Venezuela gained independence from Spain in 1811 led by Simón Bolívar. It has a long history as an oil producing nation, joining OPEC in the 1920s, which led to it becoming the richest nation in South America. Venezuela has a predominantly Roman Catholic population and Spanish is the main language spoken. With an area of 912,050 km2, it has a humid continental climate and is home to attractions like Angel Falls, the highest waterfall in the world.