Geographical location and natural conditions of Venezuela. Venezuela geographical location

Area: 912 thousand km2

Population: 26.8 million people.

Capital: Caracas

Form of government: republic

Official language: Spanish

Currency: bolivar

Geographical location and nature

Almost half of the country is occupied by the Guiana Plateau, the slopes of which in the south are covered with humid equatorial forests. , located in the central part of the country, is a tall grass savanna. Spurs stretch in the northwest. In the intermountain depression lies the basin of Lake Maracaibo, which is of great economic importance. Huge reserves are concentrated in the northern part of the country.

Population

The main feature of the Venezuelan population is the extreme unevenness of its distribution and a very high proportion of urban residents. It is more than 90% - this is one of the highest rates in the world.

Only the narrow coastal strip and the area around Lake Maracaibo are densely populated. Almost all the cities of the country are located here. Moreover, large cities are located in the mountains stretching along the Caribbean coast. This is explained by the fact that the climate in the mountains is much better than in the coastal lowlands, where it is hot and very dry.

Economic activity

Venezuela is known in the world as a major oil power. Most of the oil is produced in the area of Lake Maracaibo. It is connected to the sea by a narrow strait. Tankers transport oil through the strait to different parts of the world. In addition to oil, iron and aluminum ores are mined in Venezuela. Rivers with rapids have large reserves of energy.

Industry of Venezuela concentrated in three main areas: the oil region of Lake Maracaibo, the metropolitan area, where manufacturing enterprises are located (including automobile assembly), and the metallurgical region in the east of the country, where steel and aluminum are smelted.

Agriculture plays a small role in the country. Large ones allow you to grow rice and corn. However, food is scarce and Venezuela is forced to import about 1/3 of the food it consumes.

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Introduction

Venezuela, full official form - Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is a state in northern South America. It is washed by the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean in the north, bordered by Guyana in the east, Brazil in the south and Colombia in the west.

Most of the territory of Venezuela is characterized by mountainous terrain, represented by the northeastern spurs of the Colombian Andes in the west, the ridges of the Caribbean Andes in the north, and the Guiana Highlands in the southwest. The central and northeastern parts of the country are occupied by the vast flat territory of the Llanos Orinoco, in the northern and central parts it is represented by a stratified plain, dissected by river valleys into elevated table watersheds, and in the southwest, west and east by flat alluvial lowlands. Geologically, it is a sub-Andean foredeep, separating the young structures of the Andes from the ancient Guiana shield of the Precambrian South American platform. In the west of the country there is the intermountain depression of Maracaibo, occupied by the lake of the same name, surrounded by the mid-mountain range of the Sierra de Perija and the high-mountain range of the Cordillera de Merida with the highest point of the country - Bolivar Peak (5007 meters).

Venezuela's dense river network has extremely uneven flows throughout the year and violent summer floods. Most of the territory belongs to the Orinoco basin, which flows almost throughout its entire length within Venezuela and receives numerous tributaries. The left tributaries (Apura, Arauca, Capanapara...) have a flat flow with the possibility of navigation. During the rainy season, they overflow widely, flooding large areas. The right tributaries, originating in the Guiana Highlands (Caroni, Caura, Ventuari...), have many rapids and waterfalls, including the world's highest Angel Falls.

The hydroelectric potential of these rivers is used at large hydroelectric power stations: Guri (the third largest in the world in terms of power), Macagua and Caruachi. When it flows into the Atlantic Ocean, the Orinoco forms a vast delta. In the south of the country there is such a rare phenomenon as the bifurcation of rivers: the Casiquiare River branches off from the Orinoco in the upper reaches, carrying its waters to the Rio Negro - a tributary of the Amazon. Short rivers flowing from the northern slopes of the Andes flow directly into the Caribbean Sea or Lake Maracaibo.

1. Minerals

The main mineral resource of Venezuela is oil, in terms of reserves of which it ranks 1st in Latin America. As of 2009, proven hydrocarbon reserves were: gas - 4.3 trillion. cubic meters; oil - 11.2 billion tons (7% of world reserves). The largest oil and gas basins are the Maracaiba and Orinoco basins.

In addition to oil and gas, Venezuela has large deposits of iron ore (2nd place in Latin America), coal, and bauxite. As well as nickel, copper, lead-zinc, manganese ores, gold, diamonds, sulfur, asbestos, phosphorites, talc.

2. Flora and fauna

The territory of Venezuela, like most countries in South America, is varied in absolute heights, amount of precipitation and other environmental conditions. This explains the heterogeneity of vegetation cover and the richness of the country's flora.

Several floristic regions can be distinguished. On the northern coast, the flora is typically Caribbean, with a variety of legume trees, numerous cacti, and species of Capparia, Jacquinia and Ziziphus. The Venezuelan Andes are a continuation of the Andean region of western South America. It is characterized by the vegetation of the páramo (high mountain grasslands) and temperate forests of Colombia, in particular Espeletia, Geranium, Ceroxylon, Cinchona, Miconia and Gentiana. The flora of the Orinoco basin, which is diverse in plant cover, is associated in its origin with more southern elevations and rain forests. Plantations of exotic species such as sugar cane and coffee are widespread here. Many families are well represented, but legumes and palms are the most prominent, standing out against the grasses. A significant part of the southern regions of the country is similar in flora to the Amazon. Economically important species such as Hevea brasiliensis and Castilla rubber, as well as the rope palm (piassava), grow here. The most interesting floristic province is small in area and occupies the flat tops of the sandstone mountains of the Serra Pacaraima, running along the southern border of the country from the Roraima massif at the junction of Venezuela, Guyana and Brazil to the west to Mount Duida near the river. Casiquiare, connecting the upper reaches of the Orinoco with the upper reaches of the Rio Negro. This is a relict zone, so ancient that its closest floristic connections can be traced only with some elevations of southern Brazil, and more distant ones with the Andean region, the mountains of the Cuban region of Oriente and West Africa. Many highly endemic heathers, madders, bromeliads and cypresses grow here.

Forests occupy 56% of the territory of Venezuela, decreasing by 2.2 thousand km² per year. Hylea is common in the south and southwest of the country. The slopes of the Andes and the Guiana Highlands up to an altitude of 800-1200 m are covered mainly with deciduous evergreen forests with cashew and ceiba; On the windward slopes in the belt of mountain moist evergreen forests grow cinchona, cedrel, wax palms, ferns and epiphytes. Above the forest line (from 2200 m), the Caribbean Andes are covered with dense meadows with sparse shrubs; in the highlands of the Cordillera de Merida, páramos communities with cereal cover, cushion-shaped and rosette plants are common. Endemic low-growing shrubs grow on the plateaus and ridges of the Guiana Highlands. On the plains of the Llanos Orinoco, vast tracts of savannas have formed with cereal vegetation on the plains, flooded during the rainy season, and gallery forests along the valleys of large rivers. In the drier northern part of the plains, xeromorphic trees and shrubs are scattered among the sparse grass cover, cacti are found in places, and along the rivers there are thickets of Mauritius palms. On the Caribbean coast, thorny bush communities with numerous cacti, acacias, curatella, and divi-divi are typical. The Orinoco Delta and the southwestern part of the Maracaibo depression are covered with periodically flooded evergreen forests and swamps, the coasts are bordered by mangroves. The rich fauna is represented by broad-nosed monkeys, armadillos, anteaters, capybaras, peccaries, possums, deer, otters, pumas, jaguars. Typical birds are toucans, parrots, guajaros, harpy eagle, herons, storks, and ibis. There are numerous snakes (including anacondas), lizards, crocodiles, turtles, and electric eels.

The Orinoco drainage basin covers approximately four-fifths of Venezuela's territory. The Llanos region north of the river is a vast expanse of tall grasses interspersed with savannas, palm groves and woodlands. In many places, grasses are prevented from overgrowing with the help of frequent fires. The forests that occupy significant areas here are of the tropical deciduous type and are similar to the monsoon forests of the Old World tropics. Closer to the Caribbean coast they become drier and gradually take on the character of thorny thickets with numerous cacti and thorny legumes. In the south and east of the country along the borders with Brazil and Guyana, these deciduous forests are in many places replaced by a typical Amazon rainforest of tall evergreen trees with a closed canopy with numerous vines and a sparse understory. Forest areas alternate with savannas. Small areas of similar rain forest are found in the north of the country, mainly at the southern tip of Lake Maracaibo. The slopes of the Venezuelan Andes are covered with dense and impenetrable moss forest, also called mountain rainforest or cloud forest. This is the cinchona belt, often considered temperate in climate. Above the tree line there are treeless páramos dominated by bizarre Espeletia species, shrubs and cushion plants. These high mountain communities are striking in their abundance of vibrant flowers, giving them the appearance of vast alpine gardens. Unfortunately, overgrazing has resulted in natural vegetation degrading to shrub heath in many places.

Venezuela is home to the jaguar, puma, ocelot, bush dog, marten-related tayra, otters, monkeys, guinea pigs, nutria, prehensile-tailed porcupine, tapir and peccary. Deer and possums are also present. Crocodiles, alligators and turtles are common in many rivers. Boas, other snakes and lizards are abundant in the jungle. In the lowlands there are many cranes, herons, storks, ducks and other aquatic game, and in the mountains - birds of prey.

The climate of most of the plain territory of Venezuela is subequatorial, seasonally humid, with alternating clearly defined rainy (from April to October) and dry, hotter (from November to March) seasons. Throughout the year, Llanos is characterized by average monthly temperatures of 25-29ºC and 800--1200 mm of precipitation; for the lowland strip of the Caribbean coast, respectively, 28ºC and 240--400 mm of precipitation. The upper Orinoco basin and the adjacent slopes of the Guiana Highlands have an equatorial, constantly humid climate with 2500-3000 mm of precipitation per year. In the mountains, average monthly temperatures decrease with altitude from 22°C at an altitude of 800 meters to less than 10°C at an altitude of 3000 meters. Windward slopes are more moist (3500 mm) than leeward ones. In the Cordillera de Merida, at an altitude of 4700 meters, there is snow (the area of mountain glaciers is 2 km², and is rapidly decreasing).

The climate of Venezuela is determined by the alternation of humid equatorial air masses with calm weather in summer and dry trade winds in winter. Temperatures vary little throughout the year and depend mainly on the altitude of the area. Coastal areas are characterized by sweltering heat and high humidity; at higher elevations, temperatures are lower and conditions are more comfortable for human habitation. That is why all major cities are located at an altitude of 600 to 1850 meters above sea level. Above 1800 m the climate is much cooler and close to the climate of temperate latitudes. At altitudes above 3000 m it is so cold that farming is almost impossible and the main agricultural activity is sheep farming. More than three quarters of the country's area is characterized by a rainy season, which lasts from May to November. Rainfall varies from 280 mm on the Caribbean coast to 2000 mm or more at the southern end of Lake Maracaibo and on the windward slopes of the mountains and the Guiana Plateau. The dry season lasts from December to April.

4. Economics and social sphere

The fall in unemployment was achieved by Chavez through active expansion public sector. In 2007-2008, not only the oil industry was nationalized in the country, but also the ferrous metallurgy, cement industry and mobile communications. The companies that find themselves in the hands of the state do not aim to increase efficiency, but to expand employment along the lines of the Soviet Union. Chavez's "Bolivarian Revolution" includes, among other things, the fight against inflation, as understood by supporters of socialist methods. Since 2003, the country has centrally set prices for 400 types of goods, including food, “to combat inflation and protect the poor.” Their result was periodic shortages of products (in a state with tropical agriculture) and a sharp rise in prices. For example, there is a restriction on the supply of milk and a constant shortage of chicken eggs. In the country as a whole, inflation in the past decade was 21% per year, but food prices on the black market rose by 50% annually.

The Venezuelan government is actively trying to redistribute revenues from the oil and gas sector for social purposes, but practically does not use them for the development of the country's economy, its diversification or new investments in the oil and gas sector. At the same time, we must remember that the efficiency of production due to the production of hydrocarbons is constantly decreasing, and, consequently, costs are rising, profitability is decreasing and the country’s income level is falling. Which, with growing social spending and impressive internal and external public debt, could lead to default as a result of a rather sensitive collapse in oil prices. Considering the problematic nature of external borrowing for Venezuela in connection with its economic policy, the only way to protect the country from such a scenario (other than its development) is to increase the role of OPEC (of which Venezuela is a member) in pricing.

In this regard, the achievements of Hugo Chavez include increasing the role of OPEC in the state of affairs in the oil market. By the time of his election, discipline within OPEC had begun to suffer: some states, including Venezuela, regularly violated their production quotas, which led to a collapse in prices. In 2000, Chavez organized a summit of the alliance's heads of state (the first in 25 years and the second in the history of the organization). OPEC's actions again began to influence the market, which allowed the alliance to play for higher prices. And although OPEC was one of many factors that led to higher prices during the first decade of the 21st century, the role of the alliance was very noticeable.

However, this policy led to a conflict between Chavez and the national oil company (PdVSA). For decades, PdVSA has been accustomed to not meeting quotas, but to producing as much oil as possible to maximize its revenues. PdVSA employees went on strike in 2002, completely stopping the country's oil production (which removed 3 million barrels per day from the market, leading to a sharp jump prices). The government fired more than 19,000 of the company's employees, replacing them with Chavez supporters, but production did not fully recover over the next year.

Restrictions on foreign capital have had a negative impact on the country's main oil and gas sector. The fact is that PdVSA must invest at least $3 billion annually to maintain production at old fields, some of which would otherwise see production decline by 25% per year. But the problem is that the company provides about half of the government's revenue and 80% of the country's export earnings.

A welcome exception for the Venezuelan economy and Russian companies is the agreement reached in 2009 to allow Russian companies to develop gas fields and build gas pipelines in Venezuela.

5. Population

climatic South American Venezuelan

Population of Venezuela - 27,635,743 people;

Annual growth -- 1.5%;

Birth rate - 20 per 1000 (fertility - 2.5 births per woman, infant mortality - 21 per 1000);

Mortality rate - 5 per 1000;

Average life expectancy is 70.84 years for men, 77.17 years for women;

Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection rate is 0.7% (2001 estimate).

Ethnic and racial composition: mestizos - 67%; Europeans (Spaniards, Italians, Portuguese, Germans, French) - 21%; Africans - 10%; Indians - 2%.

Literacy - 95% (2005-2008).

Urban population - 93% (in 2008).

6. Politics

The President of Venezuela is elected by a simple majority through direct popular vote and is the head of state and government. The presidential term is 6 years. The President can be re-elected an unlimited number of times. The President appoints the Vice-President, decides on the structure and composition of the government and appoints its members with the consent of Parliament.

The President has the right of legislative initiative and can propose changes to existing legislation, but his proposals can be rejected by a simple parliamentary majority.

The unicameral parliament of Venezuela - the National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional) - consists of 165 deputies. 162 deputies are elected by a proportional list system in multi-member constituencies, including 97 personally, and 65 by party lists. The remaining 3 seats are reserved for representatives of the indigenous peoples of Venezuela. The term of parliamentary office is 5 years. Deputies can be elected for a maximum of three terms.

Higher Judicial authority-- Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Tribunal Supremo de Justicia). Its magistrates are elected by Parliament for one 12-year term.

Political parties.

· United Socialist Party of Venezuela - left (Hugo Chavez's party), 98 deputies.

· In a bloc with the ECPV in the elections in October 2010, the Communist Party of Venezuela won one seat in the National Assembly instead of the previous eight, although the total number of votes cast for the party has increased significantly since the previous elections.

· Coalition of Democratic Unity (in opposition to Chavez), 65 deputies.

· Fatherland for all - left (for Chavez), 2 deputies.

The Coalition of Democratic Unity (Spanish: Mesa de la Unidad Democratica) - several dozen different parties and organizations, covering almost the entire political spectrum - from centrist to the far left.

Political parties in the past.

After the liquidation of the military dictatorship in 1958, a multi-party system was established in the country. However, by 1968, the leading positions began to be occupied by two main political parties, which alternated in power - the Democratic Action (DA) and the Social Christian Party (CPEY). In the subsequent period, trends towards the formation of a two-party political structure intensified: although about 20 parties and organizations took part in the general elections, DD and KOPEY together received more than 85% of the votes.

The DD was created in September 1941 and considers itself a social democratic party and is part of the Socialist International. Representatives of the DD served as president of the country in 1945-1948, 1959-1969, 1974-1979, 1984-1993. Formed in January 1946, KOPEY was a party of Christian-democratic orientation that advocated “revolution in freedom” and also relied on its own network of workers, agrarian, women’s, youth, professional and other organizations. KOPEY headed the government of the country in 1969-1974 and 1979-1984. In reality, the differences between the DD and KOPEY gradually smoothed out, and both parties moved to centrist positions.

The acute socio-economic and political crisis of the 1980s, general dissatisfaction with corruption and voter apathy led to a significant weakening of the position of both leading parties. New forces and organizations began to enter the political arena. First of all, it was the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS), formed in 1971 as a result of the split of the Communist Party. The MAS took positions close to “Eurocommunism”, condemned the entry of Soviet troops into Czechoslovakia in 1968 (Operation Danube) and political system THE USSR. Advocating for democratic socialism, the MAS was the third most powerful political organization in the country from 1973 to 1993; in 1988 it won more than 10% of the vote in the general election. In 1992, the MAS won gubernatorial elections in five states, and in 1995 - in four. However, in the 1990s it was overshadowed by another left-wing populist group, the Radical Cause (Causa R), which also arose as a result of a split in the Communist Party and relied on the union of metallurgists, highly skilled workers employed in technologically advanced enterprises. In 1988, the Radical Cause won for the first time 3 seats in the country's National Congress (Parliament), in 1989 it won the gubernatorial elections in the state of Bolivar, and in 1992 it added the post of mayor of the capital. In 1993, the party's candidate in the presidential elections, Andres Velázquez, lagged behind the representatives of the DD and KOPEY by only a few percent of the votes. However, the party's influence turned out to be unstable.

Since the early 1990s, Venezuela has undergone a radical change in the entire previous party system. The 1993 presidential election was won by the former head of state from the KOPEY party, Rafael Caldera, who left his party and spoke from a wide bloc of 17 center, left and right parties - the National Convergence. The leading force in the coalition was MAS. But the new heterogeneous ruling alliance did not last long. The 1998 presidential election was won by the charismatic military leader Hugo Chavez Frias, who spoke on behalf of a new organization, the Fifth Republic Movement (FRM), created in 1997. The program provisions of the DPR were of a general nature: it promised to carry out constitutional reform, cleanse the country of corruption and abuse of political elites, create a democratic society of social justice, and involve the masses in governing the state. The support of the DPR was the “Bolivarian committees” created by Chavez’s supporters, primarily in poor urban areas.

The DPR led the Patriotic Pole bloc, which included various leftist and populist parties, including MAS and the breakaway party from the Radical Cause, the Motherland for All party. Hugo Chavez won with more than 55% of the vote, but his coalition failed to win a majority of seats in the National Congress.

It is characteristic that if the dominant positions in parliament still belonged to the traditional parties DD and KOPEY, Chavez’s main rival in the 1998 elections was the candidate from the new center-right association - Project Venezuela Enrique Salas Römer, who received almost 40% of the votes.

After the adoption of the new constitution in 2000, the country held new presidential and parliamentary elections, which were won by the ruling DPR: Hugo Chavez collected almost 60% of the votes, and his movement won 92 of the 165 seats in the National Assembly. The remaining seats in parliament were distributed as follows: DD - 33, COPEY - 6, Venezuela Project - 6, MAS - 6, Radical Cause - 3, Homeland for All - 1. National Convergence (supporters of Rafael Caldera) - - 1, others - 17.

7. Foreign policy

Venezuela takes an active part in the work of the UN and the Organization of American States (OAS), of which it is a member. It was also one of the founding countries of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), created in 1960. Venezuela is a member of the Latin American Integration Association and, together with Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, the Andean Pact.

During the period of high oil prices in the 70s and early 80s, Venezuela adhered to a very tough and independent course in foreign policy. By nationalizing the oil industry, the country began to expand its sphere of influence, especially in the Caribbean. She played a leading role in the Contadora Group of Latin American States, created to promote a peaceful resolution of the crisis in Central America (which the United States actively opposed). Together with other countries in the region, Venezuela actively participated in the development of collective measures to overcome the non-payment crisis and called on international organizations to pay close attention to economic problems third world countries.

Venezuela has long laid claim to a portion of Guyana's territory west of the Essequibo River, which makes up about two-thirds of Guyana's area, and has border disputes with Colombia and the Netherlands Antilles. The 30-year dispute with Colombia over the ownership of the Gulf of Venezuela escalated in the late 1980s and early 1990s due to the fact that clandestine drug trafficking routes pass through it, as well as due to the discovery of new oil fields in the area.

In 1989, the UN sent a mediator to help Venezuela and Guyana resolve controversial issue about the Essequibo region. After a series of border incidents, the two countries signed an agreement in 1997 to create a bilateral control commission. The mid-1990s were marked by border conflicts with Brazil due to the smuggling of weapons and drugs across the border, as well as attacks by Brazilian gold miners on the Yanomamo Indians living in Venezuela.

Territorial claims.

At the end of the 19th century, Venezuela declared its claims to the territory of British Guiana west of the Essequibo River after deposits of gold and diamonds were discovered there. The International Arbitration Tribunal in 1899 decided the dispute in favor of Britain; Venezuela was given only a small area in the north-west of British Guiana.

Since 1962, 4 years before Guyana gained independence from Great Britain, Venezuela again began to demand territory west of the Essequibo River - an area of about 160 thousand km², that is, almost three-quarters of the entire territory of Guyana. These claims have been repeated by all Venezuelan presidents, including Hugo Chavez.

8. Music

The favorite genre of Llanero folklore is the Choropo, which is a whole suite of dances, songs and instrumental pieces. The musical accompaniment includes national instruments - a maraca (a rattle made from a dried pumpkin), a small harp and a four-string cuatro guitar. Among other folk dances, the tono llanero (melody of the plains) is popular; pasillo, a type of Creole waltz; merengue, a genre of African-American folklore common to the entire Antillean zone; and "tanguito", the Venezuelan Argentine tango. The folk song of Venezuela is represented by the genres of copla (couplet) and corrido, which developed on the basis of the Spanish romance.

A number of cultural organizations and institutions, such as the Ateneo Theater of Caracas, actively promote national art and folk music. Many works of folk music are included in the repertoire of the Orpheon Lamas choir, headed for a long time by the composer Vicente Emilio Sojo (1887-1974). Soho was also the conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra of Caracas. The Institute for the Study of Folklore in Caracas acts as an information center for the organization of regional folk art festivals. Many of these festivals are held on religious holidays.

9. Literature

The formation of Venezuelan literature is associated with the names of Simon Rodriguez, Andres Bello and Simon Bolivar. Romanticism in national literature is represented by the prose writer Fermin Toro (1807-1865) and the poet Juan Antonio Perez Bonalde (1846-1892). The founder of realism was Manuel Vicente Romero Garcia (1865-1917), author of the novel Peonia (1890). The aesthetics of Spanish American modernism were developed by the prose writers Manuel Diaz Rodriguez (1868--1927) and Rufino Blanco Fombona (1974--1944). Famous writers also include Teresa de la Parra (1891-1936), one of the most popular writers in Latin America. The greatest Venezuelan writer of the 20th century was ex-president Romulo Gallegos (1884-1969), whose works are devoted to the relationship between man and nature; his novel Doña Barbara won international recognition. Mariano Picón Salas (1901-1965), a master of literary prose, was also a renowned Latin American sociologist. From Venezuelan poets of the 20th century. Andres Eloy Blanco (1897-1955) is considered the largest. Some of the most significant contemporary prose writers include Miguel Otero Silva (1908-1985), author of a number of novels with social themes, as well as the remarkable historical novel Lope de Aguirre, Prince of Liberty (1979); and Arturo Uslar Pietri (1906-2001), also an eminent critic and short story writer; His historical novel about the era of the struggle for independence of Venezuela, “The Scarlet Spears” (1931), is famous.

10. Painting and architecture

The largest Venezuelan artist of the colonial era was Juan Pedro Lopez (1724-1787), the author of church paintings. In the 19th century, Martin Tovar y Tovar (1828-1902) stands out, capturing episodes of the War of Independence from the Spanish Crown. Another romantic artist of the 19th century, Arturo Michelena (1873-1898), painted large works on religious and secular subjects. From artists of the 20th century. the most famous is Tito Salas (1889--1974). Among the younger generation of artists, Osvaldo Vigas is considered one of the most gifted. Sculptors Alejandro Colina and Francisco Narvaez (b. 1908) are popular. The center of fine art in Venezuela is the Museum of Fine Arts in Caracas.

Venezuela was one of the poorest Spanish colonies, so there are no outstanding monuments of colonial architecture. A few examples of buildings from this period can be found in the capital, as well as in the old cities of Merida and Valencia. With the beginning of the oil boom, many creations of modern architects appeared. This new source of wealth stimulated a flurry of construction, especially in Caracas.

11. Religion

The majority of the Venezuelan population considers themselves to be members of the Roman Catholic Church, within which the local population has a cult of Maria Lionza, which is not recognized as Catholic by the Catholic Church. Relations between President Hugo Chavez and the Catholic Church are quite tense. A breakdown in relations between Venezuela and the Vatican is not excluded in the future. In one of his speeches, Hugo Chavez said about Catholic priests: “They still think that they are the dominant force in the state. Forget about it, cave dwellers!

Also, since 2006, the “Reformed Catholic Church of Venezuela” has been operating. Its priests are clergy who were banned from serving by Catholic bishops for various canonical violations. Soon they were joined by former Lutheran pastor Enrique Albonroz. The main reason for the worldwide publicity was Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's alleged support for the new church as opposed to the Catholic Church. The Church does not require mandatory celibacy from its clergy, does not consider homosexuality a sin, and allows divorce. The only mandatory rule is full support for the socialist project of President Chavez; Albonroz also did not abandon the veneration of Martin Luther, and the services acquired some Protestant features. The church (as of summer 2008) consists of five parishes in the province of Zulia.

The majority of Protestants in the country are Pentecostals. The largest Pentecostal denomination is the Venezuelan Assemblies of God - 410 thousand believers. The Pentecostal movement is also represented by the United Pentecostal Church, the Church of the Fourfold Gospel, the Church of God, the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, etc. Adventists have 197 thousand believers in their ranks. The National Baptist Convention unites 550 churches and 45 thousand believers, Plymouth Brethren - 23 thousand, Lutherans - 7 thousand, Church of the Nazarene - 5 thousand.

12. Economics

The Venezuelan economy is based on oil production, which accounts for 80% of export revenues and more than 50% of revenues state budget and about 30% of GDP.

President Hugo Chavez pursued a policy of strengthening state control of the economy - in 2007 he nationalized enterprises in the oil, communications and energy sectors. In 2008 he nationalized enterprises producing steel and cement. In July 2008, Chavez issued a decree further strengthening the subordination of the economy as part of his plan for “21st century socialism.”

Venezuela's GDP in 2009 was $344 billion. (35th place in the world). GDP per capita is 12.8 thousand dollars. Unemployment - 7.9% (in 2009). The share of the population below the poverty line is 37.9% (at the end of 2005). Height consumer prices in 2010 - 29.8%.

Industry (share of GDP - 35% in 2010) - oil production, production of building materials, food industry, textile industry; iron ore mining, steel and aluminum smelting; car assembly.

The share of agriculture in Venezuela's GDP is 4%. The industry employs 13% of the workforce and uses approximately a quarter of the country's territory in one way or another. Cultivated are corn, sorghum, sugar cane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee. Beef, pork, milk and eggs are produced. Fishery is developed. Agriculture covers only a third of the country's own needs. In 2005, the United States alone exported $347 million worth of agricultural products to Venezuela (Venezuela thus became the second most important market in South America for the United States in this area).

Agriculture.

In the early 1990s, the agricultural sector accounted for only about 4% of national income; This ratio gives the erroneous impression of a highly developed economy. Before oil was discovered, Venezuela's main exports were coffee, cocoa, cattle, hides, etc.; however, by 1950, after many years of neglect of agriculture, more than a third of food products had to be imported. From the early 1950s to the mid-1970s, agricultural production increased significantly. Between 1961 and 1975, food production nearly doubled, although the share of agricultural workers fell from one-third to one-fifth of Venezuela's total farm labor force. This made it possible to reduce imports to 7% of the required volume of food products. Agricultural production growth later slowed to 24% in the 12 years from 1975 to 1987, while the population continued to increase rapidly. As a result, the amount of food per capita fell by 14%, and in 1987 Venezuela was forced to import almost a third of the food it needed.

The most fertile agricultural lands in Venezuela are located around Lake Valencia, in the intermountain valleys of the Andes and in the south of the Lake Maracaibo basin. Vast areas of steppes and savannas in the central part of the country have long been used primarily for cattle breeding, but after the construction of large irrigation structures, rice, corn and other crops began to be grown here. Venezuela's main export crops are coffee and cocoa. Corn, rice and beans are grown exclusively for domestic consumption.

Manufacturing industry.

The modern manufacturing industry began in the 1950s, and production in this sector has expanded rapidly since then. Yet in the early 1990s, it employed only about 15% of the economically active population and accounted for 22% of GDP (with petroleum products accounting for a fifth of this amount). Initially, the main manufacturing industries were oil refining and sugar, assembling automobiles from imported parts, and producing textiles, cement, automobile tires and tubes, cigarettes, beer, soap, pharmaceuticals, and glass products.

In the 1960s, Venezuela began to develop heavy industry. A powerful steel industry was created, and aluminum and fertilizer production began. Later, already in the 1970s, a significant part of the sharply increased income from oil exports was invested in heavy industry. Between 1970 and 1980, steel production nearly doubled, and nitrogen fertilizer production and aluminum smelting increased 15-fold. In 1979, aluminum took first place in Venezuelan exports (after petroleum products), leaving iron ore behind.

The development of heavy industry in the country is carried out mainly on the initiative of the government. The largest project was the development of basic metallurgy in the region of Venezuelan Guayana, on the Orinoco and Caroni rivers. The mineral wealth of the area - significant deposits of iron ore and bauxite, as well as rich hydropower resources and access to the sea (sea ships can rise along the Orinoco River) allowed government corporations and private foreign firms to build steel and aluminum production plants here. In addition, the government is also taking measures to develop the petrochemical industry: a large petrochemical complex was built in the city of Moron, north of Valencia, and another on the eastern shore of Lake Maracaibo.

International trade.

In addition to oil, Venezuela exports bauxite, aluminum, coffee, coal, nickel, emeralds, bananas, and flowers.

Exports from Venezuela ($64.9 billion in 2010) go mainly to the United States (35.2% in 2009), as well as to the Netherlands Antilles - 8.6% and to China - 5%.

Venezuela imports ($31.4 billion in 2010) mainly industrial products, vehicles, and construction materials.

The main supplier of imports to Venezuela is the USA (23.7% in 2009), as well as Colombia 14.4%, Brazil 9.1%, China 8.4%, Mexico 5.5%.

External debt Venezuela - $43.4 billion (at the end of 2009).

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Economic and geographical position of Venezuela.

VENEZUELA, Republic of Venezuela (Republica de Venezuela), a state in northern South America. It owns a number of islands in the Caribbean Sea, the largest of which is Maragrita Island. It borders Colombia, Brazil and Guyana. Area 916.4 thousand km2. Population: 24.66 million people. (2003). Capital Caracas. Major cities: Caracas, Maracaibo, Valencia, Barquisimeto, Ciudad Guayana.

The political system of Venezuela.

Federal Republic. The head of state and government is the president. Elected by direct universal suffrage.

Administrative-territorial structure of Venezuela.

A federation of 21 states, 1 federal territory, a federal district and federal possessions.

Population of Venezuela.

The main population is Venezuelans, descendants of Spaniards, Indians (Arawaks, Caribs) and Africans; mestizos, mulattoes and Sambos make up 67%, Creoles and Europeans 21%, blacks 10%. Small groups of purebred Indians live mainly in the south of the country. The official language is Spanish. OK. 93% of believers are Catholics. Urban population 93%. Population density 27.0 people/km2.

Climate of Venezuela. Natural conditions and resources of Venezuela.

In the central part there is a lowland river. Orinoco, in the north and northwest - the Caribbean Andes, ridge. Cordillera de Merida (height up to 5007 m, Bolivar Peak), Sierra de Perija, in the southeast - part of the Guiana Plateau of the Guiana Plateau (Neblina, 3014 m). The rivers mainly belong to the river basin. Orinoco. A large lake is the Maracaibo Lagoon.

In general, Venezuela has a hot subequatorial climate - drier in the northern coastal areas and with a pronounced rainy season in the center of the country.

The vegetation cover is varied (hylea, deciduous and deciduous-evergreen tropical forests, tall-grass and dry savannas, xerophytic-succulent woodlands, mangroves). National parks: Canaima, Serrania la Neblina, Jaua Sarasarinnama, etc.

Economy and industry of Venezuela.

GNP per capita. $3,020 (1995). The basis of the country's prosperity is the production, export and processing (including petrochemicals) of oil. In terms of reliable oil reserves and production, Venezuela is among the top ten countries in the world. The largest oil-bearing basin in South America, the Maracaibo Basin, is almost entirely located on the territory of the country.

All L. The economy is dominated by large land ownership. In the foothills of the Andes, plantation farming is developed (oranges, coffee, cocoa, sugar cane). The main livestock-raising area is Llanos. Cattle are raised.

History of Venezuela.

The Indian tribes that inhabited Venezuela before the arrival of Europeans were at a primitive stage of development. Venezuela was discovered by H. Columbuson his third voyage to the New World. The first Spanish settlement was founded in 1523; Caracas was founded in 1567, which became the main base of the Spaniards. Agriculture developed in the country during the colonial period, mainly large plantations using slave labor imported from Africa. In 1821, as a result of the War of Independence of the Spanish colonies in Americaunder the leadership of Caracas native S. BolivarSpanish rule was eliminated, slavery was abolished (finally in 1854). In 1830 the Republic of Venezuela was formed. For almost a hundred years, dictatorial regimes ruled here.

From the end 1960s there was a transition to a democratic form of government. After the 1998 crisis, President W. Chavez came to power. He managed to strengthen Venezuela’s influence in OPEC, which caused, on the one hand, an influx of revenues from oil sales, and on the other, led to a cooling in relations with the United States. The populist policy angered many Venezuelans, leading to several coup attempts.

The monetary unit is the bolivar.

Venezuela is one of the largest countries on the South American continent. It consists of several islands in the Caribbean Sea, the largest of which is called Margarita. Country with an area of 916 thousand square meters. km borders with Brazil and Colombia. At the beginning of 2017, the population barely reached 31 million.

The federal republic, headed by a president, has 21 states. The bulk of the population are Venezuelans (descendants of Indians and Spaniards) - 67%, Europeans - 21%, blacks - 10%.

Climate and natural conditions

The central part is represented by a low-lying flat area with the Orinoco River. The Caribbean Andes and the Cordillera de Merida range stretch from north to west, and part of the Guina Plateau rises in the southeast.

The climate is hot subequatorial. The north of the country suffers from drought for most of the year, while rainy seasons are common in the central regions.

The vegetation cover is rich and varied: mangroves, xerophytic-succulent woodlands, dry tall-grass savannas, deciduous tropical forests, hylea, etc.

Development of the Venezuelan economy

Few people know that the Latin American country described is the first oil exporter. In the 16th century, the first barrel of black gold crossed half the world on its way to Madrid. In the 17th-18th centuries, the main export items were indigo and sugar, and a little later - cocoa and coffee. In 1922, one of the largest oil fields was discovered near Lake Maracaibo in the village of Cabimas, which marked the beginning of the oil boom and brought dramatic changes to the Venezuelan economy.

The location of the fields in close proximity to the sea, the low standard of living of the population (cheap labor) and the high potential of the wells provoked active interest oil companies. During the Second World War, new deposits were found and put into production, several years later total area reached 68 thousand sq. km.

The largest deposits of iron ore were discovered in the lower reaches, the development of which was immediately intercepted by the American monopolists. As of 1970, the volume of foreign investment in the development of the Venezuelan economy amounted to $5.5 billion. 11% of this amount belonged to the United States.

From 1975-1980 the state occupied a leading position in economic development in Latin America. Infrastructure began to actively develop.

A responsible step on the path to independence and national sovereignty was the nationalization of the oil and iron ore industries. The basis of the Venezuelan economy was now under full government control. In most industries, foreign companies have been asked to transfer 80% of their shares to nationals within three years.

Import and export

Experts say that 50% of the Venezuelan economy is international trade. The lion's share of sales comes from oil and related products; iron ore is in demand. The export list includes coffee, cocoa, asbestos, gold, sugar, bananas, rice, hides, livestock, and timber.

Priority import items are high-tech equipment, vehicles and components, raw materials and materials for oil pipelines, industrial goods for general consumption. Food imports are increasing every year, as agriculture is in decline and is unable to meet the needs of the population. The majority of the procurement value comes from the United States - more than $3.5 billion per year.

Mining industry

The main product of the mining industry is iron ore. In the large deposits of El Pao, San Isidro and Cerro Bolivar, minerals are mined open method and contains up to 70% iron. Its annual production is 15-17 million tons, 90% of this amount is exported to America and Europe.

In the Upata area, nickel, lead, zinc, asbestos, and silver are mined in small quantities in the Caribbean Andes. In the suburban area of San Cristobal, phosphate rocks are mined.

Conducted in El Callao. Diamond production is also actively gaining momentum here (700-800 thousand carats per year). A large deposit of precious stones was discovered in the Cuchivero River basin and was accompanied by a diamond rush. For several years in a row, Venezuela has held the position of the largest supplier of diamonds among Latin American countries.

Manufacturing industry

According to general information on the Venezuelan economy, until 2013, its oil refining, chemical and engineering industries were developing at a rapid pace. Nevertheless, more than 50% of the value of the gross product comes from the textile, food, woodworking and leather and footwear industries.

The development of the largest iron ore deposits gave impetus to the development of the metallurgical industry. On the territory of the state there are several plants with a full cycle and electric blast furnaces, aluminum smelters, etc.

Production

The development of mechanical engineering is based on the automobile assembly industry. The Venezuelan economy can be briefly described as being supported by factories producing agricultural implements, tractors, construction equipment, tools, etc. Companies manufacturing television and radio equipment are developing. Large-scale construction in the mining, oil and manufacturing industries stimulates the creation of production sites for the production of building materials.

Livestock

Cattle breeding accounts for 55% of the cost of agricultural products. Farming is concentrated in Llanos.

The territory of dairy farming is the Caracas valley, the Valencia and Maracaibo river basins. In these same areas, poultry producers supply cities with eggs and meat. The arid Caribbean coast (state of Lara) is famous for the largest goat and sheep farms. Over the past 15 years, the livestock sector has made significant progress compared to the crop sector. The mass share of large farms using modern methods raising and caring for animals.

Fishing is developed in the northern part of the country (the coast of Venezuela. Tiger shrimp, the most valuable and revered product by gourmets, have a positive impact on the Venezuelan economy today.

Forestry is not given much importance. Tannins, vanilla, guayaba gum and rubber, used in perfumery and pharmacology, are harvested in minimal quantities.

Crop production

The state has a record amount of cultivable land for Latin America. Only a third of them are processed. According to the latest economic data from Venezuela, crop production is recognized as the most backward industry.

45% of the value of agricultural products comes from farming. 2/3 of arable land is concentrated in the north of the country. In Llanos, crop production is developed along the rivers and at the foot of the Andes. The problem in the area is severe droughts. In order to solve the problem, the government has developed a plan for creating a water sector for the next 30 years with the construction of dams and the organization of an irrigation system on 2 million hectares of land.

A fifth of the area is occupied by the main export crops - cocoa and coffee. The raw materials for the aromatic invigorating drink grow in the mountainous states in the northwest. The raw materials for most chocolates in the world are collected in the Caribbean. In Llanos, cotton, tobacco and sisal crops have grown over the past 8-10 years.

Transport

Communication routes are unevenly distributed throughout Venezuela. The maximum concentration of roads and railways is in the north. The latter are short, unconnected lines with a length of 1.4 thousand km. Passenger and ¾ of freight transportation is carried out by road.

The Orinoco River is the main inland waterway; steamship traffic is maintained along lakes Maracaibo and Valencia. The lack and low quality of land communications is compensated by coastal shipping by sea. In terms of scale, the ocean-going merchant fleet is one of the three leaders in South America. 23 ports are equipped for the export of oil and related products, and 8 more for the export and import of other goods.

Of particular importance for the Venezuelan economy is the organization of air communications with remote southern and eastern regions. Regular airlines connect the capital with major cities, oil fields and mining centers.

Economic crisis

2013 was a fateful year for the Venezuelan economy. The crisis has affected all spheres of the state's life. The only thing that saved the country from default was high prices for the main exported commodity - oil. At the beginning of the year before Maduro came to power state debt the country accounted for 70% of GDP with a budget deficit of 14%. At the end of 2013, inflation was 56.3%. In the current situation, parliament vested the new president with emergency powers. To meet the expectations of millions of voters, the guarantor announced an economic offensive, which introduced a 30% limit on the profits of private enterprises. There is an acute shortage of essential goods in the country - sugar, oil, toilet paper. Government representatives unanimously stated that the reason for the collapse of the Venezuelan economy was corruption, speculation, sabotage and the ongoing financial war against the state. Maduro has initiated a program to combat profiteering. After a month of operation of the new service commercial network Daka was nationalized. For setting a markup on goods at 100% instead of the permissible 30%, the property and management of the supermarkets were arrested.

2015: falling oil prices

In 2014, the Venezuelan economy, which was successfully moving towards emerging from the crisis, was rocked by another blow. World oil prices fell sharply. Compared to previous year income from the export of black gold decreased by 1/3. In an attempt to reduce the budget deficit, the Central Bank issues more banknotes, which leads to inflation of 150% (official data as of September 2015). In another attempt to curb inflation, the government is developing a complex currency exchange system. A week later, the official dollar exchange rate exceeded the market rate by more than 100 times. Adhering to the ideology of Chavismo, the parliament, headed by the president, limited prices for food products, which provoked a total shortage of essential goods.

2016: situation worsens

In January, left-wing socialist Luis Salas was appointed head of the Ministry of Economy. Like other members of Maduro's administrative apparatus, the official sees the cause of Venezuela's economic problems in a conspiracy and financial war by Europe against his homeland.

According to IMF estimates, in 2016 the level of GDP decline is approaching 20%, unemployment is rapidly growing - 25%, the budget deficit is 18% of GDP. Inflation of 550%, coupled with an external debt exceeding $130 billion, is pushing the Venezuelan economy toward default every day.

The highest denomination banknote, 100 bolivars, costs 17 American cents. Hyperinflation comes to naught purchasing power citizens. According to the local Center for Documentation and Analysis (Cendas), a basic food basket for a family costs eight times the minimum wage.

Our days: causes of the crisis

The main factors that provoked economic destabilization are structural and political foundations, in particular, dependence on imports, a sharp drop in world oil prices, as well as total state control over the production and distribution of food products.

Due to the worsening economic situation in Venezuela in the first decade of 2017 and President Maduro’s refusal to hold a referendum on changes to the political course of the state, mass protests took place in major cities. More than a million citizens dissatisfied with the actions of the authorities took to the central streets demanding that essential products - flour, eggs, milk, medicines - be brought to stores.

The opposition accuses the current head of state of following the antisocial laws of dictator Hugo Chavez, which led to a deep crisis, which will be aggravated by the decline in oil prices. In turn, Nicolas Maduro accuses the country's aristocracy of boycotting the economy to achieve their goals through corrupt means.