for domestic and ] ]s.

Agriculture accounts for approximately 3% of GDP, 10% of the labor force, and at least one-fourth of Venezuela's land area. Venezuela exports ], ]s, ], tropical ]s, ], ], and ]. The country is not self-sufficient in most areas of ]. Venezuela imports about two-thirds of its food needs. In 2002, U.S. firms exported $347 million worth of agricultural products, including ], ], ]s, soybean ], ], ]s, ]s, and other items to make Venezuela one of the top two U.S. markets in South America. The United States supplies more than one-third of Venezuela's food imports.

Thanks to petroleum exports, Venezuela usually posts a ]. In recent years, nontraditional (i.e., nonpetroleum) exports have been growing rapidly but still constitute only about one-fourth of total exports. The United States is Venezuela's leading trade partner although Brazil is expected to surpass the U.S. by 2011. During 2002, the United States exported $4.4 billion in goods to Venezuela, making it the 25th-largest market for the U.S. Including petroleum products, Venezuela exported $15.1 billion in goods to the U.S., making it its 14th-largest source of goods. Venezuela has taken a very cautious approach toward the proposed ].

== Demographics ==
{{main|Demographics of Venezuela|Languages of Venezuela}}
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Venezuela's birth rate is among the highest in South America, after Bolivia, Paraguay and French Guyana.

Since 1926, Venezuelan Census does not contain information about ethnicity so only rough estimates are available. Some 70% of the population are ], defined as a mixture of any other races; another 20% are unmixed caucasians, mostly of ], ], ] and ] descent. Two of the main Amerindian tribes located in the country are the ], located in the west, in ], and the ], also in the west, in ], in the ]. Other important groups include Afro-Venezuelans, though their numbers are unclear due to poor census data.<ref name="Afro-Venezuelans">{{cite web |publisher=Venezuela Information Office |year=2007 |title=Afro-Venezuelans and the Struggle to End Racism |url=http://www.rethinkvenezuela.com/downloads/Afro-Venezuelans.htm |accessdate=2008-01-18}}</ref> Asians, predominantly ] and other ]s, ] and ] descent, make up a small percentage of the population. Only about 5% of Venezuelans are ].<ref name="Indigenous Venezuelans">{{cite web |publisher=Venezuela Information Office |year=2007 |title=Indigenous Peoples in Venezuela |url=http://www.rethinkvenezuela.com/downloads/Indigenous.htm |accessdate=2008-01-18}}</ref> These groups were joined by sponsored migrants from throughout Europe and neighboring parts of South America by the mid-20th century economic boom.

According to the ''World Refugee Survey 2008'', published by the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, Venezuela hosted a population of ] and asylum seekers from ] numbering 252,200 in 2007. 10,600 new asylum seekers entered Venezuela in 2007.<ref name="World Refugee Survey 2008">{{cite news|title=World Refugee Survey 2008|publisher=U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants|date=2008-06-19|url=http://www.refugees.org/survey}}</ref>

About 85% of the population live in urban areas in northern Venezuela; 73% live less than {{convert|100|km|mi|0}} from the coastline.<ref name="WRI_2003b">{{cite web |publisher=World Resources Institute |work=EarthTrends Country Profiles |year=2003 |title=Coastal and Marine Ecosystems—Venezuela |url=http://earthtrends.wri.org/pdf_library/country_profiles/coa_cou_862.pdf |accessdate=2007-03-10}}</ref> Though almost half of Venezuela's land area lies south of the Orinoco, only 5% of Venezuelans live there.

The national and official language is Spanish; 31 indigenous languages are also spoken, including ], ], ], ], and the various ]. 96% of the population belongs to the ].

In 2007, the homicide rate was 48 per 100,000 people, the highest in the country's history, and among the highest in the world. The government kept these statistics secret from 2005-2008. They were leaked to the world surreptitiously.<ref>{{cite book | author = Porero, Juan |title = In Rampant Violent Crime, Political Sanger for Chavez | publisher = Washington Post | date = November 18, 2008}}</ref>

== Culture ==
{{main|Culture of Venezuela|Heritage of Venezuela|Music of Venezuela}}
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]]]] Basilica, ]]]
]]]
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Venezuela's ], ], and culture have been heavily influenced by the ] context. These elements extend to its historic buildings, architecture,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/658 |title=Coro and its Port |publisher=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |year=1993}}</ref> art,<ref>{{cite web |title=Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas |url=http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/986 |year=2000 |publisher=UNESCO World Heritage Centre}}</ref> landscape, boundaries, and monuments. ] has been shaped by ], ] and African influences. Before this period, indigenous culture was expressed in art (]s), ]s, architecture ('']s''), and social organization. Aboriginal culture was subsequently assimilated by Spaniards; over the years, the hybrid culture had diversified by region.

] was initially dominated by religious motifs, but began emphasizing historical and heroic representations in the late 19th century, a move led by ]. ] took over in the 20th century. Notable ] include ], ], ], ]; the ]ists ] and ]; and contemporary artist ].

] originated soon after the ] of the mostly pre-literate indigenous societies; it was dominated by ]. Following the rise of political literature during the War of Independence, Venezuelan ], notably expounded by Juan Vicente González, emerged as the first important genre in the region. Although mainly focused on ] writing, Venezuelan literature was advanced by poets such as ] and Fermín Toro. Major writers and novelists include ], ], ], ], ], and ]. The great poet and humanist ] was also an educator and intellectual. Others, such as ] and ], contributed to Venezuelan ].




] was the most important Venezuelan architect of the modern era; he designed the ], (a ]) and its Aula Magna. Other notable architectural works include the Capitolio, the ], the ], and the ].

Indigenous ] are exemplified by the groups Un Solo Pueblo and ]. The national musical instrument is the ]. Typical musical styles and pieces mainly emerged in and around the ''llanos'' region, including '']'' (by ] and ]), ''Florentino y el Diablo'' (by ]), ''Concierto en la Llanura'' by ], and '']'' (by ]). The Zulian '']'' is also a popular style, generally performed during Christmas. The national dance is the '']''. ] was a world-famous 19th century piano virtuosa. In the last years, Classical Music has had great performances. The ] has realized excellent presentations in many European concert halls, notably at the 2007 ], and has received honors of the public.

] is Venezuela's most popular sport, although ], spearheaded by the ], is gaining influence.

The ] has consistently shown Venezuelans to be among the happiest people in the world, with 55% of those questioned saying they were "very happy".<ref name="WVS">{{cite web|url=http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/lif_hap_lev_ver_hap-lifestyle-happiness-level-very-happy|title=Happiness Statistics By Country|accessdate=2007-06-21|publisher=Nationmaster.com}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{portal|Venezuela|Coat of arms of Venezuela.svg}}
{{sisterlinks|Venezuela}}
* in the

;General references {{en_icon}}
* {{CIA_World_Factbook_link|ve|Venezuela}}
* at ]
* from the ]
*

;Other {{en_icon}}
* {{wikitravel|Venezuela}}
* {{dmoz|Regional/South_America/Venezuela/|Venezuela}}

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Revision as of 07:22, 21 November 2008

Hej Matthew.