Status: Republic, divided into 23 states (estados), a metropolitan district (distrito federal Caracas), and a federal dependency of 72 islands
Independence: 5 July 1811 (from Spain)
Chief of state: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999)
Size: 916 445 sqkm (Sweden is 449 964, so almost exactly half the size)
Population: 25,017,387 (July 2004 est.) (Sweden 9)
Capital: Caracas (4 mill)
Other major cities: Maracaibo, Valencia, Barquisimeto, Maracay, Cuidad Guayana
Time: -5 hours from CET
Electricity: 110 Volt, 60 cycles AC (plugs have a pair of flat pins)
Weights and measures: Metric
Currency: Bolivar (VEB). Rate 1 SEK = 272 VEB incl. 2% credit card charge 17 Nov 2004 at;
(valutaomvandlare oanda.com)
And USD lowest to SEK in a long long time 17 Nov; 1 SEK = 7:045 USD incl. 2 % (6:906 without)
International telephone code: +58
Language: Spanish. More than a dozen Indian languages spoken by ethnic groups
Religion: Nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%
Climate: Tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Terrain: Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast
Highest mountain: Pico Bolivar (La Columna) 5,007 m
Worlds highest waterfall: Angel Falls in the Guiana Highlands (979 m)
Natural resources: Petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds
Carnival 2005: First day is 7 Feb (Monday), second day 8 Feb if my info is correct. Probably crowded in Caracas already the weekend 5-6 Feb (we arrive 4 Feb and leave directly for El Limon). In Merida a ten day "Ferie del Sol" around Ash Wednesday (around 22 Feb 2005).
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Erling Jirle, 18 Nov 2005.