Güiria

Güiria
Flag of Güiria
Official seal of Güiria
Nickname(s): 
Tierra de Gracia
English: Land of Grace
Güiria is located in Venezuela
Güiria
Güiria
Coordinates: 10°34′26″N 62°17′54″W / 10.57389°N 62.29833°W / 10.57389; -62.29833
CountryVenezuelaVenezuela
StateSucre
MunicipalityValdez
Founded8 December 1767
Government
 • MayorRégulo Sucre (PSUV)
Elevation
10 m (30 ft)
Population
2001 (INE, population projections)
 • Total40,000
 • Demonym
Guireño(a)
Time zoneUTC-04:00 (VET)
Postal code
6161
Area code+58 294
ClimateAw

Güiria is the capital city of Valdez Municipality in the Venezuelan state of Sucre. Güiria was the place where the military campaign for South American independence set out to Upper Peru and also a starting point of the 1901 Venezuelan Civil War (Revolución Libertadora). Founded on 8 December 1767, Güiria is the state's third-largest urban centre, with a population of approximately 40,000. It is an important harbour, the only one in Venezuela located on the open Atlantic Ocean rather than on the Caribbean Sea, and the economic centre of Paria Peninsula, due to it being near the Gulf of Paria's natural gas fields, where several state and private companies have exploration projects.

Climate

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Güiria experiences a tropical savanna climate (Köppen: Aw),[1] characterized by consistently hot temperatures and distinct wet and dry seasons.

Güiria has a wet season from May to November, while the dry season between January and April receives limited precipitation.

Climate data for Güiria (1991–2020)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 38.3
(100.9)
35.3
(95.5)
35.6
(96.1)
38.1
(100.6)
34.9
(94.8)
37.8
(100.0)
38.3
(100.9)
36.0
(96.8)
39.2
(102.6)
39.7
(103.5)
38.4
(101.1)
35.9
(96.6)
39.7
(103.5)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 30.3
(86.5)
30.6
(87.1)
31.3
(88.3)
32.1
(89.8)
32.1
(89.8)
31.4
(88.5)
31.3
(88.3)
31.7
(89.1)
31.9
(89.4)
31.7
(89.1)
31.2
(88.2)
30.6
(87.1)
31.4
(88.5)
Daily mean °C (°F) 25.6
(78.1)
25.8
(78.4)
26.7
(80.1)
27.8
(82.0)
28.0
(82.4)
27.2
(81.0)
26.9
(80.4)
27.2
(81.0)
27.5
(81.5)
27.3
(81.1)
26.8
(80.2)
25.9
(78.6)
26.9
(80.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 21.5
(70.7)
21.6
(70.9)
22.6
(72.7)
24.1
(75.4)
24.7
(76.5)
24.4
(75.9)
24.1
(75.4)
24.5
(76.1)
24.6
(76.3)
24.4
(75.9)
23.9
(75.0)
22.6
(72.7)
23.6
(74.5)
Record low °C (°F) 14.8
(58.6)
15.2
(59.4)
9.3
(48.7)
19.4
(66.9)
19.0
(66.2)
20.7
(69.3)
19.8
(67.6)
19.9
(67.8)
19.0
(66.2)
19.1
(66.4)
18.7
(65.7)
17.7
(63.9)
9.3
(48.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 37.7
(1.48)
18.8
(0.74)
21.7
(0.85)
25.2
(0.99)
62.3
(2.45)
139.0
(5.47)
147.8
(5.82)
177.4
(6.98)
119.1
(4.69)
127.4
(5.02)
121.3
(4.78)
74.1
(2.92)
1,071.8
(42.20)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 6.8 4.1 2.9 2.8 6.8 13.0 14.1 14.6 10.7 11.3 12.3 9.6 109.0
Source: NOAA[2]

Economy

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The natural gas industry has been developed in Güiria by means of the Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho Industrial Complex (CIGMA), developed by Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA). The project's main goal is to promote the economic and industrial growth of Sucre state and to supply natural gas also to the states of Nueva Esparta, Monagas and Anzoátegui. It is planned to be connected in later stages to the nationwide gas distribution system to supply the rest of the country and for export.

Additionally, Güiria produces coconuts, cocoa, tobacco, tubers and fish. Cattle is also raised.

Transportation

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Port of Güiria.

Because Güiria is close to the island of Trinidad, there is significant maritime commerce with Trinidad and Tobago.

[edit]

Cricket is popular in Güiria. Steelpan music from Trinidad and Tobago can be heard in Güiria's carnival, as a cultural influence from the nearby islands.

Güiria has some typical dishes not found in usual Venezuelan cuisine, such as kalalu(callaloo), sauz (souse), pelau and domplina.

On 11 March 2012, Güiria was the landing point of the Atlantic Ocean crossing by Turkish American adventurer Erden Eruç in his Guinness world record setting solo human-powered circumnavigation of the earth, after rowing from Lüderitz, Namibia in about five months.[3][4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Table 1 Overview of the Köppen-Geiger climate classes including the defining criteria". Nature: Scientific Data. 23 October 2023.
  2. ^ "World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020 — Güiria". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  3. ^ "Guinness World Records – First solo circumnavigation of the globe using human power". Guinness World Records. Archived from the original on 19 March 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  4. ^ "Media Kit – Project Summary Document" (PDF). Around-n-Over (PDF file linked from "around-n-over.org/media/mediakit.htm"). 22 August 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 February 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2016.