Columbus' third voyage brought the Spaniards to Venezuela in late 15th Century. The discovery of oil in 1914 near Maracaibo has a miraculous effect on the four hundred years old poor agrarian economy. Presently, one of the richest countries in Latin America, it is also one of the largest producers and exporters of oil in the world. Venezuelan Isles are this nation's 72 island possessions in the Caribbean. Isla de Margarita, the largest and the most popular with tourists, along with close neighbours, Coche and Cubagua, form the state of Nueva Esparta. Most of the other islands are Federal Dependencies, with their capital as Los Roques. Caracas is the capital of Venezuela and echoes the contrasts found in the rest of the country.
http://gowealthy.com/feature/venezuela/
