VenezuelaVenezuelaIn a Nut ShellIn a Nut Shell

By; By;

Brandon StrattonBrandon Stratton

Why go thereWhy go there

Has South America's Has South America's largest lake largest lake

Third-longest river Third-longest river Highest waterfall in the Highest waterfall in the

world world The longest of all The longest of all

snakes snakes There are the There are the

snowcapped peaks of snowcapped peaks of the Andes in the west the Andes in the west

Steamy Amazonian Steamy Amazonian jungles in the south jungles in the south

The beautiful Gran The beautiful Gran Sabana plateau Sabana plateau

Miles of white-sand Miles of white-sand beaches fringed with beaches fringed with coconut palms on the coconut palms on the Caribbean coast. Caribbean coast.

Quick Gen. InfoQuick Gen. Info

Full country name:Full country name: República Bolivariana de República Bolivariana de VenezuelaVenezuelaArea:Area: 916,445 sq km 916,445 sq kmPopulation:Population: 25 million 25 millionCapital City:Capital City: Caracas (pop 4,608,934) Caracas (pop 4,608,934)People:People: 67% mestizo, 21% European descent, 10% 67% mestizo, 21% European descent, 10% African descent, 2% indigenous. African descent, 2% indigenous. Language:Language: Spanish SpanishReligion:Religion: Roman Catholic (96%), Protestant Roman Catholic (96%), ProtestantGovernment:Government: federal republic federal republicHead of State:Head of State: President Hugo Chávez President Hugo Chávez

MONEY!!!MONEY!!!

GDP:GDP: US$194.5 billion US$194.5 billion GDP per capita:GDP per capita: US$8,500 US$8,500Annual Growth:Annual Growth: -0.9% -0.9%Inflation:Inflation: 29.9% 29.9%Major Industries:Major Industries: Petroleum, iron ore, Petroleum, iron ore, cereals, fruit, sugar and coffee.cereals, fruit, sugar and coffee.Major Trading Partners:Major Trading Partners: USA, Germany, USA, Germany, Japan, Colombia, Brazil, Italy Japan, Colombia, Brazil, Italy

When should I go?When should I go?

The tourist season in Venezuela runs year-round The tourist season in Venezuela runs year-round dry season is more pleasant for travelingdry season is more pleasant for traveling Angel Falls - are certainly more impressive in the wet Angel Falls - are certainly more impressive in the wet

season.season. Christmas, Carnaval (several days before Ash Christmas, Carnaval (several days before Ash

Wednesday) and Semana Santa (Holy Week; the Wednesday) and Semana Santa (Holy Week; the week before Easter Sunday). you have to plan ahead week before Easter Sunday). you have to plan ahead and do a little more legwork before you find a place and do a little more legwork before you find a place to stay. to stay.

Public HolidaysPublic Holidays

January 1 - New Year's DayJanuary 1 - New Year's DayBefore Easter Sunday - Monday Thursday & Good Before Easter Sunday - Monday Thursday & Good FridayFridayApril 19 - Declaration of IndependenceApril 19 - Declaration of IndependenceMay 1 - Labor DayMay 1 - Labor DayJune 24 - Battle of CaraboboJune 24 - Battle of CaraboboJuly 5 - Independence DayJuly 5 - Independence DayJuly 24 - Bolívar's BirthdayJuly 24 - Bolívar's BirthdayOctober 12 - Discovery of AmericaOctober 12 - Discovery of AmericaDecember 25 - ChristmasDecember 25 - Christmas

CaracasCaracas

The capital of Venezuela is a huge, vibrant, The capital of Venezuela is a huge, vibrant, South American city. Tremendously wealthy South American city. Tremendously wealthy and desperately poor. In Caracas, the greatest and desperately poor. In Caracas, the greatest attractions are the city's skyscrapers and the attractions are the city's skyscrapers and the teetering shantytowns that cover the hills teetering shantytowns that cover the hills around it. Cities are very different then ours around it. Cities are very different then ours here. He wealthy live down town, and the very here. He wealthy live down town, and the very poor live around the city.poor live around the city.

Amazon JungleAmazon Jungle

The Amazon region in the south of the country The Amazon region in the south of the country is thick with tropical rain forest, with rivers is thick with tropical rain forest, with rivers crisscrossing through out the land, and home crisscrossing through out the land, and home to a number of isolated Indian tribes. Tours up to a number of isolated Indian tribes. Tours up the Orinoco, Sipapo or Autana rivers and deep the Orinoco, Sipapo or Autana rivers and deep into the Venezuelan Amazon can be arranged.into the Venezuelan Amazon can be arranged.

Caribbean Coast (Venezuela)Caribbean Coast (Venezuela)

The northeast coast is the place to go for outdoor The northeast coast is the place to go for outdoor activities such as snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, activities such as snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, sailing or just lying around and enjoying the sun. The sailing or just lying around and enjoying the sun. The county's beaches are the best here, long beaches with county's beaches are the best here, long beaches with white sand lapped by turquoise waters and lined with white sand lapped by turquoise waters and lined with coconut palms. Isla de Margarita, 40km (25mi) from coconut palms. Isla de Margarita, 40km (25mi) from the mainland, is a favorite for beach-lovers and a the mainland, is a favorite for beach-lovers and a popular holiday destination for Venezuelans. It is popular holiday destination for Venezuelans. It is easily accessible by ferry from Cumaná and Puerto easily accessible by ferry from Cumaná and Puerto La Cruz on the mainland.La Cruz on the mainland.

ConclusionConclusion

Alright, this is a very fun country with many festive Alright, this is a very fun country with many festive quarks in there culture. I have been through many quarks in there culture. I have been through many sites and they all say that if you like to party to all sites and they all say that if you like to party to all hours of the night, or want to shop during the day and hours of the night, or want to shop during the day and sit and relax every night on the beaches, this is the sit and relax every night on the beaches, this is the place to go. The only downfall is the political place to go. The only downfall is the political circumstances right now, they just finished a circumstances right now, they just finished a moderately violent coup of the Gov. so if you can moderately violent coup of the Gov. so if you can avoid and of these situations then you should have the avoid and of these situations then you should have the time of your life.time of your life.