Cabruta

Cabruta is a fishing town on the Orinoco river in Las Mercedes municipality, State of Guárico, site of a Jesuit mission, and the site of a proposed bridge across the Orinoco to Caicara, Bolívar State.

History

In 1531 by Diego de Ordaz mentioned the indigenous village there, with the name 'Cabritu'. In 1556, Martin Lopez mentioned that it was an Arawak village with the name 'Caburute'. The 1600s saw a number of plans to fortify Cabruta, and in 1643 Juan de Ochoa Gresala y Aguirre was authorized to establish a Spanish port and found a city to be called 'Triunfo de la Cruz y Nueva Cantabria'. However, it was not until 1647 that Miguel de Ochogavia y Jacinto de Carvajal actually arrived, coming down the Apure River, and with the help of chief Maguare began the improvements. Just eleven years later (1658) the Spanish left Cabruta. It wasn't until 1720 that two capuchine missionaries, formerly with the gold-seeking expedition of Marcos de Castro, settled there and their mission was approved in 1722, but then abandoned to be taken up by the Jesuit Bernardo Rotella in 1733.

Economy

There was a fish processing and freezing center in Cabruta which closed in 1998. Cotton is grown in the surrounding area and a textile processing plant has been proposed. The Venezuelan government has also proposed building an oil refinery there.

Geographic Site

Cabruta is located at the Venezuela's geographical center. This was one of the reason there were a project in constructing a new capital of Venezuela near Cabruta. This project was made some 30 years ago and abandoned later. Cubruta would otherwise have become a planned city.

External links

* [http://guarico.com.ve/?p=54 Official web page] in Spanish;
* [http://www.inia.gov.ve/noticias/071006_01.html Press release (10 July 2006) "Pescadores de Cabruta fueron capacitados en cultivos piscícolas" Instituto Nacional Investigaciones Agricolas] , "Cabruta fishermen learn fish farming" in Spanish;

References

* [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/VE/12/Cabruta.html FallingRain Map - elevation = 59m (Red dots are proposed railways)]

* [http://www.voltairenet.org/article123432.html Alia2 (January 4, 2005) "Third bridge over the Orinoco river generates expectations" "Quantum N.45"] ;
* [http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/articles.php?artno=1646 Golinger, Eva (January 5, 2006) "Venezuela: As the River Flows" "VenezuelAnalysis.com:Ongoing on line News, Views and Analysis from Venezuela" ] ;
* [http://www.mbendi.co.za/a_sndmsg/news_view.asp?I=76895 Press release (August 8, 2006) "PDVSA to build three new refineries in Venezuela" "World Energy News" Item 76895] ;