Location: Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana.
Land Area: 912,050 square kilometers (352,142 sq. miles)
Coastline: 2,800 km (1,740 miles)
Highest Point: Pico Bolivar 5,007 meters (16,422 feet)
Lowest Point: Caribbean Sea 0 meters
Notable Landmarks: Visit them now!

Gross Domestic Product (GDP): $164.1 billion (2005 est.)
GDP Per Capita: $6,500 (2005 est.)
Number of Workers: 12.31 million (2005 est.)
Unemployment Rate: 12.3% (2005 est.)
Industries: Petroleum, iron ore mining, construction materials, food processing, textiles, steel, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly.
Currency: Bolivar (VEB) What does it look like?

Type of Government: Federal Republic
Head of State: President Hugo Chavez Frias (since 3 February 1999)
Head of Government: President Hugo Chavez Frias
Capital City: Caracas
Legal Age to Vote: 18
Flag Design: Three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue and red with the coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of seven white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band.
Official Language: Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects
Religions: Nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%.

Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 183- (the other being Colombia and Ecuador). For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some societal reforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since 1959.

Current concerns include these: an embattled president who may face a recall vote, a divided military, drug-related conflicts along the border with Colombia, increasing internal drug consumption, overdependence on the petroleum industry with its price fluctuations, and irresponsible mining operations that are endangering the rain forest and indigenous peoples.