MARACAIBO, a large lake of western Venezuela, extending southward from the Gulf of Venezuela, into which it opens through a long neck, or strait, obstructed at its mouth by islands and bars. The lake is roughly quadrangular in shape, and extends from the gth to the 11th parallel of S. lat. and from the 71st to the 72nd meridian. It opens into the Gulf through 13 channels, the depth on the bar in the main channel ranging from 7f t. at low water to 12ft. at high water. Inside the bar the depth is about ;oft., and the lake is navigable for vessels of large size. It re ceives the waters of many rivers, principally on its west and south sides, the largest of which are the Catatumbo and Zulia, Escalante, Chanudo, Ceniza, Santa Ana, Negro, Apan and Palmar. The first three have navigable channels for river steamers. There are a number of small lakes near Lake Maracaibo's southern and western margins, the largest of which is the Laguna de Zulia. The heavy rainfall on the eastern slopes of the Eastern Cordillera, which is said to exceed 86in. per annum, is responsible for the great volume of water discharged into the lake. The average an
nual precipitation over the whole basin is said to be 7o inches. In the upper half of the lake the water is sweet, but below that, where the tidal influence is stronger, it becomes brackish. The most important port on the lake is Maracaibo, but there are ports of lesser trade at its upper end which are in direct communication with the inland cities of Trujillo, Merida and San Cristóbal. The Catatumbo river, which enters from the west near the north end of the lake, and its principal tributary, the Zulia, are navigable as far as Villamizar, in Colombia, and afford an excellent transporta tion route for the coffee and other products of Santander.
During the last few years petroleum exploitation around the shore of Lake Maracaibo has been active under the direction of various European, United States and native companies. The popu lation of Maracaibo city has risen to about 102,00o; all lines of business have expanded. There are several refineries, some within the gulf area and others on Curacao and nearby islands of the Caribbean.