Key Facts about Venezuela

About Venezuela:

• It is located on the northern coast of South America.
• It covers a total area of 916,445 sq.km (353,841 sq mi).
• Boundaries: It is bounded by the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean to the north, Guyana to the east, Brazil to the south, and Colombia to the southwest and west. 
• Capital: Caracas
• A physiographically diverse country, Venezuela incorporates the northern Andean Mountain chains and interior highlands, the main portions of the Orinoco River basin with itsexpansive Llanos (plains), Lake Maracaibo, which is the largest lake in South America, and the spectacular Angel Falls, the world’s highest waterfall.
• Major Rivers:
  • Rio Negro (shared with Colombia and Brazil): 2,250 km. It is a major tributary of the Amazon River.
  • Orinoco (shared with Colombia): 2,101 km. It is the third-longest river in South America, after the Parana and the Amazon.
• Venezuela administers a number of Caribbean islands and archipelagos, among which are Margarita Island, La Blanquilla, La Tortuga, Los Roques, and Los Monjes. 
• Since the early 19th century, Venezuela has claimed jurisdiction over Guyanese territorywest of the Essequibo River, totaling some 53,000 square miles (137,000 square km)—nearly two-thirds of the land area of Guyana.
• Resources: Venezuela is home to the world’s largest oil reserves as well as huge quantities of coal, iron ore, bauxite, and gold.
• Languages: Spanish (official) 98.2%, indigenous 1.3%, Portuguese 0.1%, other 0.4% (2023 est.)
• Currency: Venezuelan bolívar

Q1: What is a Glacier?

A glacier is a large mass of ice that forms over time from the accumulation and compaction of snow in areas where the snowfall exceeds its melting rate. Glaciers are found in cold regions, typically in polar regions or high-altitude mountainous area.

Source: How did Venezuela’s Humboldt glacier shrink to an ice field?