Upata Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Upata

Upata from Cerro La Virgen

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Nickname(s):

Villa del Youcoima ("Yocoima Village")
La capital de las mujeres bonitas ("Capital of the beautiful women"

Motto(s):

Ave María Santísima, sin pecado concebida, en el primer instante de su ser natural.
("Hail Holiest Mary, conceived without sin, in the first instant of Your Natural Being.")

Upata

Location in Venezuela

Municipalities

Piar Municipality

Founded

July 7, 1762

Area

• City

1,930 km² (750 sq mi)

Elevation

350 m (1,150 ft)

Population

(2001)

• Density

1,431.5/km² (3,708/sq mi)

• Urban

168,856

• Demonym

Upatense

Time zone

UTC−4 (VET)

Postal code

8052

Area code(s)

288

Climate

Upata (Spanish pronunciation: [uˈpata]) is a city in Venezuela, a country in South America. It's located in the northern part of the Bolívar State, which is a big area called Guayana. Upata is the main city and capital of the Piar Municipality. It sits between two important rivers, the Orinoco and the Cuyuní. The name "Upata" comes from an old indigenous word, possibly from the Kamaracoto people. It might mean "Rose of the mountain," which was the name of a chief's daughter.

How Upata Began
Upata's Location and People
- Upata's Climate
What Upata is Known For
Learning in Upata
Fun Places to Visit
Sports in Upata
Sister Cities
Images for kids
See also

How Upata Began

People first tried to start a town here around 1739. But the official founding happened later. On July 7, 1762, a missionary named Fray Antonio de Cervera founded the city. He named it "Village Yocoima of Saint Anthony of Padua." This name honored Saint Anthony of Padua, an Italian saint. Capuchin missionaries helped bring the Catholic faith to this area.

Upata's Location and People

Upata is special because it has many people from Europe. Many families came from Italy, France, Portugal, and Spain. Between 1945 and 1970, about 1,750 Italians and 650 Portuguese moved here.

Upata is the third largest city in the state of Bolívar. It is the capital of the Piar municipality. This area covers about 15,899 square kilometers. The city itself takes up about 32 square kilometers. Upata is in a long valley, about 20 kilometers long and 6 kilometers wide.

The city is about 340 to 360 meters above sea level. Its climate is a tropical rainy savannah. To the west of Upata, you can find a large artificial lake. This lake was created by the Guri Hydroelectric Complex. To the east, you can see the Sierra Imataca mountains. These mountains are rich in minerals and have many different plants and animals. They are also good for farming and nature tourism.

Upata's Climate

Upata has a tropical savanna climate (Aw). This means it's warm all year with a wet season and a dry season. The city gets between 900 and 1,300 millimeters (35–51 inches) of rain each year. Some parts of the nearby mountains get even more, up to 2,000 millimeters (79 inches).

The average temperature is about 26°C (79°F) for most of the year. The warmest month is usually August, with temperatures reaching up to 36°C (97°F). The cooler months are November, January, and August, with average temperatures around 19°C to 17°C (66-63°F).

What Upata is Known For

Upata is often called a farming and livestock town. The areas around Upata are great for raising cattle. They produce a lot of beef and milk. The city is famous for making a special Venezuelan cheese called "Queso Telita Guayanes." They also make other international cheeses like ricotta and mozzarella.

Upata also has beautiful natural spots. These include the Stone of Santa Maria and El Toro. There are also the Guacarapo Hills, where a large concrete statue of "Our Lady of Peace" (Virgen de la Paz) stands.

Learning in Upata

Upata has five public universities. This means many students can get a higher education right in their city.

Liberator Experimental Pedagogical University - Extension
National Experimental Polytechnic University of the Bolivarian Armed Forces - Extension
Guiana National Experimental University - Extension
Bolivarian University of Venezuela - Extension
Simón Rodríguez National Experimental University - Extension

Fun Places to Visit

Alejandro Otero Park “Bicentennial”
Holy Mary Stone
Monument to the Virgin of Peace
Simon Chavez Stadium
The Hill of the Bull
The aquifers of La Carata
The Caves of Timoteo in Cerro El Jobo
Simon Bolivar Square
Plaza Military Park "The Soldier"

Sports in Upata

Upata has two soccer teams. They both play in the Third Division of Venezuelan Soccer. These teams are the Deportivo Upata Fútbol Club and Yaddiel Sport de Upata Fútbol Club.