GEOGRAPHY

Venezuela is located on the northern coast of South America, with an area of 912,050 sq km, and it has many varying terrains. Venezuela is topologically broken up into 4 regions: the Maracaibo Lowlands, the Northern Mountains, the Orinoco Lowlands, and the Guiana Highlands. Venezuela’s elevation is mostly low and flat while its temperature is tropical and hot; however, there are exceptions. Because of its 4 regions the geography, elevation, and temperature are very diverse. The Maracaibo Lowlands stretch 51,800 sq km of Coastal Plains with a hot climate ranging from 75° to 93° Fahrenheit. To the south of the Maracaibo Lowland lies the Northern Mountains or Venezuelan Andes which extend from the western Colombian border to the Paria Peninsula in the east. The mountains contain fertile land and host some of the country's largest cities—the mountains have a cooler climate and more rain. The Orinoco Lowlands or Llanos extend from the Colombian border south of the Andes to the Atlantic Ocean. This region is much more diverse, housing 59,000 sq km of pastureland, forests, sandy tablelands, and swamps. The final zone is the Guiana Highlands, which makes up ⅗ of the national territory with an area of 36,000 sq km. The highlands which stretch from the Brazilian border to the Orinoco River mostly contain grassy plateaus. However, the Highlands also include Angel Falls, where the Río Churu descends 978 m. The Guiana Highlands form one of the least-explored regions in the world. With 4 very diverse regions Venezuela contains many different climates, elevations, and geographical features.