Venezuela

 

Venezuela: A Brief Introduction

Venezuela, officially known as the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country located on the northern coast of South America. It encompasses both a continental landmass and numerous islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea. Let’s delve into some key aspects:

1. Geography and Population:

   • Area: Venezuela covers approximately 916,445 square kilometers (353,841 square miles).
   • Population: An estimated 29 million people reside in Venezuela as of 2022¹.

2. Capital and Major Cities:

   • The capital and largest urban center is Caracas.
   • Venezuela’s continental territory shares borders with Colombia (west), Brazil (south), and Guyana (east). It also faces the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean to the north.

3. Languages and Ethnic Diversity:

   • Spanish is the official language, but the constitution recognizes 26 regional languages spoken by indigenous communities.
   • The population includes diverse ethnic groups, such as multiracial, white, Afro-Venezuelan, and others¹.

4. Government and History:

   • Venezuela operates as a federal presidential republic under a centralized authoritarian state.
   • Independence: Declared on July 5, 1811, from Spanish colonial rule.
   • Constitution: The current constitution was adopted on December 20, 1999¹.

5. Economy and Currency:

   • The economy relies heavily on oil exports.
   • Currency: The official currency is the Venezuelan bolívar, although the United States dollar is also widely used (unofficially)¹.

6. Recent Elections:

   • In the most recent presidential election, President Nicolás Maduro secured victory, while opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez contested the results².
   • World reactions to the election have been starkly divided.