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San
Fernando de Apure as on Encyclopedia Britannica: City, capital of
estado ("state"), west-central Venezuela, on the Apure river. A
Llanos ("plains") port, it is vulnerable to flooding during the
rainy season, despite its great distance from the sea, because it
has an elevation of only 200 feet (60 m). live cattle, beef,
and cattle hides are the city's leading products. It is a call for
small boats on both the Orinoco and the Apure rivers.
Apure is a fantastically biodiverse region, and the variety of
wildlife is one of its main attractions. Some 350 species of bird
and over 50 species of mammal populate the three principal habitats:
wetlands and waterways, gallery forests and savannas and sand dunes.
Within the wetlands and waterways are ospre, herons, storks, egrets,
spoonbills, muscovy ducks, scarlet ibis, kingfishers and cormorants;
capybara, other, manatee and freshwater dolphin; caiman, turtles,
water snakes, anaconda and piranha. Gallery forests border the
riverbanks and are the home to macaws, caciques, turpials and
hoatzin; ocelot, capuchin and howler monkeys; giant tortoise,
iguanas, fer-de-lance and boas. Fauna of the savanna includes hawks,
falcons, buzzards, eagles and vultures; jaguar, puma, savanna fox,
anteater, mountain cat and vampire bat.
A highway from Maracay
in the central highlands reaches the Apure river opposite San
Fernando. The city is not served by railroad but is an important air-traffic
centre: much beef is flown into the heavily populated central
highlands, particularly during flood seasons.
Life in the
inhospitable, wild territory of the Llanos contrasts sharply to that
of Venezuelan's modern cities. The harsh lands of this vast are
inhabited by few, and house just 10% of the country's total
population. The first settlers arrived in the mid 1500s. The
colonization of the Llanos gave birth to a new people, the Llaneros,
whose ancestry was a blend of Indian, African and Spanish blood.
During the wars of independence in the early 1800s, the Llaneros
made a considerable contribution to the fight for liberation, and
their boldness and bravery made them a feared enemy of the Spanish.
For years, the hardy
Llanero cowboy has been an icon of Venezuelan folklore, symbolizing
the qualities of courage, independence, strength and individuality.
Today, the Llaneros work their ranches using traditional methods and
make a living as cattle herders.
They
share their territory with the Yarubi, Guajibo and Karina Indians,
and still enjoy singing and dancing to the music of the famous
"Joropo", whose origins lie in this very land. Often referred
to as "Musica Llanera", the "Joropo" is Venezuela's national dance,
and is a rhythm accompanied by improvised vocals, harps, small
guitars and maracas.
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