Venezuela

Venezuela is a country on the northern coast of South America. It has Caribbean beaches, the Andes Mountains, and thick rainforests. Venezuela is home to Angel Falls, the tallest waterfall on Earth.

Land and People

About 28 million people live in Venezuela. The capital is Caracas. The country has flat grasslands called llanos, tabletop mountains called tepuis, and part of the Amazon rainforest. Lake Maracaibo is one of the oldest lakes in the world.

Map showing the states and regions of Venezuela.
Map showing the states and regions of Venezuela. (Gerald J. Coleman from Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). / Wikimedia Commons)

Culture and Fun Facts

Venezuelans love baseball and it is the most popular sport. Arepas, which are cornmeal patties, are eaten at almost every meal. Music styles like joropo feature harps and maracas. Venezuela has won many Miss Universe titles.

Fun Facts

  • Angel Falls in Venezuela is the tallest waterfall in the world at over 3,200 feet.
  • Venezuela's name means Little Venice because early explorers saw houses on stilts over water.
  • Lake Maracaibo has lightning storms almost every night of the year.

Did You Know?

At Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela, lightning strikes almost every night for about 10 hours. This happens about 300 nights a year. It is called Catatumbo Lightning and can be seen from far away.