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La Guaira state
State of Venezuela
FlagCoat of arms
Motto(s): Igualdad, Libertad, Prosperidad y Seguridad (Template:Lang-en)
Anthem: Carmañola Americana
Location within Venezuela
Coordinates: 10°34′19″N 66°52′48″W / 10.572°N 66.88°W / 10.572; -66.88
Country	Venezuela
Created	1998
Capital	La Guaira
Government
• Body	Legislative Council
• Governor	Jorge García Carneiro (2017–2021)
• Assembly delegation	4
Area
• Total	1,172 km (453 sq mi)
• Rank	22nd
	0.16% of Venezuela
Population
• Total	352,920
• Rank	21st
	1.29% of Venezuela
Time zone	UTC-04:00 (VET)
ISO 3166 code	VE-X
Emblematic tree	Uva de Playa (Coccoloba uvífera)
Website	www.estadovargas.gob.ve

La Guaira state or Vargas state (Template:Lang-es, IPA: [esˈtaðo ˈβaɾɣas]) is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. Named after Venezuela's first non-military president, José María Vargas, Vargas comprises a coastal region in the north of Venezuela, bordering Aragua to the west, Miranda to the east, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Capital District to the south. It is home to both the country's largest seaport and airport. The state capital is La Guaira. The Litoral Varguense conurbation is the principal urban agglomeration in the state, which is part of the Greater Caracas Area.

In 1999, the geographic center of Vargas state suffered major floods and landslides, known as La Tragedia de Vargas (the Vargas tragedy), causing major losses of life and property, and resulting in forced population movements, including the virtual disappearance of some small towns. Thousands died, and many more fled the area to other states. The state owed its previous name to José María Vargas, although this was changed on June 13, 2019 to only La Guaira.

History

This region of Venezuela has undergone important changes over the years, and while the geographical borders have remained, the territorial delineation has varied. The area was previously one of the departments of the Venezuela's Federal District (the other being the Libertador department, now Libertador Municipality), and the governor of this region was chosen by the national government. The area later evolved into a municipality, but was still dependent on the governor of the Federal District. In the 1990s there were increased calls for Vargas to become a separate entity, distinct from Federal District. In 1998 the government of Rafael Caldera decreed Vargas as an independent municipality, separate from the Federal District, with the statute of Federal Territory. Shortly after it became the 23rd state of Venezuela.

In mid-December 1999, after several days of ever-increasing rains pouring over the Central Mountain Range and the piedmont within the span of 24 hours along the coastline for about 45 km (28 mi)., the state suffered from massive floods which resulted in severe losses of life and property. In its wake as of December 16, the surviving population witnessed the massive destruction of most of the state infrastructure, including the collapse of most roads, bridges, housings, public and private buildings, and of basic services as electricity and communications; in which thousands were killed or missing. Official estimates some 50,000 dead or missing, but the real figure may be much higher. In the following weeks nearly the entire state's population was displaced. Locals refer to the Dec. 1999 disaster as "La Tragedia de Vargas" (the Vargas' Tragedy). Such climatic phenomenon (of extraordinarily high rainfall levels) appears to be periodical, having a cycle of about 70 years, and probably has occurred hundreds, perhaps thousands of times since a distant past.

Government and politics

Like other states, the structure of the government of Vargas is laid out in the Constitution, the highest law in the state.

The Governor of Vargas is in charge of the government and administration, serves for a four-year term and can be re-elected to an additional term only immediately and only once.

The state legislature is made up of a single body, the Legislative Council. It has the power to pass the state's Budget Law.

Like the other 23 federal entities of Venezuela, the State maintains its own police force, which is supported and complemented by the National Police and the Venezuelan National Guard.

Geopolitical division

Vargas State covers a total surface area of 1,497 km (578 sq mi).

Municipality

1. Vargas (La Guaira)

Parishes

• Caraballeda
• Carayaca
• Carlos Soublette (Maiquetía)
• Caruao (La Sabana)
• Catia La Mar
• El Junco
• La Guaira
• Macuto
• Maiquetía
• Naiguatá
• Raul Leoni (Catia La Mar)

Population

Race and ethnicity

According to the 2011 Census, the racial composition of the population was:

Sites of interest

Simón Bolívar International Airport

Beaches

See also

• Venezuela
• States of Venezuela
• 1999 Vargas mudslide catastrophe
• Dancing devils of Corpus Christi

References

1. "Resultado Básico del XIV Censo Nacional de Población y Vivienda 2011 (Mayo 2014)" (PDF). Ine.gov.ve. p. 29. Retrieved 8 September 2015.

External links

• History
• Geography
• Geopolitical division
• Law and government— State government
• Law and government— Municipal government
• Economy
• Sites of interest
• Folklore
• Historical seats

v t e Administrative divisions of Venezuela
Capital District	Caracas
States	Amazonas Anzoátegui Apure Aragua Barinas Bolívar Carabobo Cojedes Delta Amacuro Falcón Guárico La Guaira Lara Mérida Miranda Monagas Nueva Esparta Portuguesa Sucre Táchira Trujillo Yaracuy Zulia
Federal Dependencies	Los Monjes Archipelago Las Aves Archipelago Aves Island Los Hermanos Archipelago Los Frailes Archipelago Los Roques Archipelago La Sola Island La Tortuga Island La Orchila Island La Blanquilla Island Los Testigos Islands Patos Island Francisco de Miranda Insular Territory [es]
Regions	Andean Capital Central Central-Western Eastern Guayana Insular Llanos Zulian
Disputed state	Guayana Esequiba
Related topics	Federal Territories Amazonas Federal Territory (1864–1992) Delta Amacuro Federal Territory (1884–1991)
Claimed by Venezuela but administered by Guyana.

• Vargas (state)
• States of Venezuela
• States and territories established in 1998