Understanding Geographic Areas and Venezuela's Location

The Geographic Area

The geographic area is the object of study of geography. All human actions have a natural and spatial embodiment, so that space becomes the medium or continent of the multiple interactions between various natural and human elements. These interactions are involved in modifying or adding space and characteristics, but space can, in turn, influence the elementary interactions. The object of study of geography includes both the space or continent and the content, i.e., the interactions of the elements of a natural or social system.

Characteristics of the Geographic Area

Location - Dynamism - Uniformity - Magnitude - Scale

Types of Geographic Areas

• Natural areas: These are areas in which natural elements and their relationships characterize and determine the space above the human elements, which are scarce and sometimes non-existent.
• Humanized spaces: These are areas in which human activity, past or present, largely explains the essence of space. This humanized space is subdivided into multiple areas (rural, urban, agricultural, industrial, etc.).
• Regional areas: The region is the element of study; it is a predefined space for a particular variable chosen by multiple criteria (historical, demographic, climatic, economic, etc.).
• Perceived space: Unique to each person depending on their age, cultural background, economic status, and experience.

Location of Venezuela

Venezuela has an excellent geographical location in northern South America, situated in the Tropic of Cancer between 0 and 12 degrees North Latitude and 60 and 73 degrees West Longitude. It has a sea area of 860,000 km². It is bordered to the north by the Caribbean Sea, to the south by the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Republic of Colombia, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean and the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, and to the west by the Republic of Colombia. The total land area covers 916,490 km².

Consequences of the Geographical Position of Venezuela

Economic

• Due to its location, almost equidistant from North and South America, Venezuela's ports and airports are almost mandatory stops for inter-American, Euro-American, and Asian communications.
• Due to its proximity to the Panama Canal, Venezuela offers easy access to the Pacific Ocean and, therefore, to the western coast of America and the east coasts of Asia and Africa. In this way, Venezuela has strong trade with Japan, a country of great industrial development.

Cultural

Venezuela constantly receives cultural influence from Europe and the United States, as well as from other South American countries. This leads to many changes and volatility in our ideology.

Strategic-Military

Land Area of Venezuela

• Area of the Republic: 912,050 km²
• Adjustments subject to verification with the Republic of Brazil: 4,395 km²
• Adjustments subject to verification with the Republic of Colombia: 284 km²
• Area of the Continental Shelf: 98,500 km²