Venezuela
Venezuela is situated in the northern part of South America. The nation gained independence after splitting from Gran Colombia. Much of Venezuela’s 19th century historical records are illustrated by periods of political uncertainty, dictatorial power and revolutionary commotion, followed by a chain of autocrats in the early 20th century. Numerous peculiar and fascinating animals, such as manatees, jaguar, and three-toed sloth are found in Venezuela. The country is home to an exquisite array of flora, boasting of over 20, 000 kinds of orchids, and the most unique is the the national flower, “flor de mayo orchid.’’
In order to understand the nation better, it is essential to know about its capital, Venezuela, also known as Caracas. It is situated close to the Guaire River in the northern region of the nation. Caracas is Venezuela’s biggest city and its name was derived from the curves of the thin Caracas Valley, a mountain range located on the country’s coastline.
Being located in the tropics, Venezuela has a climate that is hot and humid, comprising of alternate rainy and dry seasons. Notably, the rainy season here is referred to as winter, while the dry season is called summer. Furthermore, the country is often very rainy and humid from August to October and very dry from January to April. It is usually very hot from May to September and very cold in January (Venezuela 5). Nevertheless, variation in temperatures occurs due to its elevation.
Furthermore, environmental issues in Venezuela comprise of sewage contamination, deforestation, soil deprivation and urban and industrial degradation, particularly along the Caribbean coast. Moreover, careless mining activities pose a threat to the rainforest ecosystem and local population. Nevertheless, progress has been made in conserving and preserving water sources (Venezuela 6). Also, the Venezuelan Ministry of Environment is highly determined to upgrade the environmental protection in the nation. High levels of pollution in lakes due to waste from the oil industry put the environment in danger. The government is keen on waste management and associated issues, particularly due to high cases of oil wastage in the nation. Additionally, the formation of a new ministry of eco-socialism is anticipated to offer new momentum in the challenge of climate change (Venezuela 38). Environmental conservation in Venezuela has received much worldwide attention.
Owing to its predominantly Roman Catholic population, Venezuela values religion and Roman Catholicism is the formal religion. About 96% of citizens are Roman Catholics while 4% belong to several Protestant sects (Venezuela 7).
Venezuela has enormous hydropower and mineral reserves. The nation is a major producer of oil due to its vast oil reserves. It has millions of barrels of extra-heavy crude oil and bitumen deposit, which are placed in the Orinoco Belt, situated in Central Venezuela. The nation boasts of a lot of unexploited natural gas reserves, which are ranked second in the Western Hemisphere and eighth globally. Venezuela also possesses huge forest reserves, which have declined quickly because of consistent enlargement of cattle-grazing land (Venezuela 6).
The national currency is called Bolivar Fuerte. The Venezuelan currency policy states that selling or acquiring foreign currency needs to be formalized by currency exchange pacts. The Venezuelan government has recently issued a currency exchange pact that creates SIMADI, the third system in a three-tier exchange control process. SIMADI permits legal trading of foreign currency according to supply and demand.
If one were to study the history of Venezuela, one would find several historical sites that signify the rich history of the past, exemplified through architectural memorials and landmark structures. Coro is a historical site that lies on the Caribbean coast and is regarded to be among the oldest cities of Venezuela. The unique aspect is its unmatched old structures broadly representing the living style of the earlier generation. Apart from the rich heritage, tourists also have the opportunity to observe the world’s tallest waterfall by visiting the Angel Falls in Venezuela, and visit the Amazon’s northern fringe, which is situated in Southern Venezuela.
Traditionally, Venezuela has unique customs and culture. For example, the long-established way of greeting is a strong handshake with direct eye contact. Additionally, men are supposed to wait for women to extend their hands if they need a handshake. Family members as well as friends usually greet one another with a kiss or a hug. Men are not supposed to hug other men (Venezuela 216). Normally, greetings are long and polite enquiries on concerns such as health issues and welfare of relatives is made during a greeting. Prompt greetings are considered disrespectful and thoughtless. Formality is preferred and individuals are addressed by their title and last name. Yawning or coughing in public, particularly, when talking to someone is considered rude, and individuals need to cover their mouths if they must do so. Furthermore, people are not allowed to stand with their hands on their hips since it is considered a sign of being angry (Venezuela 217).
Another appealing fact is Venezuela’s prevalent sport, which is baseball, and the nation has had a chance of hosting a specialized baseball league for many years. Moreover, schoolchildren have the freedom to attend morning or afternoon classes, and the senior students can attend night classes. The nation boasts of its beauty not only in terms of resources, but also people; More women have gone on to win the Miss Universe and Miss World titles compared to other nations. Visiting the nation provides one an opportunity to o see a kind of small guitar named the cuatro, which is the national instrument. There is also a national dance, waltz-like dance, known as Joropo that leaves many people entertained.
In conclusion, Venezuela is one among the most interesting countries in the world, with an immense appeal for people of varying interests and tastes. Any visitor is bound to be impressed either with its natural beauty or resources or its rich heritage and culrural traditions.
Works Cited
“Venezuela.” CIA World Fact Book 53. (2016): 808-812. www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ve.html. Accessed 1 Feb. 2017.
“Venezuela.” Venezuela Country Profile (2014): 1-70. Library of Congress – Federal Research Division. www.loc.gov/rr/frd/cs/profiles/Venezuela-new.pdf Accessed 1 Feb. 2017.
“Venezuela.” Political Risk Yearbook: Venezuela Country Report (2016): 1-52. www.forbes.com/forbes/welcome/?toURL=http://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanielparishflannery/2016/10/28/political-risk-analysis-is-venezuela-now-entering-a-full-blown-political-crisis/&refURL=https://www.google.co.in/&referrer=https://www.google.co.in/Accessed. 1 Feb. 2017