Venezuela Fast Facts
The Republic of Venezuela is located on the northern part of South America, stretching from the mouth of the Orinoco River to the eastern border of Brazil. It shares borders with Colombia, Guyana, Panama and The Guyanas. The country ranks 22nd on the Human Development Index (HDI) out of 166 countries. It is one of the richest countries in the world, with the gross domestic product (GDP) being equal to $1,788,450,000,000 (approx. $4,000,000 per capita). There are about 36,500,000 residents inside Venezuela, the largest expatriate population. There are 27 different nationalities and ethnic groups in Venezuela, all of them part of the country’s national identity and a shared culture.
Venezuela is divided into three regions, Capital Bolivar, Metropolitan Caracas and Maracaibo.
Venezuela is home to a tropical rainforest covering 80% of the country, as well as the Andes mountains and large Lake Maracaibo. It has a diverse array of climates including tropical, subtropical and temperate rain forests, and snow-covered mountain ranges. The nation is also home to diverse ecosystems, which include the Amazon Rainforest, the Guiana Shield, central and southern Andes, the Andean Andes, the South Atlantic Coast, the Caribbean Coast, the Amazon Rainforest, and the Orinoco River Basin.
Tropical Rainforests
The Venezuelan tropical rainforest is a relatively recent development, with the current area covering only about 7% of the country. The tropical rainforests of the Amazon Rainforest and the Guiana Shield cover about 90 million acres and 80 million acres, respectively. The tropical forests are important wildlife reserves, and are home to species such as tapirs, giant anteaters, giant armadillos and jaguars, as well as the largest tropical freshwater marsh in the world, the Río Tinto.
Maracaibo
Maraca
