Venezuela

• Capital: Caracas
• Major Cities
  • Valencia
  • Barquisimieto
  • Maracaibo
  • Guayana City
  • Valencia
  • Maracay
• Major Geographical Features
  • Caribbean Sea
  • Atlantic Ocean
  • Gulf of Venezuela
  • Lake Maracaibo
  • Angel Falls
  • Llanos
  • Guyana Highlands
  • Orinoco River
  • Lake Valencia
  • Andes
• Official Name: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
• Religion: Roman Catholic (96%)
• Languages:
  • Spanish (official)
  • indigenous languages
• 1830 Gran Columbia collapses (separates into Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador)
• 2013: longtime authoritarian president Hugo Chavez dies
• 2014: students lead protests against the socialist government in multiple cities, leading to at least 25 deaths
• 2014: Venezuela breaks diplomatic and commercial relations with Panama, citing "conspiracy"
• Independence: 1811 from Spain
• Government: federal republic (the current regime embraces socialist principles)
• Currency: bolivar (VEB)
• Venezuela is slightly larger than 2 Californias
• Literacy: 93%
• Climate: tropical
• Member of the Organization for Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
• Export: Petroleum
• Named after Venice, Italy
• Angel Falls is the world's highest waterfall
• Home to the Catatumbo Lightning (18-60 lightning bolts per minute, 1.2 million per year)