Venezuela’s Geography: Location, Climate, and Physiographic Regions

Posted on Nov 18, 2024 in Geology

Geographic Location of Venezuela

Venezuela is located in northern South America, bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Brazil to the south, Guyana to the east, and Colombia to the west. Its northernmost latitude is 15° 42′ 33″ LN at Aves Island. Venezuela’s coastline extends 4,016 km (2,954 km mainland), encompassing 23 states, 12 of which have coastal areas.

Differences between Borders and Boundaries:

  • Limit: A real or imaginary line dividing two or more spaces, which can be artificial or natural.
  • Border: A strip of land separating two or more states or countries, designated by humans.

Border and Boundary Issues of Venezuela:

  • Bird Island (Boundary): A small island at risk of disappearing, which would complicate border demarcation.
  • Gulf of Venezuela (Boundary): Disputed territory between Colombia and Venezuela due to drying and loss of water and land.
  • Colombia (Border): Issues with drug smuggling, illegal activities, and guerrilla presence.
  • Brazil (Border): Illegal mining and deforestation by Brazilian miners.
  • Guyana (Boundary): Disputed zone.

Importance of Venezuela’s Location:

Venezuela’s tropical location supports diverse environments and economic activities, including maritime activities, oil production, agriculture, and livestock farming. The southern Orinoco region offers resources for health and markets.

Challenges include a stratified worldview, resurgence of diseases, economic instability, poverty, famine, and transculturation due to technology and globalization.

Climates of Venezuela

Climate significantly impacts Venezuela’s economic activity and population. The Köppen climate classification, based on temperature and precipitation, categorizes Venezuela’s climates as follows:

  • Tropical Cloud Forest (Afi): SW Bolivar, C and S Amazonas, Apure W, SW Zulia.
  • Tropical Rainforest (Ami): Adelta, S Lake Maracaibo, Guayana, Falcon River Valley Tocuyo Caucagua, Ávila.
  • Rainy Tropical Savanna (AWI): Guyana, Cordillera de la Costa, C Zulia.
  • Tropical Mountain (IFC): Tepuyes Bolivar, Andean Cordillera de la Costa, Sierra Falcon.
  • Semi-arid (BSI): Barquisimeto, islands, coastal areas.

Climograms: Graphs representing rainfall and temperature over a specific period.

Key Geographical Terms:

  • Region: An area determined by land or water, smaller than the total area of interest.
  • Geology: The science of Earth’s history and formation materials.
  • Geomorphology: The study of land relief.
  • Latitude: The angle formed at a point determined by its vertical location relative to the Equator.
  • Geography: The study of physical and human phenomena on Earth.
  • Frontier: A strip of territory separating states or countries.
  • Weather: Atmospheric conditions characterizing a region.
  • Geographic Position: Position of a point on Earth’s surface specified by latitude and longitude.
  • Limit: A real or imaginary line dividing two or more spaces.
  • Longitude: The distance measured as an angle from any point on Earth to the prime meridian.
  • Coordinate System: Used to locate points in degrees, minutes, and seconds from the origin meridian and Equator.
  • Parallel: Smaller circles parallel to the Equator.
  • Meridians: Semicircles extending from pole to pole.

Physiographic Regions of Venezuela

Guayana Shield

An ancient geological formation covering 325,000 km2, featuring tepuis, peneplains, savannas, and mountains.

Andes System

A mountain range with high peaks, glaciers, valleys, and two branches (Pico Bolívar-Odd Tetaria). Cenozoic Era.

Lara-Falcón-Yaracuy Highlands

A region with varied relief, plains, semi-arid fluvial and lacustrine areas, and the only micro-desert in the country (Chorus Dunes). Cenozoic Era.

Caribbean Mountain System

Divided into two sections and two chains (Pico Naiguatá, Pico Turimiquire). Late Cretaceous, Mesozoic Era.

Venezuelan Islands

Tops of undersea features, divided into inland and offshore groups (Margarita Island). Mesozoic Era.

Central Llanera Depression

Extensive lowlands covering 260,000 km2, containing petroleum sedimentary basins. Quaternary.

Deltaic Plain

Covering 32,000 km2, characterized by tidal creeks.

Depression of Lake Maracaibo

A structural depression with flat relief, covering 52,000 km2. Quaternary.

Perijá

Cenozoic Era.

Geological Eras

Precambrian Era: Formation of the crust and large igneous rock masses (Guayana Shield).

Paleozoic Era: Sea covered much of the west, beginning of fold formation (Pre-Andes Perijá).

Mesozoic Era: Formation of a geosyncline in the north (Coastal Range, Caribbean Islands).

Cenozoic Era: Uplift of reliefs (Perijá, Cordillera de Mérida, Lara-Falcón, Lake Maracaibo Basin).

Quaternary Era: Shallow seas covered parts of the country (Central Llanera Depression, Lake Maracaibo, Orinoco Delta).