When asked about what Venezuela is known for, some may respond, "Political turmoil." Others may say, "Simón Bolívar", "Oil production", or "Hugo Chávez."

Some people may base their answers from a travel perspective by replying, "Beautiful Caribbean beaches", "Angel Falls," which is the world's highest waterfall, or "The Andes."

Venezuela is certainly a country of extremes - snow-covered Andes mountains, sweltering hot Caribbean beaches, dense and rainy Amazon rainforests, political dictatorships, sky-high inflation, and record-setting oil production.

Venezuela was first settled around 13,000 B.C. by the Yanomami Indians, whose descendants still live in remote isolated pockets without direct contact with the outside world.

Venezuela is Spanish for "Little Venice." When the conquistadors sailed into Lake Maracaibo in 1499, they saw local Indians living in rustic thatched houses on stilts above the water. The Spaniards were, of course, making a sarcastic comparison with Venetian opulence.

Venezuela boasts South America's superhero - Simón Bolívar. His bravery and foresight brought independence to Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia. However, Venezuela suffered the most from the wars for independence, during which 25% of the population died.

Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and New Granada, which became Colombia). For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some social reforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since 1959. Hugo Chávez, president since 1999, seeks to implement his "21st Century Socialism," which purports to alleviate social ills while at the same time attacking capitalist globalization and existing democratic institutions. Current concerns include: a weakening of democratic institutions, political polarization, a politicized military, drug-related violence along the Colombian border, increasing internal drug consumption, overdependence on the petroleum industry with its price fluctuations, and irresponsible mining operations that are endangering the rain forest and indigenous peoples.

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