| Venezuela is a country of striking natural beauty and | | | | major tourist destination in the country. The area has |
| dramatic contrasts. The snow capped peaks of the | | | | numerous excellent beaches and resorts ranging from |
| Andes in the west, steamy Amazonian jungles in the | | | | the comparatively luxurious to the unashamedly |
| south, the hauntingly beautiful Gran Sabana plateau, | | | | opulent, which stretch along the coastline. |
| with its strange flat topped mountains, in the east and | | | | The coastal regions to the north of the Guyana |
| 3000km of white sand beaches fringed with coconut | | | | Highlands have some fine tourist beaches and resorts. |
| palms lining the Caribbean coast. | | | | These include Higuerote and Lecheria. The Guyana |
| South Americas largest lake, Lake Maracaibo, and third | | | | Highlands lie to the south of the Orinoco River and |
| longest river, the Orinoco, are also here, and the | | | | constitute half the land area of the country. |
| country boasts the world s highest waterfall, Angel | | | | The Gran Sabana National Reserve is the largest of |
| Falls. It is also home to a wide variety of exotic plants | | | | the Venezuelan plateaux and has an extraordinary |
| and animals, including the jaguar, ocelot, tapir, armadillo, | | | | array of wildlife. |
| anteater, and the longest snake in the world, the | | | | Some local specialities are tequenos, thin dough |
| anaconda. | | | | wrapped around a finger of local white cheese and |
| Venezuela is bounded by the Caribbean, Guyana, the | | | | fried crisp and arepas, the native bread. |
| Atlantic Ocean, Brazil and Colombia. | | | | There are many nightclubs and discotheques in the |
| Venezuela offers the tourist a great variety of | | | | major cities. |
| landscapes tropical beaches, immense plains, | | | | Visual arts and handicrafts are popular, but the |
| enormous rivers, forests, jungle, waterfalls and great | | | | countries most distinctive cultural outlet is probably its |
| mountains. | | | | music, which is an eclectic blend of European, African |
| Nestling in a long narrow valley, Caracas, the capital, is | | | | and indigenous rhythms. |
| typical of the new Venezuela, despite being one of the | | | | Theatre is growing in popularity, and there is an active |
| oldest established cities in the country. | | | | literary scene, especially among the younger |
| The 4000km of Caribbean coastline represents the | | | | generation. |