The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela lies on the northern coast of South America. The country has waste natural resources of oil, bauxite, coal, iron ore and gold. However lots of its inhabitants still live in poverty, mainly in the shantytowns of the big cities like the capital Caracas. As it lies near the equator, the weather is usually hot, except from the high range of Andes. The rainy season lasts from June to October and it is best time to see the waterfalls, especially the longest waterfall in the world, Salto Angel. Venezuela possesses four completely different types of environment, as it borders the Caribbean Sea to the north, Andes to the west, Amazonia to the south and Llanos to the east.

The Caribbean Shores

The northern part of Venezuela is bordered to the Caribbean Sea. To this area also belongs the Maracaibo Basin, oil producing sedimentary impression around the Lake Maracaibo. The area is swampy and not very densely populated. Other shores east to Maracaibo Basin, especially the Gulf of Cariaco are covered by white sandy beaches and they are ideal for swimming, diving and fishing. Isla de Margarita is 40 km far from the mainland and it a famous summer destination.

The Llanos and the Table Mountains

The waste plain area around the Orinoco River is formed by a grassland steppe, called the Llanos. Its traditional inhabitants, the Llaneros, take care of the cattle and have their own culture, which is strongly connected with the cattle. This includes the coleo competitions, which is something like the rodeo and means skills in horse riding and cattle dragging. In the southeast part the mystic Table Mountains, the Tepuis, which are known from A. C. Doyle’s Lost World, stretch above the steppes. They are unique only for Venezuela and neighboring Guyana. The most famous in Monte Roraima (2739 m) and the Auyantepui, from which the longest waterfall in the world, Salto Angel (979 m) falls.

The Amozon Jungles

The southern part of the country is covered by the deep jungle and crosscut by many rivers, like Orinoko, Sigapo and Autana. The area is inhabited by many Indian tribes. The rainforest has a large biodiversity; there are over 25 000 of orchids, the national flowers of Venezuela. There are also big mammals like the anteaters, jaguars and several species of monkeys. Orinoko River is home to river dolphins and crocodiles that can grow as long as 8 m.

The Andes

Most of the peaks in the mountains located in the western part of the country exceed 4500 m. The fertile valleys between them are home to the majority of Venezuela’s population, industry and agriculture. The highest peak Pico Bolivar (4981 m) is located in the Cordillera de Merida range. The town Merida lies not far from this peak. It is a friendly town, which is a good starting point for the mountain trips. There are also many small villages, where the people still live according to the old traditions.

Summary

Although the poverty is sometimes eye – striking, Venezuela is a country with breathtaking natural beauty. You can find here the largest sweet water lake in South America, third longest river, the highest waterfall in the world and the longest snakes. The landscape is one of the strangest that you have ever seen – high peaks of Andes change into rainforest, the steppe suddenly comes up to the table mountains, which are 4500 million years old. Venezuela has the typical music, as well as the hand – made products of native Indian tribes.