82 Interesting Facts About Venezuela

Last updated on September 30th, 2022

The Arts, Festivals, and Beauty Pageants

48. Venezuelan music is a mixture of African and Spanish music, full of the use of percussion instruments and guitars.

49. A type of small guitar named the cuatro (for its four strings) is the national instrument.

50. A waltz-like dance called joropo is Venezuela’s national dance.

51. The richness and variety of its musical styles and dances includes the bambuco and callipso.

52. For immersion in the visual arts, visit Funducíon Bigott in Petare for workshops in popular arts and artisan crafts.

53. The annual Red Devils of Yare Festival on Corpus Christi Day simulates Christianity winning over Satan.

54. Venezuela is famous around the world for its beautiful women. Its beauty pageant winners hold seven Miss Universe crowns, six Miss World crowns, seven Miss International crowns and two Miss Earth crowns. The Miss Venezuela Pageant is popular annual event in the country.

Food

55. Venezuelans eat their largest meal between noon and three in the afternoon. Many go home to eat lunch with their families. At night they eat a light supper at eight o’clock or later.

56. ‘Arepas’ are popular in Colombia and Venezuela, and what’s for breakfast and any other time of day. Made of thick corn tortillas stuffed with cheese and a variety of shredded meats and other fillings, these are popular everywhere.

57. Traditional lunches include ‘pabellón’ (rice, black beans, and meat with a side of plantain slices) and ‘reina pepiada’.

58. ‘Cachapas’ are corn pancakes topped with a salty cheese called “queso de mano” or “telita”.

59. ‘Hallacas’ are the country’s version of the tamale. They include meat, olives and raisins covered in cornmeal then wrapped in plantain leaves and steamed.

60. A popular local drink is ‘chicha andina’ made from rice or corn flour. Venezuelan coffee is excellent.

Tourism

61. Venezuela’s northern coastline along the Caribbean is the longest stretch of Caribbean coastline of any country. Enjoy a relaxing day on the fine white sand overlooking clear blue sea, or go scuba diving, snorkeling, scuba diving, kite surfing, paragliding and other ocean activities.

62. Favorite and recommended beaches include Cayo de Aqua, Cayo Francisqui, Isla Coche, Playa El Yaque, Praia Crasky, and Cayo Sombrero. These are located in Los Roques National Park, Margarita Island, Mérida and Isla el Gran Roque, among other places.

63. The Los Roques archipelago is one of the country’s main attractions. There you’ll find Morrocoy National Park with islets and mangrove groves. See turtles, birds, dolphins, hundreds of pelicans and more.

64. Canaima National Park is the world’s sixth largest national park at over 30,000 square kilometers. There are many rock mesa plateaus called tepuis in the park of geological interest. Its cliffs, waterfalls and lagoon are spectacular vistas.

65. Canaima is the home of Angel Falls, the world’s tallest continuous fall (979 m) which is only accessible by curiara (canoe), airplane, or helicopter. It is sixteen times the height of Niagara Falls and named after bush pilot Jimmy Angel who crash landed there in the 1930s.

66. The Sierra Nevada National Park is home to half of the Venezuela’s highest mountains, including Pico Bolivar, the highest (5007m/16,427 ft). Register at Pico de Aguila to enter the park for hiking and bundle up. Take a guide. The climate becomes polar near the peaks.

Only in Venezuela

67. Venezuelan president ordered the women in the country to abstain from using hair dryers because of the shortage of electricity in the country. The country was on the verge of a total power outage in April, 2016.

68. Christopher Columbus is the first European to find the country.

69. In Venezuela, mothers have to carry their children’s birth certificate for buying diapers and other baby products.

70. Sometimes, Venezuelan police have to hire security for themselves as many police officers have been killed while doing their duty.

71. Coke Zero was banned in Venezuela in 2009.

72. The Venezuelan people enjoy the cheapest gasoline (petrol) in the world since the government subsidizes their oil industry. At a penny a liter, you can literally fill your tank with the small change from your pocket. Oil is cheaper than water in Venezuela and Saudi Arabia.

73. In Venezuela, children have the option to choose the timing of their school. They can choose to attend school in the morning, afternoon or at night.

74. Venezuela abolished slavery in 1854, freeing approximately 25,000 slaves, three percent of the population at that time.

Information about crime and social life in Venezuela

75. Crime is rampant in the cities day and night, and on the roads after dark. Kidnappings are common.

76. Venezuela’s murder rate is the highest in the world. Robbers are quick to murder their victims.

77. The government no longer produces or releases crime data as violent crimes have become so prevalent in Venezuela.

78. There are approximately 33 prisons housing about 50,000 inmates. Its prisons have capacity for only 14,000 prisoners.

79. Venezuela ranks fourth in the world for cocaine seizures, behind Colombia, the United States, and Panama. It has significant involvement in drug trafficking with Colombian cocaine.

80. Quite a few Venezuelan graduates seek their future elsewhere due to the country’s troubled economy and heavy crime rate. It is believed nearly 12% of Venezuelans live abroad.

81. Violent crime, the unstable economic as well as political situations plus the decline in basic living conditions, including shortages of medication, food and water, has led to social unrest in the country.

82. The CDC has identified Venezuela as an area affected by the Zika outbreak.

About the flag of Venezuela

Venezuela has beautiful national parks, beaches, waterfalls, and mountains to visit and explore as well as a rich culture, delicious food and a multiethnic population to experience.

Venezuela introduced its current flag, which has eight stars, on 26th March 2006. The width to length ratio is 2:3. There are three colors in equal horizontal sections: yellow (top), blue (middle), and red (bottom). The blue central part has an arc of eight white stars.

It should be noted that Venezuela uses civil and state flags, which are almost the same. However, the state flag has an additional feature at the top left corner- the coat of arms, an emblem of the dynasty.

History of the Venezuelan Flag

The first flag of Venezuela was designed by a revolutionary military leader, Francisco de Miranda.

It was first flown on 12th March 1806 during his expedition at Jacmel, Haiti, where he was preparing for the flag’s final trip to Venezuela. When he arrived back in Caracas, he saw that flags were already flying—but none of them belonged to either side of the war. So, he created his own flag: A blue triangle with three white stars, representing each letter in the word “Libertad” (freedom).

The design is based on an earlier flag used during Spanish rule.

Miranda played a crucial role in liberating Latin America from Spanish colonies and led the First Venezuelan Republic from 1811 to 1812. He was exiled from Venezuela after his defeat in 1812 and died in 1816 while still in a Spanish prison.

The flag of Venezuela has undergone numerous transformations over the years, adding strength and value throughout history.

For instance, Simón Bolívar proposed the addition of an eighth star to represent Guayana in 1817. When Venezuela left Gran Colombia, the eighth star was removed and reinstated in 2006 by the then president Hugo Chavez to commemorate the conquering of Guayana.

About the Stars in Venezuela Flag

A five-pointed star has long been used in Venezuela, especially by masons. Each star on the flag of Venezuela represents a state/province. The country has eight states: Trujillo, Guayana, Cumaná, Margarita, Caracas, Mérida, Barcelona, and Barinas.

The Colors

• Red denotes the blood spilled when Venezuela battled Spain to gain independence. It is also associated with loyalty, justice, courage, perseverance, and strength.
• Blue represents the sky and the surrounding waters, i.e., the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic- between Spain and Venezuela.
• Yellow symbolizes wealth in Venezuela, including the sun, gold, soil, justice, harmony, and sovereignty.
• The white stars signify unity and freedom among the citizens of different cultures.

The Emblem

The emblem was officially incorporated into the flag of Venezuela in 1836 and reworked twice- in 1954 and 2006. The country changed its name to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and adopted a new coat of arms with a shield and a band featuring the three colors of the national flag.

Two cornucopias are crossed above the shield, spitting wealth. The shield is adorned with an olive branch and palm on either side. A large band of national tricolors is placed at the bottom of the coat of arms to hold these two plants.

The red part of the band has a wheat symbol for wealth and a 20-state union that existed in the 19th Century. On the yellow part are three weapons- 3 lances, a saber, and a sword in addition to two national flags joined by a laurel branch, symbolizing victory. The blue base field has a white horse belonging to Simón Bolívar- running freely to represent freedom and independence.

Venezuela – country at a glance