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'''Venezuela''' is located in [[South America]]. The country is located to the east of [[Colombia]], south of the [[Caribbean]], west of the [[Atlantic Ocean]] and [[Guayana Esequiba]] and north of [[Brazil]].  Discovered by [[Christopher Columbus|Columbus]], the sight of the marsh huts built by the native people would result in the country being referred to as "little Venice", for [[Venice]], Italy.  

'''Venezuela''' is located in [[South America]]. The country is located to the east of [[Colombia]], south of the [[Caribbean]], west of the [[Atlantic Ocean]] and [[Guayana Esequiba]] and north of [[Brazil]].  Discovered by [[Christopher Columbus|Columbus]], the sight of the marsh huts built by the native people would result in the country being referred to as "little Venice", for [[Venice]], Italy.  

Venezuela is divided in 23 states, a capital district and 72 federal dependencies. The capital city of Venezuela is [[Caracas]].

Venezuela is divided into 23 states, a capital district and 72 federal dependencies. The capital city of Venezuela is [[Caracas]].

The country rose to prominence after 1999, when the [[leftist]] [[dictator]] [[Hugo Chavez]] assumed power and started imposing what he calls "[[socialism]] of the 21st century", aligning himself with terrorist regimes like [[Iran]], and using his petrodollars to influence other countries in the region. After Chavez's death in 2012, his successor [[Nicolas Maduro]] continued those policies also when the mostly liberal opposition alliance [[Democratic Unity Roundtable|MUD]], a coalition of [[liberal]], [[Christian democracy|Christian democratic]] and centrist parties, got a majority in the Venezuelan parliamentary elections on December 6, 2015.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-election-idUSKBN0TP03Y20151208 Triumphant Venezuela opposition looks to boost economy, free prisoners]</ref>

The country rose to prominence after 1999, when the [[leftist]] [[dictator]] [[Hugo Chavez]] assumed power and started imposing what he calls "[[socialism]] of the 21st century", aligning himself with terrorist regimes like [[Iran]], and using his petrodollars to influence other countries in the region. After Chavez's death in 2012, his successor [[Nicolas Maduro]] continued those policies also when the mostly liberal opposition alliance [[Democratic Unity Roundtable|MUD]], a coalition of [[liberal]], [[Christian democracy|Christian democratic]] and centrist parties, got a majority in the Venezuelan parliamentary elections on December 6, 2015.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-election-idUSKBN0TP03Y20151208 Triumphant Venezuela opposition looks to boost economy, free prisoners]</ref>

[[Abortion]] is totally banned in Venezuela.

Despite its socialist policies, [[abortion]] is illegal in Venezuela.{{cn}}

==National symbols==

==National symbols==

[[File:Araguaney Venezuela.jpg|thumb|270px|left|The Araguaney tree.]]

[[File:Araguaney Venezuela.jpg|thumb|270px|left|The Araguaney tree.]]

The national flag was created by the Venezuelan hero [[Francisco de Miranda]] in 1806. It has three stripes with these colors: red, blue and red. Through the years the flag suffered variations in relation to the position and number of the stars. Actually there are eight stars on the flag and they are located in its center. The white stars symbolize eight former Venezuelan provinces (Caracas, Valencia, Barinas, Cumaná, Barcelona, Margarita, Mérida and Guayana) which became independent of Spain.

The national flag was created by the Venezuelan hero [[Francisco de Miranda]] in 1806. It has three stripes with these colors: red, blue and red. Through the years the flag suffered variations in relation to the position and number of the stars. Actually, there are eight stars on the flag and they are located in its center. The white stars symbolize eight former Venezuelan provinces (Caracas, Valencia, Barinas, Cumaná, Barcelona, Margarita, Mérida and Guayana) which became independent of Spain.

''Gloria al bravo pueblo'' ("glory to the brave people") is the national anthem. It was an old patriotic song from the independence years written by Vicente Salias. Its music was composed by Juan José Landaeta. On May 25, 1881 Gloria al bravo pueblo was decreed as the anthem of Venezuela by the president Antonio Guzmán Blanco.  

''Gloria al bravo pueblo'' ("glory to the brave people") is the national anthem. It was an old patriotic song from the independence years written by Vicente Salias. Its music was composed by Juan José Landaeta. On May 25, 1881 Gloria al bravo pueblo was decreed as the anthem of Venezuela by the president Antonio Guzmán Blanco.