Welcome to Maracaibo😃, the vibrant city of Venezuela!
From its captivating natural landscapes to its rich cultural heritage, it offers fascinating facts for you to discover!
This article will offer some wonderful 😲facts about Maracaibo that will leave you amazed!
Let’s begin this exciting journey!
Interesting Maracaibo Facts
Maracaibo City: Meet the second-largest city in Venezuela
I am quite amazed to learn this interesting fact about Maracaibo City! Want to know?
Maracaibo City is the capital of the state of Zulia, as well as the second-largest city in the country of Venezuela, after the capital city of the nation, Caracas.
This beautiful city covers an area of 538 square miles, and its elevation is about 20 ft.
Also, this beautiful city called Maracaibo has another nickname that is “La Tierra del Sol Amada, ☀️” meaning “The Beloved Land of the Sun.”
Maracaibo: The origin of the city’s name
Little fact learners like me, if you wish to explore some interesting secrets, then you will surely love Maracaibo City!
The name of the city Maracaibo is said to come from the famous and brave cacique Mara. He was a young native 😲who bravely resisted the Spaniards and died fighting them.
According to legend, when Mara fell, the Coquivacoa shouted “Mara kayo” or “Mara fell.” Thus, originating the name of the city.
According to some other historians, the first name of this land in the local language was “Maara-iwo,” which means “Place where serpents abound.”
Maracaibo: Meet the First City of Venezuela
Little friends, did you know this interesting secret about Maracaibo!?
The city is considered western Venezuela’s economic center.
It is due to the petroleum industry that was built and developed on the shores of the beautiful Lake Maracaibo.
It is also known as “The First City of Venezuela” for being the first city in the country to adopt various kinds of public services.
Such as electricity💡, along with its location on the shores of Lake Maracaibo, where the name of Venezuela is believed to be originated.
Maracaibo City: The first foundation of the city
The beautiful city of Maracaibo was founded in 1528-1546, known as the Klein-Venedig period. It was the time when the Welser bankers of Augsburg got a concession from Charles I of Spain over Venezuela Province.
In August 1529, the German Ambrosius Ehinger made his first expedition to Lake Maracaibo. However, he faced opposition of the Coquivacoa.
After winning several bloody battles, he found the settlement on September 1529. He named the settlement New Nuremberg and the lake after the brave chieftain Mara of the Coquivacoa, who died while fighting.
The city of Maracaibo: It faced several pirate attacks
I am quite surprised to explore an adventurous fact about Maracaibo!
The Dutch corsair Henrik de Gerard attacked Maracaibo in 1614, and in 1642, Maracaibo City was attacked by the British pirate William Jackson.
In 1667, I’Olonnais sacked Maracaibo and Gibraltar with a crew of six hundred pirates and a flight of eight ships.
En route, I’Olonnais crossed paths with a treasure ship 💰of Spain, which he caught, along with its rich cargo of gemstones, cacao, and over 260,000 Pieces of Eight (Spanish dollar).
In June 1678, even the French commander of 700 men and six ships captured the city.
Maracaibo: There was a time when the city remained isolated
For around 380 years, the city of Maracaibo remained separated 🤔 and isolated from the rest of Venezuela.
Transportation to the vicinity was possible through the lake via ferries and boats⛵. Culture and commerce flowed between the Caribbean Sea and Maracaibo, mainly the Dutch Antilles, Colombian coastal cities, Hispaniola, Cuba, and later on, New York, Miami, and Hamburg.
This isolation from the other parts of Venezuela made the people of the city independent in their character and thought.
Thus, there were stories about La Republica Independiente del Zulia or “the Independent Republic of Zulia.”
Maracaibo City: It has a bridge connecting the two lake shores
Want to explore an amazing fact about Maracaibo!?
In the 1950s, the dictatorial regime of General Marcos Perez Jimenez wanted to construct a bridge 🌉connecting the two shores of the lake.
Multiple bridge projects for the area of Lake Maracaibo narrows near the city were in the works.
The general and his government decided that this “city of independent thought” must be more “connected” to the rest of the nation.
The building of El Puente sobre el Lago de Maracaibo, “General Rafael Urdaneta,” was opened to public traffic in 1962, connecting the city to the rest of Venezuela.
The city of Maracaibo: It has become a large metropolitan city
If you are a fact-enthusiast like me, then you will surely love to unravel this unique secret about the city of Maracaibo!
This beautiful city has become a large metropolitan city. It includes two municipalities, called the Municipality of Maracaibo Proper and the Municipality of San Francisco.
In recent years, because of economic, political, and cultural reasons, many have moved to Maracaibo from rural areas as well as other cities, including Caracas.
The city of Maracaibo: With one of the best universities in the country
This beautiful city in Venezuela boasts one of the best universities 🏛️ in the entire nation.
It is the state university, LUZ, or La Universidad del Zulia. It is well-known for its excellent medical, law, and engineering schools as many other disciplines.
Some other notable schools and universities include Universidad Rafael Urdaneta, one of the leading psychology schools in the country, and URBE or Universidad Dr. Rafael Belloso Chacin.
The City of Maracaibo: Amazing Secret about its Economy
I am quite fascinated to explore this interesting fact about the city of Maracaibo! What about you, my little fellow explorers?
The main income💰 of the region Zulia comes from oil extraction and refining due to the nearby Lake Maracaibo.
Some other notable sources of income in this region are agricultural products like rice, maze, coffee, cocoa, cassava, sugar cane, etc. Also, livestock production and mining include the things like limestone, clay, sand, and coal.
Maracaibo: The climate facts
The city of Maracaibo is famous as one of the hottest cities in the country as well as all of South America.
The rain shadow region of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta provides Maracaibo with a semiarid climate bordering a tropical savanna climate.
The average historical temperature is 84.2 degrees Fahrenheit.
In the past, the city’s climate was unhealthy due to the combination of high humidity with high temperatures 😎.
Today, control of plagues as well as the effects of urban development, has eradicated these health issues greatly.
Maracaibo City: Life quality is truly amazing
This beautiful city in Venezuela performs above average in several aspects.
Some of those are subjective well-being, health, income and well-being, jobs and wages, environmental quality, social connections, work and leisure balance, social connections, and also housing and personal safety.
However, the city has an average level of medical care to offer.
In some clinics, there is even a lack of modern and high-quality equipment and personnel.
Maracaibo City: The nightlife and traffic condition
Just like it did to me, this interesting secret about the beautiful city of Maracaibo will definitely amaze you!
The nightlife of the city is quite low, and you will need to organize the evening in a different way.
Also, the traffic 🚦safety here is very poor. The city of Maracaibo has terrible road conditions, and hence, here traffic is quite difficult.
Also, the city has slow-moving internet, which can affect normal communication as well as the work rhythm of Maracaibo’s citizens.
The city of Maracaibo: Not an LGBTQ-friendly city
I am not so happy to reveal this secret about Maracaibo! What about you??
The majority of respondents in the city are against equal rights for lesbians and gays. Not so impressive, right?
Life in Maracaibo: Here, we can see many places to enjoy
Also, there are many interesting places in the city where you may enjoy a day with your friends and families or spend a romantic date.
In addition, the level of life satisfaction and happiness among the local population is quite average.
Maracaibo City: Poor infrastructure for families with kids
It is an unfortunate fact about Maracaibo that here people cannot get the necessary infrastructure for families with 🧒children.
There are no entertainment centers, children’s pools, or even mini-clubs for kids.
In addition, secondary and higher education institutions offer a mediocre level of knowledge.
It can indicate the need to reform them and introduce some more trained teachers and effective programs.
People in Maracaibo: Enjoy complete freedom of speech
Here, in the wonderful city of Maracaibo, people have full access to free media for accurate analysis and information.
In most cases, journalists do their jobs without fear of restraints or detention.
However, the locals here are not super friendly to tourists, but nevertheless polite.
Music in Maracaibo: Explore the charm of the unique folk music
If you are a music lover like me, then you will love Maracaibo City!
The Gaita is a unique style of Venezuelan folk music 🎼from Maracaibo!
According to Joan Corominas, the name of the music may come from gaits, the Gothic term for “goat,” as the skin of this animal is usually used for the membrane of the unique “furro” instrument.
Other instruments used in gaita are curato, maracas, tambura or Venezuelan drum, charrasca, etc.
The themes of songs may range from love songs and humorous songs to protest songs. This unique style became popular throughout the country in the 1960s.
Summing up
We hope! Knowing about the above Maracaibo facts will satisfy your curious soul!
As you already feel amazed to know about this wonderful city in Venezuela! Among the above facts! Which do you like the most?
As we are already together in this journey! We would love to know your feedback!
I’m a former teacher (and mother of Two Childs) with a background in child development. Here to help you with play-based learning activities for kids. ( Check my Next startup Cledemy.Com)
