Maracaibo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Maracaibo
Municipality
(From top, left to right) Panorama of downtown area; Maracaibo Cathedral; Lake Maracaibo and Rafael Urdaneta Bridge; Urdaneta Museum; Carabobo Street
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  "La Tierra del Sol Amada" (English: "The Beloved Land of the Sun")
Motto(s):  "Muy noble y leal" (English: "Very noble and loyal")
Maracaibo Location in Venezuela
Country	Venezuela
State	Zulia
Founded	(1) 8 September 1529, (2) 1569, (3) 1574
Founded by	Ambrosio Alfínger (1529), Captain Alonso Pacheco (1569), Captain Pedro Maldonado (1574)
Government
• Type	Mayor–council
• Body	Alcaldía de Maracaibo
Area
• Metro	1,393 km2 (538 sq mi)
Elevation	6 m (20 ft)
Population  (2020)
• Municipality	2,658,355
• Rank	2nd
• Metro	5,278,448
Demonym(s)	Marabin, Maracaibero(a), Maracucho(a)
Time zone	UTC−4 (VET)
Postal coded	4001, 4002, 4003, 4004, 4005
Area code	261
ISO 3166 code	VE-V
Climate	BSh
The area and population figures refer to the municipality of Maracaibo.

Maracaibo is a large city and municipality in northwestern Venezuela. It is located on the western shore of the strait that connects Lake Maracaibo to the Gulf of Venezuela. Maracaibo is the second-largest city in Venezuela, after the capital city, Caracas. It is also the capital of the state of Zulia.

The city's population is about 2.6 million people. Its larger metropolitan area has an estimated 5.2 million people as of 2010. Maracaibo is often called "The Beloved Land of the Sun" (Spanish: La Tierra del Sol Amada).

Maracaibo is a very important economic hub for western Venezuela. This is mainly because of the oil industry that grew around Lake Maracaibo. It is sometimes known as "The First City of Venezuela." This is because it was the first city in Venezuela to have public services like electricity. The name Venezuela is also thought to have come from the Lake Maracaibo area.

The first people to live here were Arawak and Carib tribes. Maracaibo was founded three times because early attempts failed. The first try was in 1529 by Captain Ambrosio Ehinger. Another attempt was made in 1569 by Captain Alonso Pacheco. The city was finally founded in 1574 by Captain Pedro Maldonado. It was named Nueva Zamora de la Laguna de Maracaibo.

Later, in 1917, oil was discovered in the area. This led to a huge increase in the city's population as many people moved there for work. Today, La Chinita International Airport serves Maracaibo. The General Rafael Urdaneta Bridge connects Maracaibo to the rest of Venezuela.

What's in a Name?

The name Maracaibo is believed to come from a brave indigenous chief named Mara. He was a young leader who fought bravely against the Spanish. Legend says that when Mara fell in battle, his people, the Coquivacoa, shouted "Mara cayó!" which means "Mara fell!" This story is said to be the origin of the city's name.

However, some historians think the name comes from the local language. They say "Maara-iwo" meant "Place where serpents abound."

City History

First version of coat of arms with royal elements.

The first people living in this area were the Arawak and Carib tribes. The Añu tribe, a smaller group, built many stilt houses along the northern shore of Lake Maracaibo. Europeans first arrived in 1499.

How Maracaibo Was Founded

The city was founded three times. The first attempt was in 1529 by a German explorer named Ambrosius Ehinger. He named the settlement New Nuremberg. However, the lack of activity led to the village being moved in 1535.

Captain Alonso Pacheco made a second attempt to found the city in 1569. But the settlement had to be left in 1573 due to strong attacks from local tribes.

The European settlement returned shortly after. In 1574, Captain Pedro Maldonado officially re-founded the city. He named it Nueva Zamora de Maracaibo. "Nueva Zamora" came from the Spanish city where Governor Diego de Mazariegos was born. From this time, the city began to grow. It was built on the western side of Lake Maracaibo, which is rich in oil. The city's location, with good winds and a safe harbor, helped it develop.

Pirate Attacks

Maracaibo faced many attacks from pirates. In 1614, a Dutch pirate named Henrik de Gerard robbed the city. In 1642, the British pirate William Jackson attacked.

In 1667, a pirate named l'Olonnais and his crew attacked Maracaibo and another town called Gibraltar. They stole a Spanish treasure ship filled with valuable goods.

In March 1669, Henry Morgan also attacked Maracaibo. The city was empty when his ships arrived. He then moved on to Gibraltar to find more treasure. When Morgan tried to leave the lake, a Spanish fort and three Spanish ships blocked his way. He used a clever trick with a dummy ship full of gunpowder to destroy two of the Spanish ships. He then tricked the Spanish governor at the fort to move his cannons. This allowed Morgan to escape.

In 1678, a French commander named Michel de Grammont captured Maracaibo. He then robbed several smaller towns, going as far inland as Trujillo.

Venezuela's Fight for Freedom

Illustration of the Battle of Lake Maracaibo

In 1810, the province of Maracaibo chose to stay loyal to the Spanish crown. It did not join the First Republic of Venezuela in its fight for independence.

By 1821, people in favor of independence started fighting. The royalists, who supported Spain, fought against the patriots, who wanted independence. The patriots were led by Rafael Urdaneta. The royalists took back control in 1822. However, they were defeated in the Battle of Lake Maracaibo on July 24, 1823. This battle was the final step in Venezuela's fight for independence.

A Time of Being Apart

For about 380 years, Maracaibo was quite separate from the rest of Venezuela. People traveled to and from the city by boats and ferries across the lake. Trade and culture flowed between Maracaibo and the Caribbean Sea. This included places like the Dutch Antilles, Colombian cities, Cuba, and later Miami and New York.

Being isolated was both a challenge and a benefit. It made the people of Maracaibo very independent thinkers. There are many stories about the idea of an independent nation called "The Independent Republic of Zulia." However, this never happened.

In the 1900s, cars and trucks became common. Goods were moved by ferry between Maracaibo and the eastern shore of the lake. The economy of Maracaibo was more connected to Colombia and the Caribbean than to eastern Venezuela. This was because of the easy water route through Lake Maracaibo to the sea.

In 1903, during a naval blockade of Venezuela, a German warship tried to enter Lake Maracaibo. It exchanged fire with Fort San Carlos but had to pull back. Later, a stronger German ship bombarded the fort, destroying it.

Building the Bridge

Maracaibo Lake Bridge

In the 1950s, the government decided to build a bridge connecting the two sides of Lake Maracaibo. This was to better connect Maracaibo to the rest of the country.

Many designs were considered, some even including train tracks. But after the government changed in 1958, a simpler design was chosen. The bridge was named El Puente sobre el Lago de Maracaibo "General Rafael Urdaneta". It was named after Rafael Urdaneta, a hero of the war for independence.

The bridge opened in 1962. It connected the city to the opposite shore and the country's highway system. Building this bridge was a huge achievement. It was the longest prestressed concrete bridge in the world when it was finished. Today, it remains a vital link for Maracaibo and the state of Zulia.

Maracaibo Today

Exterior of Baralt Theatre

Maracaibo has grown into a large metropolitan city. It includes two main areas: Maracaibo itself and the municipality of San Francisco. In recent years, many people have moved to Maracaibo from rural areas and other cities.

Maracaibo is home to some excellent universities. The state university, La Universidad del Zulia (LUZ), is well-known for its law, medical, and engineering programs. Other universities include Universidad Dr. Rafael Belloso Chacín (URBE) and Universidad Rafael Urdaneta.

In 2019, the city faced challenges like power outages and poverty. This led to some violence and looting. Many people moved away, especially to the United States.

Economy

The main sources of income for Zulia state, where Maracaibo is located, are:

• Oil extraction and refining.
• Agriculture, including coffee, rice, corn, cassava, cocoa, and sugar cane.
• Livestock production.
• Mining, such as clay, limestone, coal, and sand.

Geography

The municipality of Maracaibo is divided into 18 parishes:

Idelfonso Vásquez Venancio Pulgar Antonio Borjas Romero San Isidro Francisco Eugenio Bustamante Luis Hurtado Higuera Manuel Dagnino Cristo de Aranza Cecilio Acosta Cacique Mara Raúl Leoni Caracciolo Parra Pérez Chiquinquirá Juana de Ávila Coquivacoa Olegario Villalobos Bolívar Santa Lucía

Political Territorial Division of Maracaibo Parroquia Antonio Borjas Romero Bolívar Cacique Mara Caracciolo Parra Pérez Cecilio Acosta Chiquinquirá Coquivacoa Cristo de Aranza Francisco Eugenio Bustamante Idelfonso Vásquez Juana de Ávila Luis Hurtado Higuera Manuel Dagnino Olegario Villalobos Raúl Leoni San Isidro Santa Rosalía Venancio Pulgar

Districts

Climate

Maracaibo is one of the hottest cities in Venezuela and all of South America. The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains block rain, giving the city a hot semi-arid climate. This means it's hot and dry, but the nearby lake helps to cool it down a bit.

The average temperature in Maracaibo is about 29°C (84°F). In the past, the mix of high temperatures and humidity made the climate unhealthy. But today, with better city development and pest control, these health issues are mostly gone. The highest temperature ever recorded was 43.6°C (110.5°F), and the lowest was 18.8°C (65.8°F).

Education

Main Building of the University of Zulia (LUZ)

Maracaibo has several universities and schools:

Colleges and Universities

• Universidad del Zulia - (LUZ)
• Nacional Experimental de la Fuerza Armada UNEFA
• Universidad Rafael Belloso Chacín - (URBE)
• Universidad Rafael Urdaneta
• Universidad Católica Cecilio Acosta
• Universidad Dr. José Gregorio Hernández
• Universidad Bolivariano de Venezuela sede Zulia
• Universidad Nacional Abierta (UNA) Centro Local Zulia

International Schools

• Escuela Bella Vista (American school)
• Colegio Alemán de Maracaibo, formerly Colegio Alemán del Zulia (German school)

Sports

Estadio José Pachencho Romero

People from Maracaibo are very proud of their local sports teams.

• In baseball, the city is home to the Águilas del Zulia. This team plays in the Venezuelan winter league. Their home stadium is the Estadio Luis Aparicio El Grande.
• The city's basketball team is Gaiteros del Zulia. They play in the Liga Profesional de Baloncesto de Venezuela. Their home stadium is the Pedro Elías Belisario Aponte stadium.
• In football, Maracaibo has the Unión Atlético Maracaibo and the Zulia FC.
• For Rugby, there are the Maracaibo Rugby Football Club and the Zulianos Rugby Club. Rugby was first played in Maracaibo in Venezuela. This was thanks to the English community living in the Zulia State.

Maracaibo teams have also done well in youth sports. In the 2000 Little League World Series, the Sierra Maestra Little League team from Maracaibo won the championship. The Coquivocoa Little League team from Maracaibo placed third in the 1974 Little League World Series.

Culture

Monument of Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá

Maracaibo's culture has strong influences from its indigenous roots. This can be seen in its music, desserts, and customs. The culture in Maracaibo is quite different from that in Caracas. For example, in Caracas, Coke is the most popular soft drink, but in Maracaibo, it's Pepsi. This difference means many brands create special local ads for their products.

The Gaita is a type of Venezuelan folk music that comes from Maracaibo. The name might come from the Gothic word for "goat," because goat skin is often used for the "furro" instrument. Other instruments used in gaita include maracas, cuatro, charrasca, and tambora (a Venezuelan drum). Gaita songs can be funny, about love, or even protest songs. This music became popular across Venezuela in the 1960s. In the 1970s, it started to mix with other styles like salsa and merengue. Famous gaita groups include Maracaibo 15, Gran Coquivacoa, and Cardenales del Éxito.

Museums, Cultural Centers, and Theaters

Maracaibo's Lía Bermúdez Art Centre

• Zulia Contemporary Art Museum (MACZUL)
• General Rafael Urdaneta Museum
• "Balmiro León" Municipal Graphic Arts Museum
• Maracaibo's Fine Arts Centre
• Maracaibo's "Lía Bermúdez" Art Centre
• Baralt Theatre
• Museum of Gaita

Libraries

• Public Library of Zulia
• "Arturo Uslar Pietri" Public Library
• "Dr. Pedro Alciro Barboza de la Torre" Library
• "Simón Palmar" Public Library
• Biblioteca Pública "Luís Guillermo Pineda Belloso" (Public, bilingual, and circulating)
• "Pedagógica" Specialized Public Library
• "SEDINI" Specialized Public Library
• "Dr. Nectario Andrade Labarca" Private Library

Notable People

International Connections

Twin Towns – Sister Cities

Maracaibo is connected with these cities around the world:

See also

In Spanish: Maracaibo para niños