Porlamar

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Coordinates: 10°57′N, 63°51′W

Porlamar
Skyline of Porlamar
Flag of Porlamar
Flag
Official seal of Porlamar
Seal
Porlamar (Venezuela)
Porlamar
Porlamar
Coordinates: 10°57′N 63°51′W / 10.95, -63.85
Country Venezuela
State Nueva Esparta
Counties Mariño
Government
 - Mayor Orlando Avila Guerra
Elevation 10 m (32 ft)
Population (2005)
 - City 87,120
 - Urban 100,000
Website: Municipality of Mariño


Porlamar is the largest city on Isla Margarita, Nueva Esparta State in Venezuela. It was founded on the southeast coast in 1536, less than 40 years after Christopher Columbus first sailed through. Porlamar was a quiet fishing village until the arrival of air travel. Since then, it has become the central hub of the island with shops, restaurants and nightlife supported mostly by European and Venezuelan tourism.

Porlamar holds about one-third of Margarita Island's population and it is also the island's center of commerce. Since it was granted free-port status in 1973, its boutique-lined avenues have been crowded with tourists. In the early 1990s the economic downfall of the oilprice hit also Porlamar. Other free ports in Venezuela offer now the same goods as the free port of Margarita Island.

Contents

[edit] Transportation

Del Caribe International General Santiago Marino Airport (PMV) in Porlamar has direct flights and regular service to Europe, Canada, and the United States and is located 20km southwest of the city center.

[edit] Image gallery

[edit] Twin cities

[edit] External links