9781422286494

10

Venezuela

border along the Caribbean Sea; the wide Orinoco River plains in central Venezuela; and the broken-up Guiana Highlands in the southeast. The Maracaibo Lowlands form a large, spoon-shaped oval surrounded by mountains on three sides, but open on the north to the Caribbean Sea. The area is very flat with only a gentle slope toward the cen- ter and away from the mountains. Lago de Maracaibo (Lake Maracaibo) occupies much of the lower-lying territory. Areas around the southern part of Lago de Maracaibo are swampy. Some palafito villages (“villages in the lake”) like Ceuta and San Timoteo are built on piers above the water. Farmers and fishers work along the banks. The northern mountains bordering the Caribbean Sea are an extension of the Andes Mountains. Broken by several gaps, these high mountains have peaks over 14,750 feet (4,500 meters) tall. To the west, an irregular range runs

Words to Understand in This Chapter

alpine— typical of an elevated area, such as high mountains. aquatic— growing or living in water. brackish— having a mixture of fresh and salt water. headwaters— the streams that make up the beginnings of a river. sandbar— a long ridge of sand formed by currents or tides. savanna— a grassy, subtropical plain. semiarid— having only light rainfall. trade winds— winds blowing almost constantly in one direction. tributary— a stream or creek that feeds into a larger river.