Venezuela
/ˌvɛnɪˈzweɪlə
/ /beneˈswela/
A republic on the north coast of South America, with a coastline on the Caribbean Sea; population 26,814,800 (est. 2009); official language, Spanish; capital, Caracas. Official name Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
Colonized by the Spanish in the 16th century, Venezuela won its independence in 1821 after a ten-year struggle, but did not finally emerge as a separate nation until its secession from federation with Colombia (1830). It is a major oil-exporting country, with the industry based on the area around Lake Maracaibo in the north-west.
Origin
Spanish, literally 'little Venice', named by early explorers when they saw native houses built on stilts over water.