FACTS

Location: Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana

Area (only Total) total: 912,050 sq km

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands

Terrain: Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast

Population: 26,414,815 (July 2008 est.)

Main Language (only first): Spanish

Government type: federal republic

Capital (Name): Caracas

Capital (Time Difference): UTC-4.5

Independence: 5 July 1811 (from Spain)

National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1811)

HOLIDAYS

January 1 New Year's Day

January 6 Epiphany

March 21 Holy Thursday

March 23 Good Friday

March 24 Easter

April 19 Declaration of Independence

May 1 Labour Day

June 24 Battle of Carabobo

July 5 Firma Acta de Independencia

July 24 Birth of the Libertador (Bolivar Day)

October 12 Columbus Day

December 25 Christmas Day

December 31 New Year's Eve (unofficial but general)

Weekend - Saturday, Sunday