Surely you heard the name of this reservoir in your childhood. It beckons with exoticism and mystery, stories about pirates, Spanish conquistadors and countless treasures. But even without these beautiful legends, Lake Maracaibo is attractive at any time of the year. It is large, picturesque and unique, and therefore worth seeing at least once in a lifetime.
A bit of history and facts
So where is Lake Maracaibo and what is it like? This amazing body of water is located in South America, in a country called Venezuela. It is not only the largest on the mainland, but also one of the oldest on the planet. Today, its shores are covered with sugarcane and cocoa plantations, but this was not always the case.
A large brackish body of water, which later became known as Lake Maracaibo, was discovered by Europeans in 1499. The Spaniard Alonso de Ojeda was struck by the dwellings of the natives, built on stilts: the panorama reminded him of Venice, which is why he called the open lands "Little Venice", that is, Venezuela. The port of Maracaibo emerged here after three decades.
Lake Maracaibo, the photo of which can be seen in our article, is actually a lagoon. It is connected to the Gulf of Venezuela by a shallow strait in the north. The reservoir is fed by a large number of rivers and streams, and a quarter of the country's population lives on its vast banks.
The emergence of a reservoir
Lake Maracaibo (South America) is very ancient. It is believed that this is the second existing body of water that arose on our blue-eyed planet. Later, in 1823, the famous battle will take place here, the outcome of which allowed Venezuela to become an independent state. But in the era of the formation of the Earth's relief, there were no people here. It is believed that the lake is of glacial origin. However, there is another opinion. Some researchers believe that in the past a meteorite fell here, which formed a giant crater. Over time, the depression was flooded with water and this is how the lake appeared.
City of Maracaibo
Lake Maracaibo sheltered many settlements on its shores, but the largest of them is the city of the same name with the reservoir. It has several founding dates, but the generally accepted and most likely date is July 24, 1499 - the day when the Spanish expedition first discovered a huge reservoir, declared these lands a possession of Spain and laid the first settlement.
In the sixteenth-seventeenth centuries, these shores were a favorite place for pirates (remember Captain Blood - the hero of R. Sabatini). They are herethey repaired ships, took a break from campaigns, and possibly hid treasures. Later, a fortress grew up on the shore of the strait, called Gibr altar. But it was destroyed by the rebellious Indians. The city slowly grew and developed, perhaps partly because the sea robbers settled here. He found his true heyday after drilling the first oil well at the end of the nineteenth century.
Two suns of Maracaibo
Lake Maracaibo is known for another feature: you will be told that there are two suns here - white and black. Black is oil, the deposits of which at the bottom of the reservoir are truly colossal. It gives life to the city, forces it to grow and develop. Despite the fact that the extraction of black gold (if only Pizarro knew that real gold is hidden not in Peru, but in Venezuela!) is very active here, the water in the lake remains crystal clear.
The white sun of Maracaibo is the name given to products created by local craftswomen. Knitted lace is made from white threads. The intricate patterns are different every time, so no napkin is the same. And this is one of the favorite souvenirs of these places.
Lightning Catatumbo
Maracaibo is known for another phenomenon called Catatumbo lightning. Above the confluence of the Katatumbo tributary into the lake at an altitude of about five kilometers, a glow is constantly observed. Lightning without thunder occurs here about 1.2 million times a year. They can be seen at a distance of up to four hundred kilometers, so in the past sailors often focused on them. For centuries, people could not explainstrange phenomenon, so beautiful legends were invented. Modern science knows the reason for such a strange phenomenon: it is hidden in a large accumulation of warm gases above the water column, which rise into the cold layers of the atmosphere and react there. One way or another, but the famous lightning bolts adorn the coat of arms of the state of Zulia and are a real landmark of the region.
And finally I'll tell you…
Luxurious in its size and beauty, the lake not only gives life to people living on its shores. In the water column of Maracaibo there are numerous species of fish and other underwater inhabitants. The shores are overgrown with lush tropical forests and agricultural land.
The origin of the name Maracaibo is not known for certain. Some researchers believe that the Indians called this area "Maara Ivo", that is, the land where there are many snakes. Others believe that during the battle the Indians suddenly shouted "Mara Cayo", which meant Mara fell, died (Mara is the name of the warrior). But be that as it may, this lake is a real gem not only of the Caribbean region, but of our entire planet.
