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Overview
Venezuela declared independence in 1811 and produced Simón Bolívar, liberator of much of South America. 20th-century oil wealth transformed the country before Chavismo-era crisis.
Basic Information
CapitalCaracas
Population28 million
Area916,445 km²
CurrencyBolívar (VES)
LanguagesSpanish
RegionSouth America
History Timeline
- 1498Columbus lands on the Paria Peninsula
- 1811First declaration of independence
- 1830Independent republic
- 1922First major oil strike
- 1999Chávez inaugurated
Ancient Peoples
- Caribs
- Arawaks
- Timoto-Cuicas
Ancient Kingdoms
Empires
- Spanish Empire
- Gran Colombia
Religions
- Roman Catholicism
Culture
Joropo music, arepas, baseball tradition.
Language
Venezuelan Spanish.
Important Battles
- Battle of Carabobo1821
Secured Venezuelan independence
Historical Figures
Simón Bolívar
1783 – 1830
Liberator
Hugo Chávez
1999 – 2013
Populist president
Archaeological Sites
- Piedra Kueka
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- Coro and its Port
- Canaima NP
- Ciudad Universitaria Caracas
Dynasties
Colonial Period
Spanish colony 1498 – 1811.
Modern History
Federal republic in deep economic crisis.