Venezuela

Venezuela's diverse topography includes the rugged Andes Mountains, parts of the Amazon Jungle, a diverse selection of National Parks, and an almost perfect Caribbean coastline. Its location just above the equator ensures a pleasant climate throughout the year. There is one dry season - December to May, the rest of the year is wet. Upon seeing Venezuela, Christopher Columbus remarked that is must be paradise. He nicknamed the region Land of Grace. On a later expedition, Amerigo Vespucci said that the land reminded him of his home city Venice, Italy. He named the region "Venezuela" meaning "little Venice" in Italian. Some scholars believe that the original name may have come from an indigenous people who called themselves the "Veneciuela".

Capital city: Caracas Highest Point: Pico Bolivar (16,427ft / 5007m) Lowest Point: Caribbean Sea (0ft / 0m) Land Area: 340,561 sq. mi (882,050 sq. km) Water Area: 11,583 sq. mi (30,000 sq. km) Total Area: 352,144 sq. mi (912,050 sq. km) Coastline: 1740 miles (2800 km) Bordering countries (3) Brazil, Colombia, Guyana