Did you know: Venezuela’s name means “Little Venice” and it was given by Amerigo Vespucci
In 1497 on his third voyage to the Americas, Christopher Columbus sailed to the Orinoco Delta and declared he had found “Heaven on Earth”. He named this region “Land of Grace” and that remains the country’s nickname today. In 1499 Alonso de Ojeda’s expedition visited the country’s coast and discovered the stilt houses around Lake Maracaibo. Because they reminded his navigator Amerigo Vespucci of the city of Venice, he named the region Veneziola (“Little Venice”).
Did you know: Venezuela has three World Heritage Sites, one is in danger
The most beautiful one is Canaima National Park and the others are Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas - a modernist building complex in the capital, and the port of Coro. Unfortunately, the latter is deemed at risk by Unesco. Coro is the only surviving example of a rich fusion of local traditions with Spanish Mudéjar and Dutch architectural techniques. It is one of the first colonial towns, founded in 1527 and has about 602 historic buildings. Yet, the modern constructions made it vulnerable to the impact of inappropriate development - due to the lack of urban controls.
Did you know: Venezuela is a heaven for the wildwife
According to Conservation International, just 17 countries are considered "megadiverse " and Venezuela is on the top, possesing vast number of different species – many found nowhere else. About 23% of reptilian and 50% of amphibian species that inhabit the country are endemic to Venezuela, and few regions are better for a wildlife holiday than Los Llanos.
Did you know: There is an everlasting lighting storm in Venezuela
Yes, that is not a joke, it is absolutely real! Formed over the mouth of the Catatumbo river, when cold mountain air collides with the heat of Lake Maracaibo, the ‘Catatumbo lightning’ entered the Guinness Book of World Records in 2015 as the most likely place on the planet to see lightning. Sometimes there are more than 100,000 lightning strikes a night.
Did you know: A mountain in Venezuela inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's book “The Lost World”
Mount Roraima, in the Canaima National Park, inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's “The Lost World”, and while there are no Jurassic inhabitants, visitors can expect to see endemic birds, frogs, dragonflies and tarantulas.
Did you know: The world’s highest waterfall is in Venezuela
A main highlight of the Canaima National Park is Angel Falls, which is reached by small plane and motorised canoe. The water there plunges 807 metres to the ground, and it has a total height of 979 metres.
Did you know: Venezuela have mastered more Miss World than any other nation
South America's fifth most populous country has provided six Miss World winners, putting it ahead of the UK (5), India (5), the US, Jamaica, and Iceland (all 3). Venezuela clearly loves a beauty pageant, as they’ve also served up seven Miss Universe winners, including Irene Sáez, who ran for the presidency in 1998.
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