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

Considering the following table and the supporting evidence listed below.

Answer the following question: What place from the winner was the competitor in Miss Venezuela from Caracas in 2009 ? Respond with the correct answer (omit explanations) in JSON format as {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Avoid adding external knowledge.

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 .