Carúpano
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| Carupano | |
| Mayor | Jose Ramon Regnault Hernandez |
|---|---|
| Area | |
| - City | km² |
| Population | |
| - City (2001) | 112,000 |
| Time zone | AST (UTC-4) |
| Area code(s) | 0294 |
Carupano is a town on the Venezuelan Caribbean coast, situated at the opening of two valleys, 65 miles northeast of the city of Cumaná.
Contents |
[edit] History
It was somewhere on the Penisula of Paria, near Carupano, where Christopher Columbus first set foot on the American continent for the first and only time, during his third trip (In all the other trips he only explored the Caribbean islands).
It was in Carupano, where Simón Bolívar, the liberator of Venezuela, issued a decree ending slavery in 1814.
At around midnight on May 4, 1962, military officers in rebellion against the government of Rómulo Betancourt, took over the city of Carupano. The insurgents, under control of Captain Jesús Teodoro Molina Villegas, Major Pedro Vegas Castejón, and Lieutenant Héctor Fleming Mendoza, occupied the city's streets and buildings, the airport, and the radio station, Radio Carupano, which they used to broadcast their message, calling themselves the Movimiento de Recuperación Democrática (Movement of Democratic Recuperation). President Betancourt demanded that the rebels surrender, but at the same he ordered the air force began to attack the city and the navy began blocking the seaport in an operation called Operacion Tenaza. The following day, the government was able to take over Carupano and its surroundings, arresting more than 400 military personnel and civilians that were involved in the rebellion. Those involved were Congressman Eloy Torres of the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV), as well as other member of that party and the Movimiento de Izquierda Revolucionaria (MIR). As a result, Betancourt suspended constitutional guarantees, accused the PCV and MIR of being involved, and decreed the illegalization of both parties.
In July 1997, an earthquake struck the city. This earthquake was centered in the town of Cariaco, where most of the deaths and damage occurred.
[edit] Law and government
Carupano is the shire town of the Bermudez Municipality. The mayor of the Bermudez Municipality is Jose Ramon Regnault Hernandez.
[edit] Economy
Cacao, coffee, sugar, cotton, timber and rum have been important exports of Carúpano since colonial times.
As of November 2006, Carupano is a domestic scheduled destination of Avior Airlines.
[edit] Sites of interest
[edit] House of Cable
The House of Cable was where the first submarine cable between Europe and America arrived, joining the French city of Marseille with Carupano, back in the late 19th century. This house is today the headquarters of the Tomas Merle foundation and the Paria Project, two organizations that promote tourism and industry.
[edit] Religious buildings
- Iglesia de Santa Catalina de Siena
- Iglesia de Santa Rosa de Lima
[edit] Squares and parks
- Plaza Bolivar
- Plaza Colon
- Plaza Miranda
[edit] Notable natives
Famous Carupaneros include Wolfgang Larrazábal, former president of Venezuela and Eladio Larez, president of Radio Caracas Television, one of Venezuela's largest television networks.
[edit] References
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
