Venezuela is a country in South America, and part of Caribbean South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana with Brazil bordering the south. It is situated on major sea and air routes linking North and South America.

Shaded relief map of Venezuela

Located at the northernmost end of South America, Venezuela has a total area of 916,445 square kilometers and a land area of 882,050 square kilometers, about twice the size of California.

The northern mountains are the extreme northeastern extensions of South America’s Andes mountain range reach. To the south, the dissected Guiana Highlands contains the northern fringes of the Amazon Basin.

The country’s center is characterized by the llanos, which are extensive plains that stretch from the Colombian border in the far west to the Orinoco River delta in the east.

Caribbean islands such as Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, Curaçao, Aruba and the Leeward Antilles lie near the Venezuelan coast.

Venezuela’s most significant natural resources are petroleum and natural gas, iron ore, gold and other minerals. It also has large areas of arable land and water.