Short facts about the geography of Venezuela
| Location: |
Northern South America, bordering the
Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and
Guyana |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
8 00 N, 66 00
W |
| Map
references: |
South America, Central America and the
Caribbean |
| Area: |
total: 912,050 sq km
land: 882,050 sq km
water:
30,000 sq km |
| Area -
comparative: |
slightly more than twice the size of
California |
| Land
boundaries: |
total: 4,993 km
border countries: Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050
km, Guyana 743 km |
| Maritime
claims: |
contiguous zone:
15 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth
of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200
NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
| Climate: |
tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in
highlands |
| Terrain: |
Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands
in northwest; central plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in
southeast |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Pico Bolivar (La
Columna) 5,007 m |
| Natural
resources: |
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold,
bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds |
| Land
use: |
arable land: 4%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures:
20%
forests and woodland: 34%
other: 41% (1993
est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
1,900 sq km (1993
est.) |
| Natural
hazards: |
subject to floods, rockslides,
mudslides; periodic droughts |
| Environment
- current issues: |
sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia;
oil and urban pollution of Lago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation;
urban and industrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast; threat to
the rainforest ecosystem from irresponsible mining
operations |
| Environment
- international agreements: |
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber
94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine
Dumping |
| Geography -
note: |
on major sea and air routes linking
North and South America | Source: World Factbook |
