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Venezuela (Republic in the N E part)

a republic in the N. E. part of South America; bounded on the N. by the Caribbean Sea; on the W. by the United States of Columbia; on the S. by Brazil; and on the E. by British Guiana; lat. 1° 20′ to 12° 25′ N., lon. 59° 54' to 73° 17' W. Within recent years the country has been variously subdivided.

In 1854 there were 13 provinces those of Apure, Barcelona, Varinas, Barquisimeto, Carabobo, Caracas, Coro, Cumana, Guiana, Maracaibo, Margarita, Merida, and Truxillo-with an aggregate population of 945,908. Subsequently, the number of provinces was increased to 21 by subdividing eight of the original provinces. In 1863, after the Federals had conquered the Unionists, a confederation was formed, and the number of states was reduced to seven. The present distribution of the United States of Venezuela, according to the constitution, June 13, 1914, is into 20 states, a Federal district, and 2 territories. The area of the country claimed and occupied by Venezuela is 393,976 square miles; pop. 2,852,614. The capital is Caracas; pop. 90,720.

Topography. The coast line extending from E. to W.-from the delta of the Orinoco to the boundary of the United States of Columbia-is 1,584 miles in length. Venezuela comprises the plains of the Orinoco basin, in continuation of the Amazon valley around the mountains of Guiana, partly separated from the Caribbean Sea by the N. E. range of the Andes. These plains are traversed by many rivers, the main river being the Orinoco, into which flow the Caroni and Ventuari, traversing and draining with their affluents the Guiana Mountains; the Atabapo, and other rivers. The Upper Orinoco is connected VENEZUELA with the Upper Amazon by the channels of the Cassiquiare and the Rio Negro.

The mountain system of the Andes extends N. and E. into Venezuela from Colombia. Between the N. and E. ranges is the low country of Lake Maracaibo basin. The country E. of this basin is an extensive mountain tract, some of the peaks reaching above the limit of perpetual snow. These mountains extend along the N. coast, in a double range, having fertile valleys between. There are other mountain ranges in the S. and E.

The highest peak is the Sierra Nevada de Merida, reaching a height of 15,400 feet. Lake Maracaibo, in the extreme N.

W., has an area of 8,392 square miles, and is connected by an outlet 8 miles wide, with a gulf of the same name; the waters of the gulf and lake together forming an inland waterway that penetrates the country more than 300 miles. Climate. The climate is tropical, and very_hot in the valleys, the regions of the Lower Maracaibo basin being the hottest found on the W. continent. Above an altitude of 2,000 feet the climate becomes temperate, and cold above 7,000 feet. Much of the mountainous and plateau country has an elevation between these altitudes. The mean temperature at La Guaira is 82°, at Caracas 77°, but at Merida 61°. Wet and dry seasons alternate on the table lands. Rain is abundant in the mountainous regions.

Zoölogy.-Large regions of Venezuela, especially in the S. W. comprising the Upper Orinoco basin and plains, are still unexplored, much of the country being densely covered with forests, penetrable only with great difficulty. Fully one-half of Venezuela is unbroken forest.

These forests abound in wild animals, insects, birds, and reptiles. There are many species of monkeys, all the varieties of South American Felidæ, tapirs, deer, ant eaters, the spectacled bear, the cabaiai sloths, etc. Aquatic birds in enormous flocks are found in the swamps, lakes, and rivers. Tortoises are plentiful, 50,000,000 eggs annually being taken for their oil. Manatees and porpoises ascend the Orinoco. The rivers, bays, and lakes abound in fish of many varieties.

Agriculture.- Agriculture is the principal industry, but is mostly confined to the N. mountainous belt, where the greater part of the population is concentrated. The principal products are coffee, cacao, sugar cane, tobacco, maize, cotton, and tropical fruits. Wheat is cultivated in some of the higher plains.

Indigenous products, cultivated or gathered, include the tonka bean, rubber, copal, sarsaparilla, chinchona, many VENEZUELA VENEZUELAN DISPUTE beautiful cabinet woods, dyewoods, herbs, Venezuela remained subject to Spain, drugs, etc. The agricultural lands till it claimed independence in 1811. amount to about 135,000 square miles.

Great herds of sheep, goats, and cattle are raised on the table-lands and mountain slopes, the export of hides and skins forming an important industry of the country. The area under coffee is estimated at from 180,000 to 200,000 acres. There are about 33,000 coffee plantations and about 5,000 cocoa plantations. The sugar plantations number about 11,000 with an annual production of about 3,000 tons. New sugar centrals have been established within recent years. About one-fifth of the population is engaged in agriculture.

Mineralogy-Venezuela has important gold mines. The gold production in 1917 was 958,304 grammes. In 1918 the copper production amounted to 29,708 tons; and coal, 25,332 tons. Petroleum is found in many places, and there are valuable deposits of asphalt. The output in 1919 was nearly 50,000 tons. Copper, coal, salt, asphalt, silver, lead, tin, iron, sulphur, and petroleum are also found. Guano is exported, and bitumen is found in the river deltas and lake basins.

Commerce. The imports in 1917-1918 amounted to £3.382,759, and the exports to £3,920,866. The principal exports are coffee, cocoa, balata, and rubber. The greater part of the trade is with the United States. Coffee constitutes about three-fourths of the entire export trade, and nearly six-sevenths of the import trade is subject to duty.

Communications. - There are 12 lines of railway, with a total length of 642 miles. The Great Railway of Venezuela, 111 miles long, runs between Caracas and Valencia.

Finances. The revenue expenditures in 1919-1920 were estimated to balance at £1,948,634. The foreign public debt in December 31, 1918, was £5,763,866.

Government. The government of Venezuela is a federative republic, having a President, elected for seven years, Religion. The State religion is Roman Catholic, but all other religions are freely tolerated. There are government universities at Caracas and Merida. and a Congress of two houses.

History. The E. coast of Venezuela was discovered by Columbus in 1498; Ojeda and Vespucci followed in 1499, and entering Lake Maracaibo, they found an Indian village constructed on piles, to prevent the evil effects of inundation, and they named the place Venezuela, or little Venice, a name which afterward spread to the whole country.

The first settlement was made at Cumana in 150 by the Spaniards, and It then returned to allegiance to Spain, but again revolted in 1813, and, forming with New Granada and Ecuador the republic of Columbia, was declared independent in 1819. In 1830 Venezuela withdrew from the other members of the Free State founded by Simon Bolivar and declared itself a federal republic. The charter of funda mental laws dating from 1830 was amended in 1864 and 1881, and is quite similar to the Constitution of the United States of America.

In 1902 the claims of certain countries upon Venezuela caused complications so grave that it seemed that Venezuela and the United States would become involved in war with foreign powers. Germany blockaded Venezuelan ports and bombarded fortified coast towns. Feb. 13, 1903, Great Britain, Germany, and Italy signed protocols at Washington, providing for the settlement of the controversy. Finally, through the intercession of the United States, the controversy was submitted to The Hague Tribunal.

History. The Hague Tribunal in February, 1904, pronounced in favor of the Allied Powers. Following the election of Castro as president, in 1905, there were serious internal and external troubles. Venezuela became involved with Colombia, France, Great Britain and the United States. Diplomatic relations were broken off with the United States and the Dutch made a naval demonstration in Venezuelan waters. Castro suddenly left the country in December, 1908, and the vice-president, Gomez, became acting president. He became provisional president in the following year. Castro attempted to return and assume his former power but was unsuccessful. A new constitution was promulgated in 1909 and in April, 1910, Gomez was chosen constitutional president. Castro's at tempts to start a revolution were frus- trated in 1911. The counry prospered under the firm rule of President Gomez.

He was re-elected for the presidency in 1915. In the year previous a new constitution had been adopted and laws were enacted providing for compulsory education, public works, sanitation, and a new electoral system.

See COLOMBIA: VENEZUELAN BOUN- DARY DISPUTE.