Ciudad Bolívar, << syoo DAHD boh LEE vahr >> (pop. 371,566), is the capital of Bolívar state in southeastern Venezuela. It is a major port and commercial city on the Orinoco River (see Venezuela [political map]). The port at Ciudad Bolívar has a large floating pontoon dock. Such goods as animal skins, cashews, latex, lumber, and palm fibers pass through the port. The city also ships gold and diamonds from the Guiana Highlands in southern Venezuela. The overland Angostura Bridge connects Ciudad Bolívar with Venezuela’s central plains region.
The Spanish founded what is now Ciudad Bolívar in 1764. They named it Angostura. In 1819, under the leadership of Venezuelan general Simón Bolívar, the Congress of Angostura organized the republic of Gran Colombia. The republic included what are now Colombia and Venezuela. Venezuela was liberated in 1821, and Angostura was renamed Ciudad Bolívar (Bolívar City).
