a republic of South America, lying between N. Lat. 1. 12. and 12. 16.; W. Long. 59. 42. and 73. 17.; bounded on the N. by the Caribbean Sea; E. by the Atlantic and British Guiana; S. by Brazil; and W. by New Granada. Length from E. to W. 860 miles; breadth from 400 to 640; area 426,712 square miles. The name Venezuela, or Little Venice, is due to Vespucci and Ojeda, the discoverers of the lake of Maracaibo, who found the native villages there built like Venice on piles in the midst of the water.

The coasts of the country are much varied both in their outline and in their character. From the Boca de Navios, the most southerly and principal mouth of the Orinoco, which makes the boundary of British Guiana to the Gulf of Paria, the coast is occupied by the delta of the Orinoco, a low and alluvial region, intersected by the numerous branches of the river, and covered in some parts with gigantic forests. Off this part of the coast lies the British island of Trinidad, forming the east side of the Gulf of Paria. The north side of the gulf is formed by the peninsula of Paria, terminating towards the east in the promontory of the same name. From this headland westward to the Punta d'Araya extends a series of bare rocks, at some places coming close down to the sea, and at others leaving a narrow sterile plain along the shore. Opposite this part of the coast is the island of Margarita, forming a province of the republic. See MARGARITA. South of the Punta d'Araya is the opening of the gulf of Ariaco, which runs eastward into the land, and is separated from the sea by the narrow tongue of land terminating in the Punta d'Araya. Further west, the coast, which takes a gentle curve towards the south, becomes low and sandy, and is lined with many lagoons and salt marshes. At Cape Codera, about 200 miles west of the Gulf of Caracas, its character entirely changes; and as far as Puerto Cabello, about 155 miles, a chain of lofty mountains rises steeply from the very edge of the water. This is in fact the termination of one branch of the Andes. At Puerto Cabello, a low and sandy tract of coast succeeds; and here it takes a curve towards the north, continuing to have this character as far as the mouth of the Lake of Maracaibo. About the middle of this tract lies the peninsula of Paraguara, joined to the mainland by a long narrow isthmus. The frontier of New Granada reaches the sea a short distance to the west of the Lake of Maracaibo. The whole length of the coast is 1584 miles, of which about 300 are washed by the Atlantic and Gulf of Paria, the rest by the Caribbean Sea.

The interior of the country is no less diversified in its character than the coast. About a fourth of the whole area is occupied by mountains, and these belong to two different chains, the Andes and their branches, which occupy the north-west; and the mountains of Parima in the south and south-east of the state. Of the former range, it is only the eastern Cordillera that enters Venezuela. That ridge traverses New Granada, and near Pamplona in that country divides into two branches. The most westerly of these extends northwards along the frontier of New Granada, and terminates near the Lake of Maracaibo. It has few summits more than 4000 feet high, and is for the most part covered with dense forests. The other branch of the Cordillera enters Venezuela, and stretches about 300 miles in a north-east direction, covering a tract of country about 30 miles broad. It consists of an enormous mass of rocks, having in general narrow plateaux called paramos at the summit. These paramos are from 10,000 to 12,000 feet above the sea; but many of the summits rise higher: the Sierra Nevada de Merida, the only one above the snow-line, being 15,342 feet, and the Pichado de Mucuchies, 14,168 feet high. The sides of the mountains have generally steep declivities, but in some places they descend by terraces which are occupied by small plains. At the point where this range terminates, the coast-range, Sierra Costanera, which may be considered as a sort of branch or continuation of it, begins. This range, which consists of several ridges nearly parallel, reaches the sea near Puerto Cabello; and there one branch extends to the north-west; while another stretches along the coast terminating at Cape Codera; and still a third extends parallel to this, but further inland. The first of these branches is nowhere higher than 4200 feet; the second contains the summits called Silla de Caracas, 8808 feet, and Picache de Naiguata, 9480 feet above the sea; and the loftiest points in the third are the Cerro de Platilla, 6217 feet, and the Cerro Azul, 5816 feet in height. A small portion of the N.E of the country is occupied by a range called the Bergantin mountains. In the southern part of Venezuela, on the borders of Brazil, and nearly half way between the Orinoco and the Amazon, a range of mountains called Sierra Parima stretches from west to east, diverging from the western extremity of the Pacaraima range. This region, however, still remains unexplored; it is covered with vast and dense forests; but would probably be capable of cultivation, as the mountains do not rise above 12,000 feet from the sea.

From these mountains to the coast-range, and from the delta of the Orinoco to the foot of the Andes, the whole of Venezuela is occupied by an immense plain. The por- Venezuela. tion of this region lying north of the Orinoco and its affluent the Meta, forms what are called the llanos or levels of Venezuela. These plains are estimated to cover an area of 116,592 square miles, and vary considerably in their elevation; some parts being very little raised above the level of the sea, while others, near the foot of the mountains, have a height of nearly 1300 feet. The whole are characterized by the absence of forests; the trees that do grow being found either singly or in small groups. South of the Meta lies a region of a very different character; for here the country is entirely covered with dense forests, which extend as far as the boundary of Brazil, and indeed even beyond the equator. But in this region the frontiers of Venezuela are uncertain; for, while it claims all the country to the east of 69 degrees of W. Longitude, New Granada extends its boundaries as far east as the Orinoco.

Venezuela is on the whole well watered. The principal river is the Orinoco, which is the third in size of all the South American rivers. It and its principal tributaries are described in a separate article. (See ORINOCO.) Of rivers not belonging to its basin, there are few of any size or importance. The Cuguni rises in the east of the country, flows eastward into British Guiana, and joins the Essequibo. Further west, the Guiania, or Rio Negro, an affluent of the Amazon, crosses the south-west corner of the state. The rivers that fall immediately into the Caribbean Sea are for the most part of small size; but some of them are navigable. These are the Tocuyo, rising in the coast-range, and falling into the sea near the town of Tocuyo, 300 miles long, and navigable for 150; the Tui, 190 miles long, and navigable for about 80; the Unare, 170 miles long, and navigable for 90; and the Guarapiche, 180 miles long, and navigable for more than 70. The Lake of Maracaibo also receives the Catatumbo, 200 miles long, and navigable for 135; the Zulia, 230 miles long, and navigable for 160; the Exalate, 140 miles long, and navigable for 80; and the Motatan, 180 miles long, and navigable for about 90. The lakes and lagoons of Venezuela are numerous but small; that of Maracaibo, the only one of large size, is more properly a gulf than a lake, as it communicates by a narrow channel with the sea. It is described under the article MARACAIBO.

The climate of the country is various in different parts, owing to their different elevation. The whole of the state is divided by the natives into three regions or zones—the hot, temperate, and cold countries. The first of these comprises all the land less than 2000 feet above the sea-level; the second all lying between 2000 and 7000 feet high; and the third all above 7000 feet. The first of these divisions is by far the most extensive, including all the llanos and wooded plains in the country. Here the climate is quite of a tropical character. The distinction of seasons is into wet and dry; the former corresponding to the winter, and the latter to the summer of temperate countries. Immediately after the autumnal equinox the rains begin, and continue in great abundance and with few intermissions during the whole winter; while hardly any rain falls in the summer. This alternation of season produces a vast difference in the appearance of the llanos; for they are transformed in the winter from vast pastures into an immense sheet of water. Along the coast the seasons are subject to various modifications; and in some places there are two wet and two dry seasons annually. About the delta of the Orinoco the climate is very unhealthy; owing to noxious exhalations; and elephantiasis and goitre are prevalent diseases. Nearly the whole of the country, especially the regions about the coast, is liable to violent earthquakes, which have frequently proved very destructive.

The vegetable productions of Venezuela are most abundant and varied. In the whole of the temperate zone palms of various kinds abound; among which is the Venezuelan cocoa-palm, yielding large quantities of oil for exportation. Along with these flourish many other native plants, such as pine-apples, tamarinds, mimosa, cactuses, and the cow-tree, which yields a fluid resembling milk. Among the larger indigenous trees are the bauhinia of colossal size, the bombax, or silk cotton-tree, yielding a cottony matter, and the mahogany tree; while among plants that yield valuable drugs are the sarsaparilla and dragon's-blood plants. In the more elevated and temperate regions, cinchonas, which are valuable as febrifuges, abound; and in many places form by themselves immense forests. There, too, most of the grains of temperate countries grow well. The cold regions of Venezuela are distinguished by an alpine vegetation, gradually diminishing in amount towards the snow-line. Many European fruits have been introduced into the warm regions, especially vines, figs, pomegranates, oranges, limes, and lemons, which succeed well. Tobacco of excellent quality is grown in the Bergantin mountains, and in the valley of Barinas in the north-east of the country; and throughout the whole of the state maize is cultivated. Rice is only grown in a few places; wheat only at a considerable elevation; and barley only on the slopes of the Andes. Almost all kinds of pulse are raised, as well as potatoes and other edible roots.

Domestic animals form, to a large extent, the riches of Venezuela. The llanos afford abundant pasture for cattle, horses, mules, and asses; and great numbers of these animals are reared on them. Sheep and goats are not kept in large numbers, except in a few places. The chief of the wild animals are the jaguar or American tiger, hunted for its valuable skin, and the puma or lion; but both these animals are becoming rare in the country. The tiger-cat, the ounce, the tapir, varieties of the deer, and the wild hog, and many different kinds of monkeys, also abound in the forests. The birds of the country are numerous, including various species of falcons, hawks, parrots, pelicans, wild-geese, &c. Two kinds of whales are frequently seen off the coast of the Caribbean Sea, and all the rivers, lakes, and seas abound in fish of various kinds. The chief fishery is between the island of Margarita and the mainland; where large numbers of a fish called fiza are caught, salted, and exported to the West Indies and neighbouring ports. In this strait, also, a profitable pearl-fishery was carried on for some time subsequently to the discovery of America, but the supply has long been exhausted.

The mineral resources of the country are not very great. Gold has been worked at some places in the Andes, but never with much success. Silver, tin, and copper, also exist, but only the last has been profitably worked. Coal occurs in the coast-range; petroleum and a kind of natron are obtained in various places; and large quantities of salt are produced in the salt-works along the Lake of Maracaibo, and on the peninsulas of Paraguana and Araya.

Manufactures are in this country still in their infancy, being carried on to a very small extent, as the industry of the people is chiefly directed to agricultural and pastoral pursuits. Tocuyo, Barguiseometo, Trujillo, and Merida, are the principal manufacturing towns; and the articles made there are chiefly those required for domestic use; such as coarse cotton cloth, hammocks, straw hats, and pottery. There are also a large number of tanneries in the country, as most of the leather used is of home manufacture. The commerce of Venezuela, which declined very much during the civil war that raged in the country, has since somewhat improved. The following table exhibits the total value of the export and import trade of Venezuela with the principal countries with which it carries on commerce, for the years ending June 30, 1854 and 1856 respectively:— The principal seaport in the country is La Guaira, on the Caribbean Sea, near Caracas, the capital. The value of the exports from that port alone, consisting chiefly of cocoa, coffee, cotton, hides, indigo, and tobacco, amounted in 1857 to L.595,960; while the value of the imports in the same year was L.671,253. At Puerto Cabello the value of the exports was L.678,533; and that of the imports L.246,737; and at Bolivar and the other ports on the Orinoco, the exports were valued at L.116,847; and the imports at L.126,231. The following table shows the navigation at these ports in 1857.

| Ports | Entered | Cleared | |----------------|---------|---------| | | Vessels | Tons | Vessels | Tons | | La Guaira | 230 | 37,913 | 230 | 37,535 | | Puerto Cabello | 135 | 29,899 | 151 | 34,485 | | Ports on the Orinoco | 179 | 17,694 | 183 | 19,766 |

The population of Venezuela, like that of the whole of what was formerly Spanish America, is of a very mixed character. There are the aboriginal inhabitants, the descendants of the Spaniards and Africans; and the various races that have been produced by the intermixture of these. The pure natives are copper-coloured, some of them very dark, and others almost as fair as Europeans. They are little, and not very strong, but have large heads and limbs. Many of them are altogether independent, divided into about 100 tribes, speaking different dialects, and occupying the unexplored forests of the interior. Others are in subjection to the government of the country; but live separately, preserving their own manners and customs; while some have been entirely mixed with the more civilized races. The negroes were formerly kept in slavery, but since the prohibition of the slave-trade in 1830, the slaves had been very much reduced in number; and by a decree passed in 1854, they were emancipated. The Creoles, or people of European descent, form only about a fourth-part of the entire population; but the mixed races, Mestizos, Mulattoes, Zambos, &c., are much more numerous.

The government of Venezuela is republican, being framed on the model of that of the United States of North America. The political franchise is vested in all the people who possess a certain property qualification and are able to read and write. They choose electors, 1 for every 4000, for two years; and these again appoint the president, vice-president, and members of the legislative body. This last consists of a senate, in which each province is represented by 2 members; and a house of representatives, consisting of 1 member for every 25,000 inhabitants. The president and vice-president, who exercise the executive power, are elected for four years; and half of the legislative body retire biennially. Besides the central government, each province has a legislature of its own, chosen in the same way, whose acts are subject to the approval or disapproval of the central legislature. The religion of the country is the Roman Catholic; the other sects, though tolerated, are not allowed the public exercise of their religion. Education is provided for by law, but has as yet made very little progress in the country. The principal event in the history of Venezuela is the war of independence against the Spaniards, an account of which is given in the article Bolivar. In 1821, after securing its independence, Venezuela was united with New Granada and Ecuador to form the republic of Colombia; but this only lasted till 1830, when the three states again became independent. Since gaining its independence, the country has been in a very disturbed state, and its finances have fallen into total ruin, the expenditure for 1852-53 being three times as much as the revenue, and a large debt having been contracted. The following table shows the area, population, and chief towns of the several provinces:

| Provinces | Square Miles | Pop. (1854) | Capitals | |-----------------|--------------|------------|----------| | Apure | 21,134 | 24,618 | Achaguas | | Barinas | 23,808 | 128,532 | Barinas | | Barcelona | 13,774 | 64,372 | Barcelona| | Barquisimeto | 17,393 | 126,392 | Barquisimeto| | Carabobo | 8,080 | 102,116 | Valencia | | Cogedes | | | San Carlos| | Coro | 33,819 | 228,913 | Caracas | | Cumana | 11,197 | 48,127 | Aragua | | Guanica | 17,409 | 66,526 | Coro | | Guanica | 226,563 | 63,738 | Bolivar | | Maracaibo | 33,082 | 59,311 | Maracaibo| | Margarita | 441 | 23,967 | Maracaibo| | Merida | 10,793 | 76,816 | Margarita| | Trujillo | 9,307 | 55,378 | Merida | | Total | 426,712 | 1,138,806 | Trujillo |

In 1858, the total population was estimated to have increased to 1,564,000.