Capital Caracas
Government Federal republic
Currency Bolivar (VEB)
Area total: 912,050 km2
land: 882,050 km2
water: 30,000 km2
Population 25,375,281 (2005 est.)
Language Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects
Religion Nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%
Electricity 120-240/60Hz (US plug)
Calling Code +58
Internet TLD .ve
Time Zone UTC -4.5

Venezuela is a country in South America. Possessing shorelines on the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, Venezuela borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east and Brazil to the south, and is situated on the major sea and air routes linking North and South America. Off the Venezuelan coast are also to be found the Caribbean island states of Aruba, the Netherlands Antilles and Trinidad and Tobago. Venezuela is the world's fifth-largest oil exporter and also has vast untapped reserves of natural gas. The country is also famous for its beautiful women, with more Miss World and Miss Universe titles than any other nation.

The Angel Falls (Churun Meru) in the Guiana Highlands is the world's highest waterfall and one of Venezuela´s major tourist attractions.

Regions

- Andes - Moutainous and picturesque, this region is made up of the states of Mérida, Táchira and Trujillo.
- Caribbean Islands - With more than 600 islands or smaller formations, many of the best beaches can be found here.
- Central - The most populous part of Venezuela enjoys great beaches and big cities, from Caracas and the nearby commuter towns in Miranda and Vargas out to the states of Aragua and Carabobo.
- Guayana - The immense and largely uninhabited area south of the Orinoco River, which makes up around half of Venezuela's national territory, includes rainforest in Amazonas, table-top mountaints in the Gran Sabana and Bolívar state, and the flat marshlands extending out in the Orinoco Delta.
- Los Llanos - Vast open plains, home to cattle-ranching and amazing wildlife, made up of the states of Apure, Barinas, Cojedes, Guárico and Portuguesa.
- Northeast - Stunning deserted beaches in Anzoátegui and Sucre, as well as hills and caves in Monagas state.
- Northwest - Rich with oil from Zulia state, the northwest also boasts more beaches in Falcón and lush agricultural countryside in Yaracuy and Lara.

Cities

- Barquisimeto
- Caracas - the capital.
- Ciudad Bolivar - stop-off point for flights to Angel Falls, and a comfortable stoppover on the way to Brazil.
- Ciudad Guayana - dominated by heavy industry, it is Venezuela´s most organized city and the main gateway to the Orinoco Delta and the Gran Sabana.
- Coro - the first capital of Venezuela and a city of rich colonial architecture and tourist attractiveness
- Maracaibo - Venezuela's second city, swelteringly hot and built on oil.
- Maracay - once the capital of Venezuela, now home to the main military garrison.
- Mérida - a charming university town in the Andes mountains, popular for outdoor activities.
- Puerto La Cruz - the main access point for many beaches in eastern Venezuela.
- Valencia - an affluent industrial city.