Venezuela’s Regions: Geography, Economy, and Resources
Venezuelan Geographical Regions and Economic Dynamics
Sierra de Perijá
- Depression of tectonic origin, covered by Quaternary sediments.
- Possesses fertile soil for economic development.
- Rivers facilitate the installation of electricity generating plants.
- Gusare, Socuy, and Cachirí rivers are large reserves of coal.
- Includes areas in Mérida, Táchira, and Trujillo mountains.
Lake Maracaibo
- Located northeast of the country.
- Situated between the Andes Mountains and the Sierra de Perijá.
- Has large deposits of oil and gas.
- High potential agricultural areas, contributing to Venezuela’s diversified economy.
- Its tectonic phase indicates it is sinking as the Andes mountain range rises.
Coro System
- Located between the Andes mountain ranges.
- Formed by hills.
- Belongs to the Tertiary period and has rivers that facilitate agricultural production.
- Livestock farming is practiced.
- Saltmaking refineries are located in Cardón and Amuay on the Paraguaná Peninsula.
Venezuelan Guayana Region
- Belongs to the Precambrian geological era.
- Has torrential rivers, facilitating the installation of hydroelectric power plants, such as the Guri Dam.
- Contains a large amount of minerals: gold, diamonds, iron, bauxite, aluminum, magnesium, manganese, among others.
- Contains part of the world’s largest oil reserve, the Orinoco Oil Belt.
- Comprises the states of Bolívar, Amazonas, and Delta Amacuro.
Orinoco Oil Belt
- Location: Located south of the states of Guárico, Anzoátegui, and Monagas.
- Extension: 55,314 km².
- Exploitation Area: 11,593 km².
- Orimulsion: A registered trademark.
Venezuelan Plains
- Higher plateau, important agricultural region.
- Its oil fields have contributed to economic dynamism.
- It is located in one of the unexplored oil basins.
Islands Region (Nueva Esparta)
- One of the most important tourism regions, especially Nueva Esparta.
- Includes Margarita Island, Coche, Cubagua, and their dependencies.
- Nueva Esparta has achieved federal economic dynamism.
The Coastal Range
- A combination of various geological eras, with a prevalence of Tertiary formations.
- It has a high percentage of the population.
- Features industrial and commercial cities with large ports.
- Formed by mountains, plains, and valleys.
Socio-Economic Concepts
Causes of Population Distribution
- Uneven distribution of space across regions.
- Economic development disparities among states, leading to rural abandonment.
- Crime.
- Excessive population in the largest cities.
- Increased traffic congestion.
- Housing deficit.
Migration
Movement of population that occurs from a place of origin to another destination.
Emigration
Displacement of a group of people or an individual from one country to another.
Immigration
Change of residence of a person or group to a new region or country.
Balance of Trade
Measures a country’s economic development, categorized as favorable or unfavorable.
Bilateral Agreement
An agreement signed between two countries, typically of economic, political, or social order.
Geo-economic Structure of Venezuela
Sectors of Production: Defining a country’s degree of development.
- Primary Sector: Responsible for the extraction and exploitation of raw materials found in soil and subsoil.
- Secondary Sector: Responsible for transforming raw materials into manufactured products (industries).
- Tertiary Sector: Responsible for providing services to the community, including trade and transport.
Structural Formula
For oil-dependent developing countries, the typical structure is Tertiary-Secondary-Primary (III-II-I), while developed countries often show Primary-Secondary-Tertiary (I-II-III).