Puerto Cabello

Infobox City |official_name = Puerto Cabello
nickname =
motto =
website = [http://puertocabello-carabobo.gov.ve/portal-alcaldias/ Alcaldía de Puerto Cabello]


image_caption = View of Puerto Cabello

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image_

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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = Counties
subdivision_name = Venezuela
subdivision_name1 = Carabobo
subdivision_name2 = Puerto Cabello
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Osmel Vicente Ramos Dolande (2004 – 2008)
area_magnitude =
area_total_sq_mi =
area_total_km2 = 729
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 154,000
population_urban =
population_density_sq_mi =
population_density_km2 =
elevation_m =
elevation_ft =
latd = 10
latm = 28
lats = 00
latNS = N
longd = 68
longm = 01
longs = 00
longEW = W
footnotes =

Puerto Cabello is a city on the north coast of Venezuela. It is located in the state of Carabobo about 75km west of Caracas. As of 2001, the city has a population of around 154,000 people. The city is the home to the largest port in the country and is thus a vital cog in the country's vast oil industry. It literally means Port Hair.

History

Due to Puerto Cabello's location it was attacked by buccaneers and was a popular market for Dutch smugglers during the colonial era. It was the last Spanish royalist stronghold during Venezuela’s war for independence, it was captured by José Antonio Páez in 1823.

Law and government

Puerto Cabello has one municipality: "Puerto Cabello Municipality", Venezuelan law specifies that municipal governments have four main functions: executive, legislative, comptroller, and planning. The executive function is managed by the mayor, who is in charge of representing the municipality's administration. The legislative branch is represented by the Municipal Council, composed of seven councillors, charged with the deliberation of new decrees and local laws. The comptroller tasks are managed by the municipal comptroller's office, which oversees accountancy. Finally, planning is represented by the Local Public Planning Council, which manages development projects for the municipality

Tourism

Puerto Cabello has exhibited strong tourist potential and has been shown to have a local, growing tourist industry, this is mainly because of its position as the main trading area in the country, its communications, its rich historic heritage and its location in front of the Caribbean Sea.

The streets of the Colonial ages preserve their rustic and picturesque appearance, with their beautiful households and mansions and the cobblestone paving on the streets, all these features make the city a nice and growing tourist destination.

In the jetty, one can see the Caribbean Sea, as well as the massive Fortín de San Felipe, also known as the Castillo del Libertador, this powerful fort worked as a refuge for citizens during the Colonial times, because pirates invaded the city constantly.

Attractions

* Protestants Graveyard.
* Solano Fortress or Castle.
* San Felipe Castle.
* Long Island.
* Puente de Los Españoles (San Esteban Pueblo).

Transport

It is served by a station on the Venezuelan Railway network.

See also

* Venezuela
* Carabobo state
* List of cities in Venezuela
* Railway stations in Venezuela

References

* [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/VE/7/Puerto_Cabello.html FallingRain Map - elevation = 76m (Red dots are railways)]