Country Venezuela Time zone UTC-04:30 Area 24,800 km² | Created 1864 Area rank 10th | |
 | ||
Colleges and Universities Universidad de Falcón, Universidad Nacional Experimental Francisco de Miranda Points of interest Morrocoy National Park, Médanos de Coro National, Zoológico de Paraguaná, Casa de Las Ventanas, Cataratas de Hueque Destinations | ||
Falcón State (Spanish: Estado Falcón, [esˈtaðo falˈkon]) is one of the 23 states (estados) that constitute Venezuela. The state capital is Coro.
Contents
- Map of FalcC3B3n Venezuela
- Demographics and geography
- National parks
- History
- Infrastructure
- Municipalities and municipal seats
- Race and ethnicity
- References
Map of Falc%C3%B3n, Venezuela
Demographics and geography
Falcón State covers a total surface area of 24,800 km² and, in 2011 had a census population of 902,847. The Paraguaná Peninsula is connected to the rest of the state by the Médanos Isthmus. It borders with the ABC islands of Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire on the north, Zulia state on the west, and both Lara state and Yaracuy state on the south. The island of Aruba is 27 km off the northern coast of Paraguaná Peninsula. The other two ABC Islands (Bonaire and Curaçao) are a little further off the coast of the state.
National parks
There are four national parks in the state: the Médanos de Coro National Park, the Cueva de la Quebrada del Toro, Morrocoy, and Juan Crisóstomo Falcón National Park.
History
The area was first explored in 1499 by Juan de la Cosa and Amerigo Vespucci, as part of an expedition overseen by Alonso de Ojeda. The State is named after President Juan Crisóstomo Falcón.
Infrastructure
The region is mostly coastal lowlands and the northern Andean mountain hills, and is mostly dry with limited agriculture production. Farming mostly occurs in river valleys and mountainous areas, and includes maize, coconut, sesame, coffee and sugar cane.
Coro, the state capitol and the Paraguaná Peninsula have had significant amounts of industrialization and growth. Large oil refineries such as the Paraguana Refinery Complex in the city of Punto Fijo are located on the southwestern shore of the Paraguaná Peninsula, and approximately two-thirds of Venezuela’s total oil production occurs in this area, much of which is exported via tanker ships that ship internationally through the port of Amuay.
Municipalities and municipal seats
Falcon State is subdivided into 25 municipalities (municipios), listed below with their administrative capitals, areas and populations.
The Paraguaná Peninsula comprises the municipalities of Carirubana, Los Taques and Falcón.
Race and ethnicity
According to the 2011 Census, the estimated racial composition of the population was: