Venezuela:
Geography

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Other pages in this profile of Venezuela:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.


Background	Definition Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and New Granada, which became Colombia). For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some social reforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since 1959. Hugo CHAVEZ, president since 1999, seeks to implement his "21st Century Socialism," which purports to alleviate social ills while at the same time attacking globalization and undermining regional stability. Current concerns include: a weakening of democratic institutions, political polarization, a politicized military, drug-related violence along the Colombian border, increasing internal drug consumption, overdependence on the petroleum industry with its price fluctuations, and irresponsible mining operations that are endangering the rain forest and indigenous peoples.

Location	Definition Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana
Geographic coordinates	Definition 8 00 N, 66 00 W
Map references	Definition South America
Area	Definition - World rank and map total: 912,050 sq km land: 882,050 sq km water: 30,000 sq km
Area - comparative	Definition slightly more than twice the size of California
Land boundaries	Definition total: 4,993 km border countries: Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km
Coastline	Definition 2,800 km
Maritime claims	Definition territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 15 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate	Definition tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Terrain	Definition Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast
Elevation extremes	Definition lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Pico Bolivar (La Columna) 5,007 m
Natural resources	Definition petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds
Land use	Definition - World rank and map arable land: 2.85% permanent crops: 0.88% other: 96.27% (2005)
Irrigated land	Definition 5,750 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources	Definition 1,233.2 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)	Definition total: 8.37 cu km/yr (6%/7%/47%) per capita: 313 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards	Definition subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues	Definition sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban pollution of Lago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation; urban and industrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast; threat to the rainforest ecosystem from irresponsible mining operations
Environment - international agreements	Definition party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed but not ratified:: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note	Definition on major sea and air routes linking North and South America; Angel Falls in the Guiana Highlands is the world's highest waterfall

Venezuela: Geography

Venezuela:
Geography