Carnival is celebrated just before lent. To the west is the Andean Highlands - home of most of Venezuela's people. Angel Falls is the world's highest waterfall at 3212 feet. The Orinoco River flows across the llanos and produces hydroelectricity . The Climate - tropical rainforest, but cool, dry winds from the northeast moderate temperatures.
Altitudes also affect the temperatures.
The Economy - Venezuela has become a leading oil produces since the 1920's. Bauxite, coal, diamonds, and gold are also mined. Agriculture produces beef and dairy cattle, bananas, coffee, corn, and rice. The Past - Spanish explorers named Venezuela after Venice, Italy. It was a Spanish colony until 1821, when Simon Bolivar led a revolution for their freedom.