The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, as it is officially known, is located in the northern part of South America, a spot to which it owes its triple identity as an Andean, Amazonian and Caribbean country. Strategically located, the country has access to both the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean along its 2,813 km (1,749 miles) of northern and eastern coastlines. Covering an area of 916,445 square kilometers (353,841 square miles), Venezuela shares borders with Colombia to the west and south, Brazil to the south and Guyana to the east.
This federal republic is divided into 23 states, a Capital District (that includes the city of Caracas), 72 federal territories (islands, islets and keys, most uninhabited) and Guayana Esequiba. Venezuela has been claiming this latter 167,830 square kilometer area from Guyana for the past 150 years. The governments of both countries are still working on a settlement to the territorial dispute.
Located in the tropics, Venezuela benefits from a warm, rainy climate, with variations depending on location, topography, prevailing winds and proximity to the sea. Because of its two mountain chains, the Andes and the Coastal chain, it has more moderate temperatures that vary depending on the altitude.
Close to 80% of the population lives in urban areas in the northern part of the country, while the half of the country located south of the Orinoco River is home to the other 20%. Most Venezuelans are descendents of Spaniards, native Indians and Africans from the colonial era; these groups were later joined by immigrants of German, Croatian, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Syrian, and Lebanese origin, as well as a great many Latin Americans, during the 20th century.
Although the official language is Spanish, there are also some thirty native languages that are officially used in the respective communities, among others guajiro, warao, pemón and kariña. English is the second language for most professionals, scholars and middle- and upper-class Venezuelan. Many people in the large immigrant communities (Arabs, Portuguese and Italian, mainly) continue to speak their native tongue.
Venezuela in context
This federal republic is divided into 23 states, a Capital District (that includes the city of Caracas), 72 federal territories (islands, islets and keys, most uninhabited) and Guayana Esequiba. Venezuela has been claiming this latter 167,830 square kilometer area from Guyana for the past 150 years. The governments of both countries are still working on a settlement to the territorial dispute.