Caracas

Caracas is the capital of Venezuela. It is located in the north of the country, following the contours of a narrow mountain valley. The valley's temperatures are springlike, and the urbanizable terrain of the Caracas Valley lies between 2,500 and 3,000 ft (760 and 910 m) above sea level. The Valley is close to the Caribbean Sea , separated from the coast by a wall of mountains that rise to more than 7,000 ft (2130 m). The historic center of Caracas, known as the Libertador Department, had a population of 1.9 million in 2004. In that same year, the metropolitan area boasted a population of 5.1 million. Distrito Federal is the name of Caracas' primary seat. The metropolitan area also covers part of Miranda State.

History

The city was founded in 1567 as Santiago de León de Caracas by Spanish explorer Diego de Losada.

Related Topics:
1567 - Spanish - Diego de Losada

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The city of Caracas was the birthplace of two of Latin America's most important figures: Francisco de Miranda and "El Libertador" Simón Bolívar.

Related Topics:
Francisco de Miranda - Simón Bolívar

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An earthquake destroyed Caracas on March 26, 1812 and was portrayed by authorities as a divine punishment to people rebelling against the Spanish Crown.

Related Topics:
Earthquake - March 26 - 1812

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As the economy of oil-rich Venezuela grew steadily during the first part of the 20th century, Caracas became one of Latin America's economical centers, and was also known as the preferred hub between Europe and South America. The Concorde used to fly weekly to Caracas implying its geographical and economical importance.

Related Topics:
Europe - South America - Concorde

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On October 17 2004, one of the Parque Central Torre towers caught fire.

Related Topics:
October 17 - 2004 - Parque Central Torre

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Flag

The flag of Caracas consists of a burgundy red field with the version of the Coat of Arms of the City effective since the decade of 1980. The red field, remembrance of the predominant color in the royal pennants of Colonial Caracas, symbolizes the blood spilled by Caraquenian people in favor to the Independence and the highest Ideals of the Venezuelan Nation. The original design of the Caracas Flag appeared in the decade of 1980 and consisted of a burgundy red cloth with the version of the then adopted and still effective Coat of Arms located to the canton. Later 1994, approximately and presumably as a result of the change of municipal authorities, it was decided to place the Caracas CoA slightly increased of size on the center of the field, configuration that maintains at the present time.

Related Topics:
1980 - Caraquenian - Independence - 1994

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Coat of Arms

The coat of arms of the City of Caracas was adopted by the Libertador Municipality to identify itself and later the Metropolitan Mayor Office assumed the lion, the scallop and the St. James Cross for the same aim. Symbollogically speaking, this raised a conflict then that Caracas identifies the Coat of Arms of the Capital of the Republic.

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