Caracas << kuh RAH kuhs >> (pop. 2,104,423), is the capital, largest city, and economic center of Venezuela. It lies in a valley at the foot of the Cordillera de la Costa mountains in northern Venezuela, about 7 miles (11 kilometers) inland from the Caribbean port city of La Guaira. Caracas is about 3,280 feet (1,000 meters) above sea level. The city consists of five municipalities, each with a mayor and police force.
The city.
Caracas is a city of extremes. It boasts modern high-rise buildings, major highways, an extensive transit system, and many shopping malls. However, large slums surround the city, traffic jams are frequent, and the crime rate is among the highest in the region.
Although Caracas is one of Latin America’s most modern cities, it has a few districts with buildings from its colonial period (the 1500’s to the 1800’s). Many of these structures are national landmarks, museums, or wealthy people’s homes. The city’s center, near a park called Plaza Bolívar, is especially rich in history. Old buildings in this area include the gold-domed Venezuelan Capitol, a cathedral, and City Hall. Near the plaza is Miraflores Palace, a beautifully decorated building from the 1800’s that houses the offices of Venezuela’s president.
The city has an active cultural and social life. The Central University of Venezuela, founded in Caracas in 1721, is the oldest university in Venezuela. There are many museums, parks, and theaters, and a botanical garden. Shopping centers are popular recreational destinations.
Many middle-class residents of Caracas live in high-rise apartment buildings. Some wealthy people live in suburbs or in downtown condominium complexes. About half the population lives in shacks called ranchos.
Economy.
The commercial life of Caracas centers mainly on public and private-business administration. Many residents work in government agencies or the government-owned oil industry. Others work in the finance and service industries. A large, vibrant informal economy also exists outside government control and taxation structures. Public transportation includes subway and Metrobus systems and cable cars that service hillside slums. The Autopista, or Caracas-La Guaira Expressway, connects Caracas with La Guaira.
History.
Settlers from Spain founded Caracas as Santiago de León de Caracas in 1567. They were looking for gold but stayed to develop the area’s agricultural wealth. Caracas became the capital of Venezuela in 1829. Since the mid-1900’s, the national government has used oil profits to make Caracas a modern city and to provide services for its people.
In 1989, major protests over rising poverty resulted in hundreds of people’s deaths, many at the hands of Venezuelan authorities. A process of political reform followed. However, protests in Caracas remain frequent and sometimes have turned violent.
