| − | '''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 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|Caracas]]. | + | Venezuela is divided in 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. |