35 Spectacular Facts about Venezuela

By Karin Lehnardt, Senior Writer

Published June 17, 2018

Venezuela spans a total of 340,560 square miles (882,046 sq km), which is twice the size of California._[12]
The world's tallest tepui, or tabletop mountain, Mount Roraima, is found in Venezuela._[12]
Venezuela is home to the most endangered crocodile in the world, the Orinoco crocodile._[12]
Venezuela has designated more of its land to conservation than any other country in the world. Nearly 54% of its land is protected. Slovenia (53.6%) and Monaco (53.4%) round out the top three._[21]
Venezuela is tied with India for providing the most Miss World winners in the world. Both India and Venezuela have six winners, ahead of the UK (five), the United States, Jamaica, and Iceland (three each). Venezuela has also had seven Miss Universe winners._[13]
Venezuela has the second-highest rate of gun-related deaths in the world (59.13 per 100,000 residents per year). Its capital city, Caracas, has the highest murder rate of any major city in the world._[15]

On some days, it's possible to feel the spray of the falls from over a mile away

Looming 17 times higher than Niagara Falls, Angel Falls in Venezuela is the largest waterfall in the world._[12]
At $0.02 cents per gallon, gas is practically free in Venezuela._[8]
In 2016, McDonald's was forced to stop selling Big Macs in Venezuela due to the country's economic downturn. The fast food giant was unable to find bread for the buns._[11]
The mystic, flat-topped Mount Roraima in Venezuela inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World._[5]
South America's largest predator by mass is the Orinoco crocodile, which is mainly found in the famous Orinoco River in Venezuela. It is so large that it has been known to eat sharks._[20]
It's a tradition in Caracas, Venezuela, to roller skate to early morning church service on Christmas Day._[4]
The name "Venezuela" literally means "little Venice."_[12]
Approximately 96% of Venezuelans are Catholic, 2% are Protestant, and 2% belong to other religions._[12]
There are only two seasons in Venezuela: the dry season (December to April) and the rainy season (May to October)._[12]
Christopher Columbus was the first European to find the Venezuelan coast in 1498._[12]
After Hurricane Katrina, Venezuela was one of the first countries to offer assistance to the United States. President Bush rejected their offer as being "counterproductive."_[7]
The world's largest rodent, the capybara, lives in Venezuela, where furry animal is considered to be a delicacy._[10]

A fully grown capybara can reach 4 feet long and weigh 140 pounds

In 2013, Venezuelan prison inmates at the so-called "Yacht Club" prison managed to open their own nightclub, complete with strippers and a light and sound show._[19]
The "Black Stain," or La Mancha Negra, is a mysterious black substance that started oozing from roads in Caracas, Venezuela, in 1985. It has caused several car accidents and killed over 1,000 people. Scientists still don't know what it is or what causes it._[14]
With a murder every 21 minutes, Venezuela is the second most violent country in the world where a war is not taking place. El Salvador is first, with a murder rate of 103 per 100,000, while Honduras is third, with 59 murders per 100,000._[23]
Venezuela has the longest coastline in the Caribbean, stretching 1,740 square miles (2,800 square km)._[12]
Venezuela ranks among the top ten most biodiverse countries in the world._[3]
An atmospheric phenomenon known as "the everlasting storm" occurs at the junction of the Catatumbo River and Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela. It produces thousands of lightning strikes per hour._[17]

Venezuela is the most electric place on the planet

The Venezuelan Orinoco crocodile is the most endangered reptile in the world._[12]
Both "The Simpsons" and "Family Guy" have been banned in Venezuela. They have been replaced with "Baywatch."_[6]
Even though Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserve in the world, about 30% of Venezuelans live in poverty._[12]
Due to an economic crisis in 2016, nearly 75% of the Venezuelan population lost at least 19 pounds from their individual total body weight._[18]
Due to widespread social and political unrest, Venezuelans feel less safe at home than Syrians._[16]
The cattleya orchid is Venezuela's national flower. Over 25,000 species of orchids make their home in Venezuela._[22]

Oil is cheaper than water in Venezuela

Oil is cheaper than water in Venezuela._[8]
The first country in the world to abolish the death penalty for all crimes was Venezuela, in 1863._[1]
While Germany is the world capital of penis enlargement surgery, with about 8 out of every 100,000 adult German males undergoing the procedure, Venezuela comes in a distant second, at about 4 out of every 100,000 adult males._[2]
In 1950, Venezuela had the fourth highest GDP per capita, trailing only the United States, Switzerland, and New Zealand._[12]
In Venezuela, hungry child gangs use machetes to fight for "quality" garbage and to protect their territory._[9]