VENEZUELA, a republic in the n.w. of South America, bounded on the n. by the Caribbean sea, on the w. by the United States of Colombia (New Grenada), on the s. by Brazil, and on the e. by British Guiana. Lat. 1° 20' to 12° 25' n.; long. 59° 45' to 73° 17' west. Within recent years the country has been variously subdivided. In 1854 there were 13 provinces=those of Apure, Barcelona, Varinas, Barquisimeto, Carabobo, Caracas, Coro, Cumana, Guiana, Maracaybo, Margarita, Merida, and Trnxillo—with an aggregate population of 94,5,408. Subsequently, the number of provinces was increased to 21, by subdividing 8 of the original provinces. In 1863, after the federals had con quered the unionists, a confederation was formed. and the number of states was reduced to 7. The present distribution is into 20 states, a federal district, and 3 territories. The area of the country.is estimated to embrace 401,700 sq.m.; and the population in 1873 was 1.184,194. The capital is Caraccas, or more correctly Caracas (q.v.). The coast line, extending from e. to w.—from the delta of the Orinoco to the boundary of the United States of Colombia—is 1584 m. in length. The most easterly part of the coast line, 150 m. in length, and formed mostly by the delta, is washed by the Atlantic, and is very low. The waters of the gulf of Paria beat upon bold and rocky shores. The remainder of the coast-line, including the north shore of the peninsula of Paria, is washed by the Caribbean sea, and the coast, for the most part low and marshy, is some times precipitous, the mountains rising like a wall from the water's edge. With trifling exceptions, the country is abundantly watered. Its great riveris the Orinoco, which drains by far the greatest part of it, and the course of which is almost wholly within its boundaries. The other greater rivers of Venezuela are affluents of the Orinoco (q.v.). Numerous small in comparison with the great rivers, flow n. into the Caribbean sea and the lake of Maracaybo (q.v.), which is by far the largest lake in the country. The Andes enter Venezuela from the w., and divide into two branches, the first of which runs n. toward the coast, under the names of the Sierra de Perija and the Montes de Oca, but rise no higher than 4,200 ft.; while the other branch, running in a n.e. direction, ter minates near the coast, in long. 68' 30' w., and attains a much greater elevation. That part of the n.e. branch of the Andes called the Sierra Nevada de 'Merida, and situated about 100 m. s. of lake Maracaybo, contains the only mountain that rises above tie line of perpetual snow, and the two peaks of which are 15,342 and 15,310 ft. high rer'.erttively, the loftiest in the country. South and s.e. of the Orinoco are the most tu.tintainous districts of Venezuela. They form a vast, confused, and mostly unex plored region, but none of these mountains rise to the height of the main peaks of the Andes. The country embraces vast known under the names of llanos, paranws, mesas, and puiws. There are extensive low, marshy tracts along the coasts and the lake and river banks, which, however, are abundantly fertile during the dry season. For the most part, the soil of the country is fertile. In the mountainous dis
trict in the s.e. there are great tracts well suited for the production of grain. Of this region, the lands not more than 2,000 ft. above sea-level are called tierras calidas, or hot lands; those between 2,000 and 7,000 ft. are called tierras templadas, temperate lands; and those above 7,000 are the tierras friers, cold lands, in trhich the average temperature is 49' Palm, and which are mostly uninhabited. The warmest tracts are the palm-lands; and the sago-palm, cocoa-palm, and others, grow here to a most colossal size, and yield most valuable products. Among the forest trees are the mahogany, satin-wood, rosewood, black and white ebony, and caoutchouc; and there are forests of the cinchona or Peruvian-bark tree. The cocoa and coffee trees, sugar-cane, indigo, and cotton plants are cultivated. Vegetables in great variety are raised, and tobacco is a profitable crop. Among the wild animals are the puma, ounce, and wild-cat; the jaguar is now becoming rare. The alligator, crocodile, boa-constrictor, and rattlesnake are found. Of domestic animals, great herds of cattle and wild horses roam over the llanos, and mules, asses, sheep, goats, and pigs are reared. The inhabitants are Made up of whites of Spanish extraction; Indians, who are docile and industrious, and are the miners, agriculturists, and manufacturers of the country; some negroes and mixed races. Agriculture is the great pursuit, though only about of the whole area is under cultivation. Manufactures are few; commerce is important, and would be much more so, were there well-constructed roads and other means of conveyance titan mules. The principal articles of export are coffee, cotton, cocoa, sugar, indigo, tobacco, salt, hides, live stock, tallow, horns, sarsaparilla, dve-woods, and timber. The imports are manufactured goods, provisions, and wine. the five years 1866-70, the imports averaged £1,000,000; the exports, £1,200,000. In 1875 the value of the imports was £3,760,000; exports, £4,028,000. The religion of the mass of the people is Roman Catholic, though other forms are tolerated.
e. coast of Venezuela was discovered by Columbus in 1498; Ojeda and Vespucci followed in 1499, and, entering lake Maracaybo, they found an Indian village constructed on piles, to prevent the evil effects of inundation, and they named the place Venezuela, or Little Venice. a name which afterward spread to the whole country. The first settlement was made at Cumana in 1520, by the Spaniards; and Venezuela remained subject to Spain till it claimed independence in 1811. It then returned to allegiance to Spain, but again revolted in 1813, and, forming with New Granada and Ecuador the republic of Colombia, was declared independent in 1819. In 1831 the states separated. See COLOMBIA. In 1865 Juan Falcon became president, but fled in 1868, when the unionists overcame the federals. In 1870 the federals regained their supremacy. •