Geography & environment — Venezuela
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Geography & environment at a glance
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources. Key figure for Venezuela: South America
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Location & size
- Geographic Location
South America
- Geographic Coordinates
8 00 N, 66 00 W
- Total Area
352,143 Square Miles 912,050 Square Kilometers
- Land Area
340,560 Square Miles 882,050 Square Kilometers
- Water Area
11,583 Square Miles 30,000 Square Kilometers
- Land Boundaries
3,103 Miles 4,993 Kilometers
- Border Countries
Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km
- Coastline
1,740 Miles 2,800 Kilometers
Physical geography
- Terrain
- Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest
- central plains (llanos)
- Guiana Highlands in southeast
- Highest Point
5,007 Meters
- Highest Point Location
Pico Bolivar (La Columna) 5,007 m
- Lowest Point Location
Caribbean Sea 0 m
- Natural Resources
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds
- Irrigated Land
4,073 Square Miles 10,550 Square Kilometers
Climate & time
- Time Zone
UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Climate
- Climate
- tropical
- hot, humid
- more moderate in highlands
- Terrain
- Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest
- central plains (llanos)
- Guiana Highlands in southeast
- Location
Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana
- Total Area
352,143 Square Miles 912,050 Square Kilometers
- Border Countries
Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km
Environment
- Environment - Current Issues
sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia
oil and urban pollution of Lago de Maracaibo
deforestation
soil degradation
urban and industrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast
threat to the rainforest ecosystem from irresponsible mining operations
- Environment - International Agreements
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed but not ratified:: none of the selected agreements