Borburata facts for kids

Borburata is a small town on the coast of Venezuela, in the state of Carabobo. It's right by the Caribbean Sea. For a very long time, native people visited this area to collect salt from the sea. In the 1500s, Spanish explorers started a settlement here. However, the town faced many attacks, so people eventually moved away from the coast. Today, Borburata is important for Venezuela's oil and gas industry.

A Look Back: Borburata's History

Sir John Hawkins was a British sailor who raided Borburata more than once.

For thousands of years, different groups of native people lived in this area. Some traveled from far inland just to gather dried salt from the sea. For example, the Jirajara people would journey from Valencia Lake through the mountains to reach the coast and collect salt.

Spanish Settlement and Early Challenges

In 1548, a Spanish explorer named Juan de Villegas founded the town of Borburata. It became an important port for the Spanish. However, during the late 1500s and 1600s, the town was often attacked by pirates from France and Britain.

Here are some of the attacks Borburata faced:

• 1555: French pirates attacked Borburata for six days.
• 1561: A Spanish rebel named Lope de Aguirre and his followers attacked Borburata after they had robbed Isla Margarita.
• 1564: British pirates, led by John Hawkins and his cousin Francis Drake, forced the people of Borburata to buy their goods. These goods included people from Africa who had been captured and enslaved. This was part of a sad system called the Triangular trade.
• 1566: A pirate named Lowe attacked the town.
• 1567: French pirates, led by Nicolas Vallier, invaded Borburata. The people living there had to leave their homes and abandon the town.
• 1568: John Hawkins attacked Borburata again. He forced the residents to buy his cargo, which included some of the 400 African people he had captured and enslaved.

Because of these many attacks, the town of Borburata was eventually left empty for a long time. The settlers moved to safer places further inland, like Valencia and Puerto Cabello. These new towns were a day's walk from the Caribbean Sea, making them less likely to be raided by pirates.

Borburata Today: Industry and Nature

Today, Borburata is well-known for its large oil storage area, called a tank farm. This facility is part of PDVSA, Venezuela's national oil company, and plays a role in the country's important oil and gas industry.

The town is also known for its lively religious celebrations. Just a few minutes outside Borburata is the San Esteban National Park. This park is a wonderful place with many different natural areas. You can find beautiful beaches, mangrove forests, colorful coral reefs, and thick tropical rainforests. Because of these varied habitats, the park is home to a wide range of amazing wildlife and plants.

See also

In Spanish: Borburata para niños