Miss Venezuela 2009
Delegates
Table:
State
Contestant
Age
Height
Hometown

Amazonas

Jéssica Adriana Guillén Blanco

24

177 cm (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)

Caracas

Anzoátegui

Flory Gabriela Díez Estrada

20

173 cm (5 ft 8 in)

Barcelona

Apure

Carolina Charlott Da Silva Gonçalves

22

174 cm (5 ft 8+1⁄2 in)

Maracay

Aragua

Andreína Vanessa Castro Martínez

18

173 cm (5 ft 8 in)

Maracay

Barinas

Esmeralda Alejandrina Yaniche Vásquez

18

178 cm (5 ft 10 in)

Puerto Ordaz

Bolívar

Sandra Margarita Alves Burillo

20

175 cm (5 ft 9 in)

Puerto Ordaz

Carabobo

María José González Ginestre

19

174 cm (5 ft 8+1⁄2 in)

Valencia

Distrito Capital

Patricia Elizabeth de Andrade Rodríguez

20

174 cm (5 ft 8+1⁄2 in)

Caracas

Guárico

Manuela Vieira Díaz

23

170 cm (5 ft 7 in)

Valencia

Lara

Yoli Rosangel Sevilla Campos

18

180 cm (5 ft 11 in)

San Felipe

Mérida

María de Luz Da Silva Dos Santos

19

176 cm (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)

Maracay

Miranda

Marelisa Gibson Villegas

21

178 cm (5 ft 10 in)

Caracas

Monagas

Yuleima Yulibeth "Yuly" Tovar González

25

172 cm (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in)

Ciudad Ojeda

Nueva Esparta

Cristina Andrea Carmona Veiga

22

181 cm (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)

Caracas

Portuguesa

María Gabriela Pastrán Duque

24

177 cm (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)

Táriba

Sucre

Daniela del Carmen Morales Verde

21

175 cm (5 ft 9 in)

Cumaná

Táchira

Mariángela Haydée Manuela Bonanni Randazzo

21

177 cm (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)

San Cristóbal

Trujillo

Ana Elizabeth Mosquera Gómez

18

176 cm (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)

Valera

Vargas

Patricia Reyina Zavala Nicoloso

24

173 cm (5 ft 8 in)

Punto Fijo

Zulia

Adriana Cristina Vasini Sánchez

22

178 cm (5 ft 10 in)

Maracaibo

Taking into account the table as well as the relevant paragraphs provided at the end.

Answer the following question: Which 2007 beauty contest was won by the competitor in Miss Venezuela from Maracay in 2009 ? Output only the correct answer as {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Base your answer solely on the given information.

Amazonas State ( Spanish : Estado Amazonas , IPA : [ esˈtaðo amaˈsonas ] ) is one of the 23 states ( estados ) into which Venezuela is divided . It covers nearly a fifth of the area of Venezuela , but has less than 1% of Venezuela 's population .
Jéssica Adriana Guillén Blanco ( born March 27 , 1985 , in Caracas , Venezuela ) is a Venezuelan beauty pageant titleholder who represented Amazonas in Miss Venezuela 2009 , on September 24 , 2009 , and won the title of 2nd runner up . Guillén also competed in Chica E ! Venezuela 2008 pageant on August 7 , 2008 in Caracas , Venezuela . She won the Miss Atlantico Internacional 2010 pageant ( Miss Atlantic International ) , in Punta del Este ( Uruguay ) , on January 23 , 2010 .
Caracas ( /kəˈrækəs , -ˈrɑːk-/ , Spanish : [ kaˈɾakas ] ) , officially Santiago de León de Caracas , abbreviated as CCS , is the capital and largest city of Venezuela , and the centre of the Metropolitan Region of Caracas ( or Greater Caracas ) . Caracas is located along the Guaire River in the northern part of the country , following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range ( Cordillera de la Costa ) . Terrain suitable for building lies between 760 and 1,140 m ( 2,490 and 3,740 ft ) above sea level , although there is some settlement above this range . The valley is close to the Caribbean Sea , separated from the coast by a steep 2,200-metre-high ( 7,200 ft ) mountain range , Cerro El Ávila ; to the south there are more hills and mountains . The Metropolitan Region of Caracas has an estimated population of almost 3 million inhabitants . It is the seventh largest metropolitan area in terms of population in Latin America . Strictly speaking , the centre of the city is still Catedral , located near Bolívar Square , even though it is assumed that it is Plaza Venezuela , located in the Los Caobos neighbourhood . Chacaíto area , Luis Brión Square and El Rosal neighborhood are also considered the geographic center of the Metropolitan Region of Caracas . Businesses in the city include service companies , banks , and malls . Caracas has a largely service-based economy , apart from some industrial activity in its metropolitan area . The Caracas Stock Exchange and Petróleos de Venezuela ( PDVSA ) are headquartered in Caracas . PDVSA is the largest company in Venezuela .
Anzoátegui State ( Spanish : Estado Anzoátegui , IPA : [ esˈtaðo ansoˈateɣi ] ) is one of the 23 component states of Venezuela , located in the northeastern region of the country . Anzoátegui is well known for its beaches that attract many visitors . Its coast consists of a single beach approximately 100 km ( 62 mi ) long . Its capital is the city of Barcelona , and significant cities include Puerto la Cruz and El Tigre .
Barcelona is the capital of Anzoátegui State , Venezuela and was founded in 1671 . Together with Puerto La Cruz , Lecheria and Guanta , Barcelona forms one of the most important urban areas of Venezuela with a population of approximately 950,000 .
Apure State ( Spanish : Estado Apure , IPA : [ esˈtaðo aˈpuɾe ] ) is one of the 23 states ( estados ) into which Venezuela is divided . Its territory formed part of the provinces of Mérida , Maracaibo , and Barinas , in accordance with successive territorial ordinations pronounced by the colonial authorities . In 1824 the Department of Apure was created , under jurisdiction of Barinas , which laid the foundations for the current entity . In 1856 it separated from Barinas and for the first time Apure appeared as an independent province , which in 1864 acquired the status of state . In 1881 , however , a new territorial division combined Apure and Guayana to form a single state named Bolívar . In 1899 it reestablished its autonomy and finally , by means of the Constitution of 1909 , gained its current borders .
Maracay ( Spanish pronunciation : [ maɾaˈkai̯ ] ) is a city in north-central Venezuela , near the Caribbean coast , and is the capital and most important city of the state of Aragua . Most of it falls under the jurisdiction of Girardot Municipality . The population of Maracay and its surroundings in the 2011 census was 955,362 . In Venezuela , Maracay is known as Ciudad Jardín ( Garden City ) .
Aragua State ( Spanish : Estado Aragua , IPA : [ esˈtaðo aˈɾaɣwa ] ) is located in the north-central region of Venezuela . It has plains and jungles and Caribbean beaches . The most popular are Cata and Choroni . It has Venezuela 's first national park which is called Henri Pittier .
Andreína Vanessa Castro Martínez ( born 16 July 1991 , Maracay ) is a Venezuelan beauty queen and model . She was the winner of the Teen Model Venezuela 2007 pageant held in Caracas , Venezuela on August 20 , 2007 . Castro represented the Aragua state in the Miss Venezuela 2009 pageant , on September 24 , 2009 , and placed in the 10 semifinalists . She studied Periodism .
Barinas State ( Spanish : Estado Barinas , IPA : [ esˈtaðo βaˈɾinas ] ) is one of the 23 states ( estados ) into which Venezuela is divided . The state capital is Barinas . Barinas State covers a total surface area of 35,200 km2 ( 13,600 sq mi ) and , in 2015 , had an estimated population of 970,689 .
Miss Venezuela 2009 was the 56th Miss Venezuela pageant , was held at the Poliedro de Caracas in Caracas , Venezuela , on September 24 , 2009 . Stefanía Fernández , Miss Venezuela 2008 and Miss Universe 2009 , crowned Miss Miranda , Marelisa Gibson , as her successor at the end of the event . The Miss World Venezuela title went to Miss Zulia , Adriana Vasini while Elizabeth Mosquera , Miss Trujillo , obtained the title of Miss Venezuela International . The 1st Runner Up Mariángela Bonanni was appointed as Miss Venezuela Earth . It was on that year that the present MV anthem was sung for the first time , with a new melody replacing the iconic tune used for 34 years , with a slight change in lyrics .
Ciudad Guayana ( Spanish pronunciation : [ sjuˈðað ɣwaˈʝana ] ) is a city in Bolívar State , Venezuela . It stretches 40 kilometers along the south bank of the Orinoco river , at the point where it is joined by its main tributary , the Caroní river . The Caroni crosses the city south-north and divides it on its two main halves : the old town of San Félix in the east , and the new town of Puerto Ordaz ( Spanish pronunciation : [ ˈpweɾto oɾˈðas ] ) in the west . The city was officially founded in 1961 by the unification of this two former settlements , but the history of San Félix goes back to its foundation in 1724 . Within the city limits are located the site of Cachamay Falls and Llovizna Falls . There are three bridges across the Caroni and the second crossing over the Orinoco , the Orinoquia Bridge , was inaugurated in the city in 2006 . With approximately one million people , it is Venezuela 's fastest-growing city [ citation needed ] due to its important iron , steel , aluminium and hydroelectric industries . Ciudad Guayana is one of Venezuela 's five most important ports , since most goods produced in the industry-rich Bolívar state are shipped through it , as ocean-going vessels can sail to it from the Atlantic Ocean up the Orinoco river . Due to its planned nature , the city has a drastically different feel from many other South American cities . The towers of the Alta Vista district recall Barranquilla , and many of the residential neighborhoods have architecture and landscaping that are similar to suburbs in the United States in the 1950s , including 'cookie cutter ' homes , sidewalks , and patterned lawns . This is an artifact due to the presence in the 1960s and early 1970s of US Steel , an American company with iron mining operations in the region . US Steel built housing for hundreds of its American expatriate workers and families , who lived in Puerto Ordaz and other communities until the nationalization of the Venezuelan steel industry forced the company and its workers to leave .
Bolívar ( Spanish : Estado Bolívar , IPA : [ esˈtaðo βoˈliβaɾ ] ) is one of the 23 states ( estados ) into which Venezuela is divided . The state capital city is Ciudad Bolívar , but the largest city is Ciudad Guayana . Bolívar State covers a total surface area of 242,801 km2 ( 93,746 sq mi ) and as of the 2011 census , had a population of 1,410,964 .
Carabobo State ( Spanish : Estado Carabobo , IPA : [ esˈtaðo kaɾaˈβoβo ] ) is one of the 23 states of Venezuela , located in the north of the country , about two hours by car from Caracas . The capital city of this state is Valencia , which is also the country 's main industrial center . The state 's area is 4,369 km2 ( 1,687 sq mi ) and as of the 2011 census , had a population of 2,245,744 .
Valencia ( Spanish pronunciation : [ baˈlensja ] ) is the capital city of Carabobo State and the third-largest city in Venezuela . The city is an economic hub that contains Venezuela 's top industries and manufacturing companies . The population of Valencia and the nearby metropolitan area reached 1,827,165 in 2010 , and it is expected to grow dramatically in the years to come . It is also the largest city in the Valencia-Maracay metropolitan region , which with a population of about 4.5 million is the country 's second largest after that of Caracas . Caracas lies some 172 kilometres ( 107 miles ) away to the east .
Guárico State ( Spanish : Estado Guárico , IPA : [ esˈtaðo ˈɣwaɾiko ] ) is one of the 23 states of Venezuela . The state capital is San Juan de Los Morros . Guárico State covers a total surface area of 64,986 km2 ( 25,091 sq mi ) and , in 2011 , had a census population of 747,739 . It is named for the Guárico River .
Lara State ( Spanish : Estado Lara , IPA : [ esˈtaðo ˈlaɾa ] ) is one of the 23 states ( estados ) into which Venezuela is divided . The state capital is Barquisimeto . Lara State covers a total surface area of 19,800 km2 ( 7,600 sq mi ) and , in 2015 , had a census population of 2,019,211 .
San Felipe ( Spanish pronunciation : [ saɱ feˈlipe ] ) is the capital city of the Venezuelan state of Yaracuy . It is an important urban , industrial , commercial and transportation center of the country . San Felipe is situated in a rich agricultural region of Western Venezuela and produces many agricultural products for the rest of the country such as sugar cane , milk , livestock , grains , and flour . It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Felipe .
The State of Mérida commonly known simply as Mérida ' ( Spanish : Estado Bolivariano de Mérida ) , IPA : [ esˈtaðo ðe ˈmeɾiða ] ) is one of the 23 states of Venezuela . The state capital is Mérida , in the Libertador Municipality . Located in the Western Andean Region , Mérida State covers a total surface area of 11,300 square kilometres ( 4,363 sq mi ) , making it the fifteenth-largest in Venezuela . In 2011 , had a census population of 828,592 , the fourteenth most populous .
María De Luz Da Silva Dos Santos ( born May 10 , 1990 , in Maracay , Aragua , Venezuela ) is a model and a pageant titleholder who represented Mérida state in the Miss Venezuela 2009 pageant on September 24 , 2009 , and placed in the 10 semifinalists . She won two titles : Miss Personality and Miss Photogenic . Da Silva studies international trade at the Simón Bolívar University in Caracas . She competed in Miss Friendship International 2009 , in Wuhan ( China ) , on November 7 , 2009 , and classified in the top 15 semifinalists .
Miranda State ( Spanish : Estado Miranda , IPA : [ esˈtaðo miˈɾanda ] ) is one of the 23 states ( estados ) of Venezuela and the second most populous after Zulia State . As of the 2011 census , it had a population of 2,675,165 residents . It also has the greatest Human Development Index in Venezuela , according to the Venezuelan National Institute of Statistics ( Instituto Nacional de Estadistica , Caracas ) . The most recent population estimate was 3,194,390 in mid-2016 .
Marelisa Gibson Villegas ( born 26 August 1988 ) is a Venezuelan designer and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss Venezuela 2009 .
Monagas State ( Spanish : Estado Monagas , IPA : [ esˈtaðo moˈnaɣas ] ) is one of the 23 states of Venezuela .
Ciudad Ojeda is a city located in the northeastern shore of Lake Maracaibo in Zulia State in northwestern Venezuela . Its population as of the 2005 census was listed as 128,941 .
Nueva Sparta State , in Spanish Estado Nueva Esparta ( IPA : [ esˈtaðo ˈnweβa esˈpaɾta ] ) , is one of the 23 states of Venezuela . It comprises Margarita Island , Coche , and the largely uninhabited Cubagua . The state is the smallest one in area , and is located off the northeast Caribbean coast of Venezuela . It is the only insular state of Venezuela ( not including the Federal Dependencies , a federal territory but not a state ) . The main island of Margarita has an area of 1,020 km2 ( 390 sq mi ) . Its capital city is La Asunción , and the main urban center is Porlamar .
Portuguesa State ( Spanish : Estado Portuguesa , IPA : [ esˈtaðo poɾtuˈɣesa ] ) is one of the 23 states of Venezuela . Located in the west of the Republic , it is considered the breadbasket of Venezuela for the large amount of agricultural products produced there . The state is bordered on the north by the state of Lara , on the east by Cojedes , on the west by Trujillo and south by Barinas . As of the 2011 census , it had a population of 876,496 . The state government is located in the city of Guanare , founded in 1591 .
Táriba is a town in Táchira , Venezuela , and is the capital of the Cárdenas Municipality . It was founded in 1602 . Táriba has a population of 128,590 . It 's located on the outsides of the city of San Cristóbal . Like other Venezuelan cities , Táriba was founded by an ancient indigenous people and then discovered by Alonso Pérez de Tolosa in 1547 . Tariba has a very catholic culture , this can be shown in the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Consolación , like many other cities in Venezuela it has its own plaza bolivar .
Sucre State ( Spanish : Estado Sucre , IPA : [ esˈtaðo ˈsukɾe ] ) is one of the 23 states of Venezuela . The state capital is Cumaná . Sucre State covers a total surface area of 11,800 km2 ( 4,600 sq mi ) and , as of the 2011 census , had a population of 896,921 . The most important river in the state is the Manzanares River .
Daniela del Carmen Morales Verde , is a model and a pageant titleholder ( born May 11 , 1988 in Cumaná , Venezuela ) who was represented Sucre state in the Miss Venezuela 2009 pageant on September 24 , 2009 . She is a Telecommunications engineer . She entered in Teen Model Venezuela 2004 , and placed 6th .
Cumaná ( Spanish pronunciation : [ kumaˈna ] ) is the capital of Venezuela 's Sucre State . It is located 402 kilometres ( 250 mi ) east of Caracas . Cumaná was one of the first settlements founded by Europeans in mainland America and is the oldest continuously-inhabited , European-established settlement in the continent . Attacks by indigenous peoples meant it had to be refounded several times . The municipality of Sucre , which includes Cumaná , had a population of 358,919 at the 2011 Census ; the latest estimate ( as at mid 2016 ) is 423,546 . The city , located at the mouth of the Manzanares River on the Caribbean coast in the Northeast coast of Venezuela , is home to one of five campuses of the Universidad de Oriente and a busy maritime port , home of one of the largest tuna fleets in Venezuela . The city is close to Mochima National Park , a popular tourist beaches destination amongst Venezuelans . The city of Cumaná saw the birth of key heroes of and contributors to the Venezuelan independence movement : Antonio José de Sucre , the Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho , a leading general and President of Bolivia ; as well as Brigadier General D. Juan Francisco Echeto . Cumaná is also the birthplace to eminent poets , writers and politicians like Andrés Eloy Blanco , an important figure in Latin-American literature and who later rose to the national political scene ; as well as José Antonio Ramos Sucre , another distinguished poet and diplomat . Important scientists including Pehr Löefling from Sweden , Alexander von Humboldt from Germany and Aimé Bonpland from France did part of their experimental works and discoveries when visiting and living in Cumaná in the 18th century . The city is also home to a Toyota plant , which manufactures the Hilux and Toyota Fortuner .
Táchira State ( Spanish : Estado Táchira , IPA : [ esˈtaðo ˈtatʃiɾa ] ) is one of the 23 states of Venezuela . The state capital is San Cristóbal .
Mariaangela Haydee Manuela Bonanni Randazzo is a Venezuelan beauty pageant titleholder and Fashion Model from San Cristóbal , Táchira , Venezuela , who started her career representing her native state Táchira in the Miss Venezuela 2009 pageant on 24 September 2009 , and won the title of 1st runner up and Best Catwalk . She subsequently represented Venezuela in the 2010 Miss Earth beauty pageant , in Nha Trang , ( Vietnam ) on December 4 , 2010 , and ranked in Top 7 . After the beauty pageants , she began her career as a model in 2012 , which she currently continues developing . In her career as a model she has lived in different countries such as Mexico , Spain , Greece , Turkey , London and the United States .
San Cristóbal ( Spanish pronunciation : [ saŋ kɾisˈtoβal ] ) is the capital city of the Venezuelan state of Táchira . It is located in a mountainous region of Western Venezuela . The city is situated 818 metres ( 2,684 ft ) above sea level in the northern Andes overlooking the Torbes River , 56 kilometres ( 35 mi ) from the Colombian border . San Cristóbal was founded on March 31 , 1561 , by Juan de Maldonado . From its inception , the city evolved rapidly as one of the most progressive and important centers of commerce in the country , due primarily to its rich soil and its proximity to the border with Colombia .
Trujillo State ( Spanish : Estado Trujillo , Spanish pronunciation : [ esˈtaðo tɾuˈxiʝo ] ( listen ) ) is one of the 23 states of Venezuela . Its capital is Trujillo but the largest city is Valera . The state is divided into 20 municipalities and 93 parishes . Trujillo State covers a total surface area of 7,198 km2 ( 2,779 sq mi ) and , has a 2011 census population of 686,367 .
Ana Elizabeth Mosquera Gómez ( born March 16 , 1991 ) is a Venezuelan model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss International 2010 , becoming the sixth woman from her country to capture the Miss International title .
Valera is a city in Trujillo State in Venezuela , situated between the rivers Momboy and Motatán . The current [ update ] mayor is José Karkom , who has had that post since 2013 . The city is home to Italian , Portuguese , Chinese , Colombian and Spanish communities . It is also home to the Universidad Valle del Momboy , a private university , as well as the Instituto Universitario de Tecnología de Trujillo ( IUTET ) . Also , the Universidad Nacional Experimental Simón Rodríguez ( UNESR ) , the Universidad Pedagógica Experimental Libertador ( UPEL ) , among others . The city is the commercial center of Trujillo state , and a gateway to the Andes region of Venezuela . It has a vibrant business community , as well as a diverse and educated workforce . As the economic and commercial center of Trujillo state , Valera is a leading distribution centre for the agricultural products in Venezuela , in which sugarcane , cacao , coffee , fruit , and grains are cultivated . Flour milling is a principal industry . The area has traditionally supplied about one-fourth of the nation 's wheat . In recent years the city grew with the construction of many new buildings and new malls such as the Plaza Center ( centro Comercial Plaza ) which has 5 movie theaters from Cinex and other smaller malls .
La Guaira State or Vargas State ( Spanish : Estado Vargas ; Estado La Guaira , IPA : [ esˈtaðo ˈβaɾɣas ] ) is one of the 23 states of Venezuela . Named after Venezuela 's first non-military president , José María Vargas , Vargas comprises a coastal region in the north of Venezuela , bordering Aragua to the west , Miranda to the east , the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Capital District to the south . It is home to both the country 's largest seaport and airport . The state capital is La Guaira . The Litoral Varguense conurbation is the principal urban agglomeration in the state , which is part of the Greater Caracas Area . In 1999 , the geographic center of Vargas state suffered major floods and landslides , known as La Tragedia de Vargas ( the Vargas tragedy ) , causing major losses of life and property , and resulting in forced population movements , including the virtual disappearance of some small towns . Thousands died , and many more fled the area to other states . The state owed its previous name to José María Vargas , although this was changed on June 13 , 2019 to only La Guaira .
Patricia Zavala Nicoloso is a Venezuelan model and television host . She hosts E ! Entertainment Television 's Coffee Break on its Latin-American channel .
Punto Fijo is the capital city of the municipality of Carirubana in northern Falcón State , Venezuela . It is located on the southwestern coast of the Paraguaná Peninsula . Its metropolitan area includes the parishes of Norte , Carirubana , Punta Cardón and the parish of Judibana in the municipality of Los Taques . Punto Fijo is the largest city in Falcón State .
Zulia State ( Spanish : Estado Zulia , IPA : [ esˈtaðo ˈsulja ] ) is one of the 23 states of Venezuela . The state capital is Maracaibo . As of the 2011 census , it has a population of 3,704,404 , the largest population among Venezuela 's states . It is also one of the few states ( if not the only one ) in Venezuela in which voseo ( the use of vos as a second person singular pronoun ) is widespread . The state is coterminous with the eponymous region of Zulia . Zulia State is in northwestern Venezuela , bordering Lake Maracaibo , the largest body of water of its kind in Latin America . Its basin covers one of the largest oil and gas reserves in the Western Hemisphere . Zulia is economically important to the country from its oil and mineral exploitation , but it is also one of the major agricultural areas of Venezuela , highlighting the region 's contribution in areas such as livestock , bananas , fruits , meat , and milk .
Adriana Cristina Vasini Sánchez , ( born July 30 , 1987 , in Maracaibo , Venezuela ) is a Venezuelan model and beauty queen who won the titles of Miss World Venezuela 2009 and Reina Hispanoamericana 2009 . She represented Venezuela in the Miss World 2010 on October 30 , 2010 in Sanya , China and placed 2nd Runner-Up .
Maracaibo ( /ˌmærəˈkaɪboʊ/ ; Spanish pronunciation : [ maɾaˈkaiβo ] ( listen ) ) is a city and the municipal seat of Maracaibo Municipality in northwestern Venezuela , on the western shore of the strait that connects Lake Maracaibo to the Gulf of Venezuela . It is the second-largest city in Venezuela , after the national capital , Caracas , and the capital of the state of Zulia . The population of the city is approximately 2,658,355 with the metropolitan area estimated at 5,278,448 as of 2010 [ update ] . Maracaibo is nicknamed The Beloved Land of the Sun ( Spanish : La Tierra del Sol Amada ) . Maracaibo is considered the economic center of the western part of Venezuela , owing to the petroleum industry that developed in the shores of Lake Maracaibo . It is sometimes known as The First City of Venezuela , for being the first city in Venezuela to adopt various types of public services , including electricity , as well as for being located adjacent to shores of Lake Maracaibo , where the name of Venezuela allegedly originates . Early indigenous settlements around the area were of Arawak and Carib origin . Maracaibos founding date is disputed . There were failed attempts to found the city - in 1529 , by Captain Ambrosio Ehinger , and in 1569 , by Captain Alonso Pacheco . Founded in 1574 as Nueva Zamora de la Laguna de Maracaibo by Captain Captain Pedro Maldonado , the city became a transshipment point for inland settlements after Gibraltar , at the head of the lake , had been destroyed by pirates in 1669 . It was not until the first decades of the 17th century that the first town was settled . Petroleum was discovered in 1917 , leading to a large increase in population from migration .