Venezuela
As early as 1522 Spanish invaders reported
that the Carib tribes in Venezuela
used a black, gooey substance for many
purposes. The viscous material was crude
oil. It was not until the 1950s,
however, that oil production began in
Venezuela. Oil accounts for a quarter
of the nation's gross domestic product and
three-quarters of export earnings,
and Venezuela is South America's leading
producer and one of the few non-Arab
members of OPEC. There are also substantial
coal reserves, and exploitation
of the recently discovered Guasare Basin field
is expected to add 10 million
tons to annual production. The political
instability of the early 1990s shook
foreign investor confidence, but Venezuela
has emphasized trade links with
other South American countries. The mid- to late
1990s saw a series of public
and private sector strikes for higher wages. In
addition to participation in
the G-3 agreement with Mexico and Colombia,
Venezuela has a free trade
agreement with Colombia and has expressed the desire
to become part of the
North American Free Trade Agreement between Canada,
Mexico, and the United
States. The election of Hugo Chavez as president of
Venezuela raises the
question of the unraveling of the political system in all
of Latin America
and reveals the disillusionment some are feeling about
worsening social
conditions that have not improved under democratically elected
governments.
Venezuela began its democracy 40 years ago with an unusual pact
between the
country's principal parties that guaranteed an institutional
stability not
known in the region at that time. But, at the same time, the
leaders of the
country never diversified the country's economy, instead choosing
to rely
heavily on its oil revenues. As a result, the Venezuelan economy is
highly
susceptible to the world market's price fluctuations and has not
diversified
enough to create jobs and allow for funds for programs of social
support to
combat the rising unemployment and levels of poverty in the country.
Chavez's
victory also reflects the growing discontent with Venezuela's
traditional
political system. But it also demonstrates a phenomenon that is
happening in
other parts of the continent where leaders with an authoritarian
bent are
also gaining support.” (Internet-Britannica) Imports: Machinery
and
transportation equipment, chemicals, basic manufactures, manufactured
goods,
foodstuffs, mineral fuels and lubricants, animal and vegetable oils.
Total
Imports: $10,827,000,000 (1996); $11,199,000,000 (1995); $8,277,000,000
(1994).
Exports: Petroleum and refined oil products, aluminum, iron ore,
bauxite, basic
manufactures, chemicals, foodstuffs, machinery and
transportation equipment.
Total Exports: $23,149,000,000 (1996);
$19,408,000,000 (1995); $16,560,000,000
(1994). Population: 23,242,000 (1998
estimate) Largest Cities: Bogota (capital),
Cali, and Medellin Currency:
Bolivares; 100 centimos = 1 bolivar Languages:
Spanish is the official
language, but Indian dialects are spoken by some of the
200,000 Indians in
the remote interior region. Religion: Roman Catholic - 96%;
Protestant - 2%;
other - 2%. Location: Venezuela is located on the northern
coast of South
America; Colombia lies to the west, Brazil to the south, Guyana
to the east,
and the Caribbean Sea to the north. National Capital: Caracas
Climate: The
Venezuelan climate varies according to region, but ranges from
tropical to
moderate. The rainy season lasts from May through November. The
average
annual temperature in Caracas is 69 F. (internet-google) The things that
I
would like to do in Venezuela would include, watching a bull fight,
go
golfing, fish for peacock bass, eat a lot of good authentic food, and take
a
guided tour through the amazon. One of the favorite forms of entertainment
is
the "toros coleados", where two groups of expert brave riders
compete
with each other at downing a bull by catching it by the tail and
throwing it to
the ground. The competition takes place in a festive
atmosphere, where music is
played between bulls and abundant food and drink
is served. Bullfights The
"Nuevo Circo," in Caracas, is one of the four major
bullrings in Latin
America, where bullfighters must perform in order to be
fully recognized. Many
other "plazas de toros" (bullrings) are also very
famous. Maracaibo,
San Cristobal, Maracay, Valencia -among others of ten
feature first-class
bullfights during their festivities. It is sunshine in
the afternoon at the
plaza, teeming with people and "toreros" risking their
lives in front
of the bulls, accounts for an interesting experience.
Venezuela has a very good
breed of fighting bulls (Taurus) and excellent
"toreros". The only
Latin American bullfighter that has been immortalized in
Spain is Jose Giron
from Venezuela, who has a statue in Madrid. Giron was the
first in a family of
toreros who became a dynasty and even created a style of
their own. (internet-infoseek)
“El Pavon,” the Peacock Bass in Spanish. A
bass fisherman’s dream come
true. Viscous hard fighting explosive fish that
will tear lures apart. In the
rivers of Venezuela and in some lake the
extravagant bass live. Reaching up to
twenty-seven pounds the peacock bass is
the most vicious carnivorous bass in the
world. Striking foot long floating
rapala’s the peacock bass put on a
tremendous show for the fisherman. The
green yellow and gold colors make the
bass beautiful. However when the twenty
pound fish explodes out of the water
after your lure that is the true beauty
of this fish. This would be the whole
reason to go to Venezuela, to catch a
peacock bass. I would like to take a tour
through the rain forests down the
rivers to see three toed slothes, jaguars, and
some three hundred different
tropical birds. I think to take a day with a guide
into the rainforest would
be an extreme high of the trip. To see all of those
species, and awesome
beauty. I would love to visit Venezuela. Golfing in
Venezuela would be
another extravagant adventure. The hot weather, tropical
atmosphere, and the
fun of it. I love to golf; to me it is the most fun I could
have. So playing
in foreign lands would be really awesome. Venezuela has one of
the highest
standards of living in South America. This makes it more inviting to
me; I
wouldn’t be going to a scrubby third world country. I like the idea
because I
don’t feel in danger if I went. I wouldn’t mind the visit to
Venezuela; I
would feel safe and comfortable. It really appeals to me to go to
Venezuela;
I think it would be nice. The transportation ways are good. You
wouldn’t have
any trouble getting around, and that is what you get when you
have one of the
highest GNP’s in South America. I would love to visit
Venezuela, it appeals
to me like a paradise, and I like the idea of comfort. The
high class of
living is very appealing. I am telling you this is the place for
me.