Unit 7: ¿Cómo llegamos?

Question 1

What borders Venezuela in each direction?

Answer 1

It is bordered by Colombia to the southwest, Brazil to the southeast, and Guyana to the east. The Caribbean Sea is to the north.

Question 2

What is the capital of Venezuela?

Answer 2

Caracas

Question 3

True or False: Venezuela has a varied landscape, ranging from mountainous terrain to rainforest, to plains and beaches

Answer 3

True

Question 4

What are the four regions in Venezuela?

Answer 4

There are four different regions in Venezuela: the lowlands of Maracaibo, the mountains at the base of the Andes in the Northwest, the Orinoco River basin with plains and forests, and the Guyana highlands.

Question 5

How does Venezuela’s climate vary?

Answer 5

Venezuela also has a varied climate, which can range from very warm in the plains areas to quite cool in the highlands.

Question 6

What major geographical attraction does Venezuela have?

Answer 6

The world’s highest waterfall, Angel Falls

Question 7

When was Venezuela colonized by the Spanish? Which indigenous groups did they meet? What did they name Venezuela after? What is the main language spoken in Venezuela today? When did Venezuela gain independence from Spain? This effort was led by which influential Venezuelan?

Answer 7

Venezuela was colonized by the Spanish in the sixteenth century, where they were met by indigenous groups, such as the Caribes, the Chibchas, and the Arawaks. Spanish explorers named Venezuela after the Italian city of Venice. The main language of Venezuela is Spanish, but there are several indigenous languages still spoken in Venezuela today. Venezuela, led by Simón Bolívar, gained independence from Spain in 1821.

Question 8

Today, what is Venezuela’s role in producing natural resources? Where are its natural resources usually located?

Answer 8

Today, Venezuela is one of the world’s largest producers of crude oil. After the United States, it leads the world in natural gas reserves. Venezuela’s oil resources lie in the Orinoco River Basin and around Lake Maracaibo.

Question 9

When was Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, founded?

Answer 9

In the mid-sixteenth century

Question 10

Where do the majority of Venezuelans live, in relation to the Orinoco River?

Answer 10

Even though over half of Venezuela’s land mass is south of the Orinoco River, relatively few people live there, as the majority live in Caracas and cities in the North.

Question 11

What are other large Venezuelan cities, besides its capital Caracas?

Answer 11

Other large cities in Venezuela are Maracaibo, Valencia, and Barquisimeto.

Question 12

Where is Caracas, Venezuela, located? Caracas is the center of what in Venezuela? How does wealth vary in Caracas?

Answer 12

Caracas is Venezuela’s largest city and capital. Located in the northern part of the country, it is the center of Venezuela’s government, business, culture, and economy. Caracas is a modern city, full of high-rise buildings and parks, as well as arts, culture, and activities, just like any other big city in the world. Caracas is a city also of varying wealth. Some neighborhoods are affluent and glamorous, while other neighborhoods are poverty-stricken and run down.

Question 13

What is the Teresa Carreño Cultural Complex in Caracas, Venezuela?

Answer 13

The Teresa Carreño Cultural Complex is Venezuela’s most important theater. The theater was named after Teresa Carreño, who was a renowned pianist and composer from Venezuela. There, one can see different artistic performances such as symphonies, ballets, operas, and theater.

Question 14

Where are performances held in the Teresa Carreño Cultural Complex in Caracas, Venezuela?

Answer 14

Performances are held in one of two halls at the theater. The José Félix Ribas Hall, the smaller of the two, is used for musical performances. The Ríos Reyna Hall, the larger of the two, is used for symphonies, operas, and ballet performances. The theater itself is an architectural wonder and is second to Buenos Aires’s Teatro Colón, which is known for its acoustic perfection.

Question 15

What is the significance of the Teresa Carreño Cultural Complex to those in Venezuela’s artistic and cultural world?

Answer 15

The Teresa Carreño Cultural Complex is the pride of Venezuela’s artistic and cultural world.

Question 16

What is the Casa Natal del Libertador in Caracas, Venezuela?

Answer 16

The Casa Natal del Libertador is Simón Bolívar’s birthplace, and it is now a national monument. It was built in the Spanish colonial style, and it is fascinating to walk through and see his childhood home.

Question 17

Why are there many statues honoring Simón Bolívar throughout Caracas, Venezuela?

Answer 17

There are many monuments in honor of Simón Bolívar throughout Caracas because he is considered the liberator of Venezuela and one of Venezuela’s most important historical figures.

Question 18

What is the Panteón Nacional in Caracas, Venezuela? What are the names and accomplishments of three people buried there? How does the Panteón relate to the Supreme Court and the National Library?

Answer 18

The Panteón Nacional is a monument in which many of Venezuela’s national heroes are laid to rest. People such as the Marqués del Toro, who was a general in Venezuela’s army and one of the signers of Venezuela’s Acta de la Independencia, and Andrés Ibarra, who was a soldier who served alongside Simón Bolívar, are laid to rest there. Simón Bolívar’s remains were also transferred to the site in the late nineteenth century. The Panteón forms part of the complex in which the National Library and the Supreme Court are found as well.

Question 19

What is Ávila Mountain in Caracas, Venezuela? How can you view it?

Answer 19

Ávila Mountain is a mountain that you can visit by cable car from Caracas until the stop at the Hotel Humboldt. From the cable car and the mountain top you can see amazing views of the city as well as the coast. The cable car takes visitors to the highest point of the park, at approximately 7,000 feet above sea level. From there you can see different plants and flowers, and hundreds of bird and butterfly species, as well as a variety of reptiles and amphibians.

Question 20

What is El Ávila in Caracas, Venezuela?

Answer 20

El Ávila is a national park whose lands are part of the forest surrounding Caracas, and the central Cordillera de la Costa mountain range.

Question 21

Atop the Ávila Mountain, what can you do in the small town of Galipán?

Answer 21

Eat a delicious meal.

Question 22

At what age did Jacinto Convit García die at?

Answer 22

100 years old

Question 23

Who was Jacinto Convit García?

Answer 23

Jacinto Convit García was a doctor and scientist who dedicated his work to creating the vaccine for leprosy and fighting cancer. He has been honored with several awards for his work and research, including a nomination of the Nobel Prize for Medicine.

Question 24

What did Jacinto Convit García dedicate his life to?

Answer 24

Convit worked to better the care of patients as well as help raise awareness about cancer and leprosy. He dedicated his life to helping the poor, and especially those who were living with the stigmas associated with leprosy, which can cause skin ulcers. Many people who suffered from leprosy prior to the creation of the vaccine were often stigmatized by society. Dr. Convit developed a vaccine for leprosy that is used all over the world.

Question 25

What is Jacinto Convit García’s legacy?

Answer 25

Convit’s valuable contribution to medicine has made him an international figure, but his contribution to humanity and patient care are what most defined him.

Question 26

Where is the town of San Francisco de Yare, Venezuela?

Answer 26

Approximately 40 miles south of Caracas, Venezuela.

Question 27

How does the town of San Francisco de Yare celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi? What is the Dancing Devils of Yare, or los Diablos Danzantes de Yare?

Answer 27

The town of San Francisco de Yare celebrates the feast of Corpus Christi with a celebration and ritual dance called the Dancing Devils of Yare, or los Diablos Danzantes de Yare. Corpus Christi is a Catholic feast day which celebrates bread and wine becoming the body and blood of Jesus Christ during the mass. During the celebration, people dress as dancing devils. They wear colorful costumes and papier mache masks, and they adorn themselves with rosaries and crosses. Then they parade and dance through the streets.

Question 28

What happens during los Diablos Danzantes de Yare? What does the fight in the ceremony symbolize?

Answer 28

During the festivity, celebrants sing native songs, recite poetry, and pray until daybreak. Then, they perform their ritual dances in their devil costumes in the main plaza of town. Priests carry religious figures and ornaments por las calles of town. They then proceed through the center of town and on to the church, where they celebrate a mass. The celebration features a show in which the devils and the guardians fight, a show which is meant to represent good versus evil. Finally, the devils surrender and ask for forgiveness and good triumphs over evil.

Question 29

When did Los Diablos Danzantes de Yare start? Of which race and social status were the participants originally? How has this changed?

Answer 29

The festivities date back to the eighteenth century, and parade participants used to all be descendants of African slaves in the town. In modern times, however, people of all races participate in the procession.

Question 30

Where is the small town of Santa Ana de Coro, Venezuela, located?

Answer 30

In the western part of Venezuela

Question 31

What is Santa Ana de Coro?

Answer 31

Santa Ana de Coro is a colonial town, founded by the Spanish, and it is the oldest city in the western part of Venezuela.

Question 32

What is Santa Ana in Venezuela? Why is it a World Heritage Site?

Answer 32

Santa Ana is the capital city of the state of Falcón in Venezuela. Its original cobblestone streets and southern Spanish architecture are well preserved, and the town is a World Heritage Site. There, many colonial buildings still stand, such as the Cathedral of Coro, the Iglesia de San Franscisco, and the Casa de las Ventanas de Hierro. In fact, there are many churches in Santa Ana de Coro, because it was the first diocese of Venezuela.

Question 33

What is the architecture like in Santa Ana de Coro?

Answer 33

The architecture is a beautiful mix of Spanish and Dutch colonial styles, as well as local indigenous building materials. Because of its proximity to Dutch colonies of Aruba and Curacao, there are some Dutch influences in the colonial architecture. Buildings made of mud brick are still found throughout the town, and earthen constructions are still used today.

Question 34

What is Canaima National Park, in the southwestern part of Venezuela? What is interesting about the rock formations in the park? What is another major attraction at the park (hint: waterfall)?

Answer 34

Canaima National Park is a very popular park in Venezuela, and it has amazing plateaus of rock that date back millions of years. These rocks plateaus or table mountains, are so old that they existed when the areas known today as South America and Africa were still one large land mass. In fact, the sandstone that makes up the Table Mountains is the same sandstone that is found in Africa today. The world’s highest waterfall, Angel Falls, is located in Canaima National Park. The park itself spans an area of 3 million hectares. That is almost 7.5 million acres of land.

Question 35

Remember: Canaima National Park is also a World Heritage Site, and in one area of the park, the indigenous Pemóns still live there. They live through hunting, farming, and fishing. Today the Pemón people attend school, they receive medical care, and they have electricity. Canaima actually means “spirit of evil” in the language of the Pemón people, but the area is popular to tourists, who do not have access to all areas of the park. There are many camps and lodges in the park for tourists to stay.

Answer 35

Canaima National Park is also a World Heritage Site, and in one area of the park, the indigenous Pemóns still live there. They live through hunting, farming, and fishing. Today the Pemón people attend school, they receive medical care, and they have electricity. Canaima actually means “spirit of evil” in the language of the Pemón people, but the area is popular to tourists, who do not have access to all areas of the park. There are many camps and lodges in the park for tourists to stay.

Question 36

Where was Andrés Bello born? Where did he later reside?

Answer 36

Andrés Bello was born in Venezuela, but later resided in England and Chile.

Question 37

Who was Andrés Bello? What were his achievements and contributions?

Answer 37

Andrés Bello was an educator, a thinker, a scholar, a philosopher, a linguist, and a poet. Some his most popular literary works are “Las silvas americanas,” which are poems that he wrote while living in England that describe the culture and landscape of South America. Andrés Bello was a great man among great men. He struck up friendships with Alexander von Humboldt and was Simón Bolívar’s teacher for a time. His friendships with these great men greatly impacted his writing and thinking. He has written poetry, prose, and a grammar publication of the Spanish language, which is considered an important reference work today. Bello later moved to Chile where he worked for the Office of Foreign Affairs and became senator of the city of Santiago. He founded the University of Chile and lived there until his death in 1865.