Venezuela is known for its tropical location in South America, including natural wonders like Angel Falls and the Amazon Rainforest. It has a population of around 30 million, and its capital is Caracas. Venezuela has significant oil reserves and is a major oil producer, providing around 6% of US oil imports. Baseball is also very popular, and around 30% of MLB players are Venezuelan.

1. Image Sources: CIA World Factbook, 2014, Venezuela p.1

2. Question: What do you think Venezuela is known for?
1. Tropical location. Natural Wonders and
The Amazon Rainforest
2. Beautiful Women
3. Oil Production
4. Baseball

3. Location: South America
Neighbor Countries: Brazil, Colombia
Capital: Caracas D.C
Population:
About 30 million nationwide
In the Capital 2,013,366
Language: Spanish
Discovered in 1498 by Christopher
Columbus in his Third Voyage. Venezuela
means “Little Venice” as indigenous people
were living in houses above water.
Geography: Since Venezuela is located in
South America, the country shares the
territory of the Amazon Rainforest with
Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia,
Suriname, and the French Guiana.
Description (CIA World Factbook, 2014, Venezuela p.1)

4. Natural Wonders (CIA World Factbook, 2014, Venezuela p.1)
Angel Falls
Los Roques Island
Margarita Island
Tropical Tree
“Araguaney”

5. Miss Universe Pageant
Venezuela has 7 Crowns and holds second
place ranking of most Miss Universes. In
addition, Venezuela is second to the United
States as they have 8 crowns.
The Current Miss Universe is Gabriela Isler. She
is from Venezuela and was crowned on
November 9, 2013 in Moscow, Russia.
The next pageant will be on January 25, 2015
in Doral, Florida- U.S.A
Beautiful Women (Miss Universe. Com, 2014, Grabriela Isler p.1)

6. Oil Production (OPEC. Org, 2014, Venezuela p. 1)
Venezuela is member of the Organization of the Petroleum
Exporting Countries (OPEP).
The country ranks eight in natural gas reserves in the world.
Venezuela also has the largest oil reserves worldwide next to Saudi
Arabia.
Question: Currently how much oil does The United States get from
Venezuela?
Source: Energy Information
Administration
Credit: Nelson Hsu / NPR
About 6%
(Flintoff, 2012, NPR News p. 1)

7. Baseball (MLB. Com, 2014, Venezuela players p. 1)
Currently about 30% of Baseball Players in the Major
League Baseball (MLB) are from Venezuela.
In the second World Baseball Classic Tournament of
2009, Venezuela placed third with South Korea second
and Japan first.
Relations to the Midwest- U.S.A
The first Baseball player from Venezuela was Alex
Carrasquel in 1939, when he joined the Washington
Senators now known as the Minnesota Twins.
In 1992 Andres Gallarraga “The Big Cat” joined the St.
Louis Cardinals and since then he has been the last
Venezuelan who played for them.
In 2005, the Chicago White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen
also from Venezuela led the team to their third World
Series Championship.

8. Venezuela currently has two Olympic Gold Medal
(Olympic. Org, 2014, Olympic Results: Venezuela p.1)
1. Boxing: Men’s Light Flyweight in the 1968 Mexico City Games
Medalist: Francisco Rodriguez
2. Fencing: Men’s Epee in the 2012 London Games
Medalist: Ruben Limardo

9. Gustavo Dudamel (Laphil. Com, 2014, Dudamel p. 1)
Venezuelan Conductor, Violinist, and Music Director of the Simón Bolívar
Symphony Orchestra in Venezuela as well as the Los Angeles Philharmonic
in the U.S.

10. Holiday Traditions (Food. Com, 2014, Hallacas p. 1)
Venezuelan Tamales or Hallacas (Spanish) are a Christmas dish that consists
on dumplings made with various types of meat and poultry. The dumplings
get to be wrap with plantain leaves for a more tropical flavor and
presentation.
Hallacas have become a family tradition during Christmas that
engages everyone to participate as this dish can produce more
than 30- 40 pieces wrap in their respective plantain leaves. It takes
about 2-3 days for a family to run out of supplies to make the
Hallacas.

11. Close to Home: Bolivar- Missouri (bhs. Bolivar High Schools. Org, 2014, p, 1)
Location: 2 hours 30 minutes South- West from Columbia, MO.
Population: 10,325 est.
The city was named after Venezuela’s First President Simon
Bolivar nickname “The Liberator.”
High School Name: Bolivar High School
Sports Team Name: The Liberators

13. References