5/09/2010
|
|
| Caracas |
 |
 |
 |
|
Origins
The city of Caracas was founded on July 25, 1567, by Captain Diego de Losada, at the hillside of El Avila Mountain or “Warairarepano” aboriginal name of it. The name of Santiago was the one Losada chose to honor the Holy Apostle, Patron Saint of Spain and all his warlike enterprises.
The city of Caracas was the birthplace of Simón Bolívar, Francisco de Miranda and Andrés Bello, great characters of the historical context of Venezuela. Today the name "Metropolitan District of Caracas" was appointed according to Official Gazette number 37,006, dated 08-03-2000, under the presidency of Hugo Chávez. District is a word of Latin origin, derived from "destrictus" expressing "content".
Location
Caracas is bordered on the north by the Caribbean Sea and the State of Vargas, on the south by the States of Miranda and Aragua, on the west by the State of Aragua, and on the east by the State of Miranda.
Extension
It has a surface of 2,050 km2 (including Federal Units 0.2%).
Population
The population of the Capital District in 2000 is estimated to be 1,975,787 inhabitants, while in 1990 in its territory lived 1,823,222 inhabitants. The population density was rising rapidly in 2574 inhabitants/km2 in 1961 to 4206 inhabitants per km2 in 1990, reaching 4558 inhabitants/km2 in the year 2000.
Weather
The Capital District enjoys pleasant temperate tropical mountain isotherm weather, especially at altitudes above 1,000 m. The annual average temperature in Caracas is 21º at 1,035 m.a.s.l., where Cajigal Observatory is settled, rising slightly in crowded sites and lower sites to 22.8º, as recorded at the meteorological station of La Carlota is settled at 835 m.a.s.l., and descending in the highest hills in town. The dry and wet periods are somewhat irregular, registering average annual rainfall over 900 mm., with an average of 127 rainy days. Cajigal Observatory records 914 mm. of annual precipitation. At higher altitudes as in Guaraira Repano Mountain there is a greater rainfall and lower temperature which allows the development of a dense deciduous forest, evergreen forests, including cloudy forests.
Temperature
Between 18 and 26 Celsius degrees.
|
