Barinas, Barinas

Barinas

City

Flag

Seal

Barinas

Coordinates: 08°38′N 70°12′W / 8.633°N 70.200°W

Country

Venezuela

State

Barinas

Municipality

Barinas Municipality

Founded

30 June 1577

Government

• Mayor

Jose Luis Machin

Area

• Total

322.71 km² (124.60 sq mi)

Elevation

187 m (614 ft)

Population (2011)

• Total

353,442

• Density

1,100/km² (2,800/sq mi)

Time zone

VST (UTC-4:30)

Postal code

5201

Area code(s)

0273

Climate

Demonym

Barinés

Website

www.alcaldiabarinas.gob.ve

City

Barinas (Spanish pronunciation: [baˈɾinas]) is a city in west central Venezuela. According to the 2011 census, its population is 353,442. It is the capital of the Barinas Municipality and the State of Barinas. The city of Barinas is known as the capital of Los Llanos.

The original city was founded under the name Altamira de Caceres on June 30, 1577 by Captain Juan Andres Varela fulfilling orders of the governor of La Grita Francisco de Cáceres, who had founded this Andean city and established it governorate in 1576.

In 1786 Barinas state was established in the territories of the existing states of Barinas and Apure. The city became the capital of the state and an important bastion of the patriots during the War of Independence. Cristóbal Mendoza, the first President of Venezuela, lived and practiced his profession in Barinas.

The name of the city comes from an indigenous word which identifies a strong wind that occurs during the rainy season, from the valleys of Santo Domingo.

The city is located in the northwest part of the state, along the river Santo Domingo in the Andean foothills about 165 km from the city of Mérida and 525 km from Caracas. The city has about 270,000 inhabitants and is the most populous in the state of Barinas and one of the largest Venezuelan llanos cities alongside Calabozo, Acarigua-Araure, Guanare and San Fernando de Apure. The city is located about 188 meters above sea level.

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Wikipedia