Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

Caracas

916.445 Km2

Northern South America. The country is bounded on the north by the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, on the east by Guyana, on the south by Brazil, and on the west by Colombia.

GMT-4 hours

23 states (Amazonas, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolívar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Falcón, Guárico, Lara, Mérida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Táchira, Trujillo, Vargas, Yaracuy, Zulia), 1 Federal District (Distrito Federal) and 311 federal dependences (insulars).

Spanish is the official language. The use of native languages also has official status for native peoples.

Three equal horizontal bands: yellow (represent the nation's wealth) blue (represent the Venezuelan sea), and red (represent the blood and courage of the people who fought for the nation’s independence), with the Coat of Arms at the upper-left corner of the yellow band, and an arc of eight white five-pointed stars in the centre of the blue band (represents Venezuelan provinces at the time of independence).

The shield is divided in the colors of the National Flag. On a red field, wheat represents the union of the 20 States of the Republic existing at the time and the wealth of the Nation. On a yellow field, weapons (a sword, a sabre, a “machete” and three lances) and two National Flags are tied by a branch of laurel, as a symbol of triumph. In base, on a deep blue field, a wild white horse runs free, an emblem of independence and freedom.

Above the shield are two crossed cornucopias (horns of plenty), pouring out wealth. The shield is flanked by an olive branch and another of palm, both tied at the bottom of the coat with a large band that represents the national tricolour.