The capital of Venezuela, Caracas is one of the most modern and cosmopolitan of Latin American cities. In a valley that was once green and peaceful, Caracas has spread to almost all the valley’s habitable areas.

Caracas is seven miles (11 kilometers) inland from the Caribbean Sea. The Cordillera del Litoral mountain range protects the city on the north, and toward the south are the hills of the Serania del Interior range. The city sits on a series of hills and lowlands with an area of 30 square miles (78 square kilometers).

Caracas has two urban centers. One is the Old City around Plaza Bolivar, the city’s main plaza. On its perimeter are the old cathedral, the archbishop’s residence, the municipal council building, and the ministry of foreign affairs. A commercial center, El Recreo, is located between the Old City and Chacao to the east. The city’s principal river is the Guaire.

Caracas’ industries produce sugar, processed foods, beverages, cigarettes, clothing, wood, paper and cardboard, marble work, jewelry, butter and vegetable oils, rubber, glass, chemicals and pharmaceutical products, plastics, leather and hides, and metals. Automobiles and ships are also made in Caracas. Because building construction is the main urban activity, there has been great growth in the production of cement and other building materials. Caracas is a center of both domestic and foreign business and also of petroleum-related activities.
A network of highways links Caracas to neighboring towns and coastal tourist areas as well as to more distant communities. One airport, located in the city, handles domestic flights, and one outside the city provides international connections. La Guaira and Puerto Cabello are Caracas’ natural ports, through which most merchandise is imported. A major railroad leads to the southwest, and two aerial cable cars go to Cerro el Avila. There are modern avenues and several large expressways within the city.

There are many cultural activities, including museums, theater, concerts, dance, film, and painting and sculpture exhibitions. The national library, art galleries, and the fine arts and natural science museums are also in Caracas. The Institute of Culture and Fine Arts has developed an intense cultural program. The Central University of Venezuela, also called the University of Caracas, is the city’s most important institute of higher education, also important is Simon Bolivar University. Established in 1721, the modern university has a capacity for 30,000 students. There are other public and private universities and specialized institutes in the metropolitan area.

Recreational facilities include swimming pools, golf courses, a bullfighting ring, and a racetrack. There are athletic stadiums for baseball, football, tennis, and other sports. A zoo, public gardens, beaches, and mountains are also available for recreation.

History:

Caracas was founded in 1567 by Diego de Losada. He named it Santiago de Leon de Caracas for the apostle James, the patron saint of Spain; for Don Pedro Ponce de Leon, the provincial governor; and for the Caracas Indians of the region. Caracas became a provincial capital in 1577. It later became the residence of the captain general of Venezuela, and, upon independence from Spain in the early 19th century, the capital of the republic. Population (1981 estimate), city, 2,299,700; metropolitan area, 3,014,000.

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