3. It is shaped roughly like an inverted triangle.
4. Venezuela’s climate varies from humid low-elevation plains, where average annual temperatures range as high as 28 °C , to glaciers and highlands (the páramos) with an average yearly temperature of 8 °C .
5. The northern mountains are the extreme northeastern extensions of South America's Andes mountain range.
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7. The country's center is characterized by the llanos, which are extensive plains that stretch from the Colombian border in the far west to the Orinoco River delta in the east.
8. The Orinoco, with its rich alluvial soils, binds the largest and most important river system of the country; it originates in one of the largest watersheds in Latin America.
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11. Relations between Venezuela and the United States government worsened in 2002, after the 2002 Venezuelan coup d'état attempt during which the U.S. government recognized the short-lived interim presidency of Pedro Carmona.
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13. The components of the National Armed Forces are: the Venezuelan Army, the Venezuelan Navy, the Venezuelan Air force, the Venezuelan National Guard, and the Venezuelan National Militia.
14. The president of Venezuela is the commander-in-chief of the national armed forces.
15. The main roles of the armed forces are to defend the sovereign national territory of Venezuela, airspace, and islands, fight against drug trafficking, to search and rescue and, in the case of a natural disaster, civil protection.
18. Venezuela has the least expensive petrol in the world because the consumer price of petrol is so heavily subsidized.
19. Since the discovery of oil in the early 20th century, Venezuela has been one of the world's leading exporters of oil.
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22. They attend primary school until they are eleven. They are then promoted to the second level of basic education, where they stay until they are 14 or 15.
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24. Once a student ends 9th grade, they enter Diversified education, so called because the student must choose between studying either humanities or the sciences for the next two years. This choice usually determines what majors they can opt for at the college level.
25. Students are referred to as "beige shirts".
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27. It is expected and predominant that people marry others of their same or higher social class standing—including racial status as well.
28. The ideal is generally to marry somebody "whiter" or at least of the same racial status; the opposite, although not completely rare, is seen as going against the norm.
29. In Venezuelan society the family and the role played by the mother are essential in the maintenance of the social fabric.
36. Ojeda named this region Venice because the native houses were located on stilts above the Orinoco River's current.
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38. Food Part 2 CACHAPA:Similar to the traditional American pancake (much thicker than an English pancake), it is made from a puree of corn, sugar, salt and oil. It is normally then folded over with a large piece of a soft white cheese inside. HALLACA: There is nothing as important to Venezuelan cuisine as the hallaca. TEQUEÑO: The classic Venezuelan party food, this bite size treats are served all throughout the country from a few friends gathered in a home to elaborate wedding cocktail hours.