maracaibo, description

Maracaibo is a Venezuelan city, capital of Zulia and Maracaibo. It is located in the Pacific Northwest, in alluvial lands within the depression of Lake Maracaibo innorthwestern shore of the lake body. It has, in its metropolitan area (municipalitiesMaracaibo and San Francisco), an estimated population of 3,065,125 in 2011,becoming the second most populated city in Venezuela after Caracas.
Maracaibo is the most important economic center west of the country because of itsmodernity and its proximity to the East Coast of Lake Maracaibo and the peninsula of Paraguaná places where it is extracted and processed much of the Venezuelan oil,respectively. In the center of the city can maintain customs that evidenced in itsvernacular architecture, with narrow streets and colorful houses, old theaters and churches.

In the city there are examples of colonial architecture and museums of interest. In the center of town is the Basilica of Our Lady of Chiquinquirá, patron saint of Zulia, affectionately known as La Chinita. This image of the Virgin every November 18massive worship him all the faithful, who lay their wishes fulfilled offerings or pledges, offerings that are usually gold jewelry and gemstones.

The stilt houses became homes, buildings and houses. Urban and commercial growthwas massive after the discovery of oil in elZulia. At present, the urban area reaches the 176 km2 and 217 km2 of rural area. The unusual development of the city, fromdiscovery, oil extraction and industrialization, resulted in the problem of contaminationof Lake Maracaibo.