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VENEZUELA
Interesting Facts
Venezuela is in South America. Can you find it on this map? What countries border Venezuela? Roll your mouse over the map to see another fun fact.
The flag of Venezuela is very similar to the flags of Colombia and Ecuador. All of these countries once belonged to one big area called Gran Colombia. Note that the horse is facing to the right. Recently this flag was changed with the horse walking to the left instead of to the right as above. Can you guess why that happened? Maybe your teacher can help find the answer. On flag days you must fly the flag or you will receive a fine.
Venezuela is about the size of these U.S. states that are highlighted. Can you tell which states these are?
Christopher Columbus was the first European to visit Venezuela in 1498. Some people say he "discovered" it, but that would be a surprise to the many Indian tribes that lived there.
Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci gave Venezuela it's name which means Little Venice. He thought the Indian homes built on stilts in the water reminded him of the canals of Venice, a city in Italy.
Venezuela is home to the world's largest rodent, the capybara. It can grow to be as big as a large dog and weighs up to 140 pounds. People in parts of Venezuela eat them. While visiting the Amazon Jungle in Venezuela Andean Aid president Wayne Cramer ate a capybara pizza. No, it does not taste like chicken. A mouse is a rodent also. Can you name some others?
Angel Falls is the tallest waterfall in the world. It is in the Gran Sabana region of Venezuela. Water falls over the top of this flat topped mountain to the valley 3212 feet below. For comparison, Niagara Falls is 176 feet at it's highest point. How many times higher is Angel Falls than Niagara Falls?
The teleferico in Merida, Venezuela is the worlds longest and highest cable car. It travels 7.5 miles and goes to an altitude of 15,630 feet. It is so high that oxygen is carried in the car for passengers who start to feel dizzy. The car makes four stops on the way to the top. The final trip to the summit is so high that you pass through clouds and all you see is the cable disappearing into the clouds in front of you.
Merida is also home to the ice cream shop carrying more flavors than any place on earth. Can you imagine having a selection of over 720 flavors?
You would surely find your favorite flavor but there are also flavors such as garlic, trout and beet. Yummy!
All school children wear uniforms in Venezuela whether they attend public school or private school. These children are preschoolers. You can tell by the color of the uniform. Grade school, junior high and high school each have distinctive uniforms which is standard throughout the country.
People in Venezuela speak Spanish instead of English. Click Carmen Alicia's photograph at right to hear her tell a little about herself.
Click here for a video of Maryury (pronounced Marjorie) naming clay animals. This video was taken inside the Help and Hope Center where children receive help with their education.
Venezuela has many interesting areas including a beautiful Caribbean coastline, mountains, desserts, a large great plain called the llanos (pronounced Jah-Nose) and jungle.

Christopher Columbus said that this was the most beautiful country he had ever seen.

The Andes mountains come to their northernmost reach in Venezuela. Place your mouse cursor over the map to see where Andean Aid serves.
More than fifty percent of the people in this beautiful country live in poverty.
Both of these ladies are raising their children in the homes above.
Both of these homes are made of "barro". Barro is how you say mud in Spanish. All of the children in these two pictures attend the Help and Hope Center operated by Andean Aid. The house on the left is home to a family of eleven and the house on the right is home to a family of six.

These are the people we serve. Many of the families are Colombian refugees. Refugees are people that escape problems, such as violence, in their country and seek protection in another country.
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