Monagas
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| Estado Monagas | |||||
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| Monagas State Anthem | |||||
| Motto: Resistió con valor (Spanish: Resisted with courage) |
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 Location within Venezuela |
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| Created (given current status) |
1909 | ||||
| State capital | Maturín | ||||
| Area •% |
28,900 km² 3,15 (Ranked ) |
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| Population •% |
855,300 hab. (2007 est.) 3,26 (Ranked ) |
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| Emblematic tree | The Palma de Moriche (Mauritia flexuosa) |
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| ISO 3166-2 | VE-N |
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| Governor | José Briceño 2004 - 2008 |
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| Website: Gobernación del Estado Monagas | |||||
Estado Monagas is one of the 23 states (estados) into which Venezuela is divided.
Monagas State covers a total surface area of 28,900 km² and, in 2007, had an estimated population of 855,300.
Monagas State is surrounded by Sucre State in the north, Anzoátegui State in the west and south, Bolívar State in the south, Delta Amacuro State in the south and east and the Paria Gulf in the northeast.
The state is named after the general José Tadeo Monagas, native from this state, and his brother José Gregorio Monagas, native from the neighbour Anzoátegui State.
The capital of the state is Maturín.
Contents |
[edit] Municipalities and municipal seats
- Acosta (San Antonio de Capayacuar)
- Aguasay (Aguasay)
- Bolívar (Caripito)
- Caripe (Caripe)
- Cedeño (Caicara)
- Ezequiel Zamora (Punta de Mata)
- Libertador (Temblador)
- Maturín (Maturín)
- Piar (Aragua de Maturín)
- Punceres (Quiriquire)
- Santa Bárbara (Santa Bárbara)
- Sotillo (Barrancas)
- Uracoa (Uracoa)
[edit] History
Chaimas, Waraos, Arawacos, Caribes are some of the Indian peoples who had been living in the territory of Monagas state before the colonisation of this land by the Spaniards. The former Indian town of Uyapari (today the town of Barrancas of Orinoco) was the centre of a splendid kind of pottery admired by some European explorers as Diego de Ordaz. Scholars, who studied this pottery, gave the culture which designed it the name of Barrancoide Culture.
After a probable arrival of Columbus to the coast of Monagas State during his third voyage in August 1498 many explorations were done to this land. Some of the most famous Spanish explorers were Diego de Ordaz (discover of the Indian town of Uyapari), Diego de Lepe, Juan Bono de Quejo and Antonio Berrio. Apart from that, some hunters of Indians from the islands of Cubagua and Margarita sail around Monagas state looking for slaves in some Indians towns. The colonization of this state was very slow, for the resistance made by the Caribes. These Indians defended their freedom, families and lands against the Spanish conquerors who wanted to hunt and sell them to the encomenderos (persons who need slave for cultivating their farms).
This situation began to change when Franciscan missioners arrived from Spain in order to evangelize the Indians. The Franciscans are the responsibles of the establishment of many missions which became in towns later. Some of these towns founded by the Franciscans are San Antonio (founded in 1710 by Gerónimo de Muros), Guanaguana (founded in 1729 by Pacián de San Martín), Caicara (founded in 1731 by Ambrosio de Blesa), Caripe (founded in 1734 by Pedro de Gelsa), Santa Bárbara (founded in 1754 by Casimiro de Borja), Maturín (founded in 1760 by Lucas de Zaragoza), Barrancas (founded in 1790 by Joaquín de Morata) and so on.
However these foundations were not so easy. At the beginning some Indians, especially the Caribes, attacked the group of missioners. Some Franciscans died for the attacks, others passed away for the tropical sicknesses or for the rude conditions they were living. When the Caribes were driven out from the banks of Guarapiche River by the Spanish governor of Cumaná Pedro Carreño, the missioners were able to continue with the foundations of mission stations around Monagas State.
The lands of Monagas were the scene of many battles during the fight for the independence of Venezuela. The most famous battles took place in Maturín.
During the period of the republic, Monagas state had a slow growth because of the frequent civil wars which destroyed possessions and killed cattle and men. Another cause of this problem was the increment of deaths produced by tropical sicknesses as the yellow fever. The landscape change when oil fields were discovered in this land. The new petroleum activity stimulated industrial and commercial activities which attracted persons from other states and countries. Punta de Mata, El Tejero, Temblador are examples of towns which were born around the oil fields. Maturín became in an important commercial and banking centre in the east of Venezuela.
In relation to the political formation of this entity, Monagas was part of the province of Nueva Andalucía, which became in the province of Cumaná, in the XVI, XVII, XVIII and the middle part of XIX centuries. In 1856 Monagas was raised to the level of province with the name of province of Maturín. In 1864 was ratified the new Maturín state. But in 1879 these lands lost their autonomy and formed part of the east state.
In 1891 Monagas was added to the great Bermúdez state, which was composed by Sucre, Anzoátegui, Monagas, Bolívar states. Monagas got again the autonomy in 1901with the name of Maturín state. However Monagas lost this condition in 1904 when it was added to the Bermúdez state.
At the end Monagas was separated from Barcelona state in 1909 and became a state with its current name.
[edit] Geography
Relief
The state has many plateaus and savannas located in the southwest. In the northeast and the southeast there are deltaic savannas in which rivers such as San Juan, Guanipa, Caño Mánamo, Río Tigre flow into. In the northwest there is a group of mountains belonged to the eastern mountain range. This mountain range is divided in two massifs: the massif of el Turimiquire (in which the town of San Antonio is located) and the massif of Caripe (in which the town of Caripe is located).
Mountains
Cerro Negro (2000 m.) is the highest mountain of Monagas State.
Weather
The weather is hot in the area of the Llanos, while it is cold in the mountains located in the north of the state. The average temperature in the low areas is between 25 and 28 °C. In the area of the town of Caripe the cold temperature permits the cultivation of certain kind of typical plants from cold weathers as roses and strawberries. The level of rainfalls in the state is between 530 and 1400 mm during the year.
Hydrology
The rivers of the state belong to one of the two basins that are located in the state. The basins are the basin of Atlantic Ocean and the basin of the Orinoco River. Rivers such as Guanipa, Río Tigre, Morichal Largo, Caño Mánamo, Amana, Tonoro, Tabasca, Uracoa flow into the Orinoco River. On the other hand the rivers Guarapiche, San Juan, Río de Oro, Caripe flow into the Atlantic Ocean. The rivers of the Atlantic Ocean basin come from the mountains located in the northwest of the state and the rivers of the Orinoco river basin come from the many plateaus located in the southwest of Monagas State and from Anzoategui State.
Vegetation
The vegetation is the intertropical one. This vegetation is adapted to the different altitudes, weathers and kinds of soil of the state. Typical trees are el araguaney, la ceiba, el jobo, el aceituno, la vera, la palma de moriche and el mangle.
Protected areas
Cueva del Guácharo National Park, was created on May 1975 by the Venezuelan government to protect the ecosystem surrounding the Guacharo’s Cave. The park has a surface area of 155 km² and covers the mountainous areas of Acosta and Caripe municipalities in Monagas state and Ribero municipality in Sucre state.
Alejandro de Humboldt National Monument can be located inside the park El Guácharo. This national monument was created in 1949 to protect the Guacharo’s Cave. This national monument is named after the German explorer Alexander von Humboldt, who visited the Guacharo’s cave in 1799.
Another protected area is Guarapiche Forestal Reserve, which protects the forests located at the bank of Guarapiche and San Juan Rivers.
[edit] Population
The population of Monagas state has been increased since the 20th decade of the last century as a consequence of exploitation of the oil fields located here. The majority of the inhabitants of this state are Mestizo|mestizos; that is, they are the product of the blending of Indian, black and white races. Many people from neighbour states as Sucre and Nueva Esparta, as well as persons from other countries as Spaniards, Italians, Portuguese, Syrian, Lebanese and Chinese have immigrated to the state because of the petroleum industry and the flourishing business activities. The majority of the population is concentrated in the northern area of Monagas state. At least the fifty percent of inhabitants lives in Maturín city. Important towns are Punta de Mata, Temblador, Caripito and Caripe.
[edit] Economy
The main economical activity is the exploitation of oil. Many towns as Punta de Mata, El Tejero, Temblador live on this activity.
Other towns as Caripe and San Antonio lived on agriculture and livestock farming. Coffee is planted in the areas next to the towns of Caripe and San Antonio. Cocoa is being cultivated near to Caripito. Maize, tomato, sugar-cane, tobacco, banana, rice, yucca and tropical fruits can be obtained in other areas.
Cattle are concentrated in the southern and western parts of Monagas, where there are great extensions of savannas and plateaus.
The state has a lot of forests where woods can be obtained.
Because of the oil exploitation Maturín is a main commercial and banking centre in the east of Venezuela.
[edit] Education
At university level Monagas state has the following public university institutes:
In Caripe
- Universidad Nacional Abierta (UNA).
In Caripito
- Universidad Nacional Abierta (UNA).
- Instituto Universitario Tecnológico de Caripito.
In Maturín
- Universidad de Oriente, Núcleo Monagas (UDO-Monagas).
- Universidad Bolivariana de Venezuela (UBV).
- Universidad Pedagógica Experimenta Libertador-Instituto Pedagógico de Maturín (UPEL-IPM).
- Universidad Nacional Abierta (UNA).
- Universidad Nacional Experimental Simón Rodríguez (UNESR).
In Punta de Mata
- Universidad Nacional Abierta (UNA).
In San Antonio
- Núcleo del Instituto Pedagógico de Maturín (UPEL-IPM).
And these private university institutes:
In Caripe
- Instituto Universitario Pedagógico Monseñor Arias Blanco.
In Maturín
- Universidad Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho (UGMA). Only postgraduate studies.
- Universidad Cecilio Acosta (UNICA). Only postgraduate studies.
- Universidad de Margarita (UNIMAR).
- Universidad Santa María (USM).
- Instituto Politécnico Santiago Mariño (IUPSM).
- Instituto Universitario de Tecnología Industrial Rodolfo Loreto Arismendi (IUTIRLA).
- Instituto Universitario de Tecnología Venezuela (IUTV).
In Punta de Mata
- Instituto Universitario de Tecnología de Cumaná (IUTC).
[edit] Culture
Monagas state has a culture very similar to other eastern states of Venezuela. Natives of Monagas share with the population of the eastern states the quick manner of speaking the Spanish language, the food, some musical rhythms as the galerón or el Joropo, typical clothing as Liquiliqui of Los LLanos and the veneration for the Virgin of El Valle.
[edit] Cuisine
Typical dishes of Monagas state are arepa (a kind of bread made of maize), cachapa (an omelette made of maize), casabe, empanada, mondongo (a kind of soup), queso de mano (a kind of cheese), jalea de guayaba (guayaba jelly), carne en vara (meat grilled on a stick). Fish are a very important food for the cuisine of a native of this state. In Christmas is traditional to eat hallacas, pan de jamón (ham bread), torta negra (black cake), enzalada de gallina (hen salad), dulce de lechoza ( papaya sweet). In the holy week cuajado de morrocoy is a typical dish for the belief that is profane to eat meat in these days.
[edit] Dances
Typical dances of Monagas state are el Baile del Mono (Monkey’s Dance), holds on each 28th December in the town of Caicara and el Baile de la Culebra (Snake’s Dance), celebrated in the town of Ipure next to San Antonio of Maturín.
[edit] Religion
The predominant religion of this state is Christianity. Catholicism is the Christian branch which has the biggest amount of followers. It is the consequence of the evangelization made by catholic missioners, as the Franciscans, in XVII and XVIII centuries. The capital, Maturín, is seat of a catholic diocese since 1958.
On the other hand the blending of catholic rites with the rites of other religions like the Indian and African ones is very extended. For example it is usual to find people who venerate María Lionza, the Indian chief Guaicaipuro and Felipe the Black.
Some Protestant churches have been established in different towns around the state. Among them are Pentecostals, Lutherans, Baptists, Adventists of the Seven Day, Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses. Anglicans has a church in the area of Caripe.
Islam is practiced by some immigrants from Arabic countries, although they do not have a mosque in the state. It is possible to find in Maturín followers of Buddhism, Hinduism, Methaphysics, and other faiths.
[edit] Public holidays
Popular public holidays are:
- Carnivals: between February and March.
- Holy Week: between March and April.
- Virgin of El Valle Festival: 8th September.
- Christmas’ Eve: 24st December.
- New Year’s Eve: 31st December.
Apart from that each town celebrates public festivities in honour of its patron saint when his/her day is held.
Regional anniversaries are
- Battle of Los Godos’ Day: 25th May.
- General José Tadeo Monagas’ Birthday: 28th Octuber.
- Maturín’s Foundation Day: 7th December.
[edit] Governors of Monagas State
Until 1989 the heads of Venezuelan states were appointed by the President of Venezuela. Starting from that year they are elected in universal, direct and secret elections. At the beginning the regional heads of states were known as Presidents of States, later they were called Governors. This is a list of the heads of Monagas state.
Governors of the Province of Maturín (1856-62)
- Valentín Machado
- Pedro Sifontes
- Jesús María Vallenilla
- José Antonio López P.
- Zabulón Valverde
- Joaquín Núñez
- Francisco J. Gordon
- José R. Rodríguez Guerra
- Luis Mijares Zerpa
- Manuel B. Fonseca (1863, Provisional President)(1863-64)
- José Manuel García
- José Félix Lares
- Félix Salazar
Governors of Nueva Andalucía State, which Maturín belonged to (1865-68)
- José E, Acosta. (1865, Constitutional President)
- Antonio Russián. (1866-68, First Appointed)
- José S. González. (September 1868, Constitutional President)
- Manuel López Alcalá. (1868)
Governors of Maturín
- José Ramón Ramírez. (1865-68)
Provisional Government: (1868)
- José A. López
- José María Núñez
- Mateo Sosa
Civil and Military Chiefs
- Ángel Romero. (1869)
- Manuel Guzmán Álvarez. (1870)
- Rómulo Camino. (1872, Provisional President)
- Manuel Guzmán Álvarez. (1873, Constitucional President)
- Rómulo Camino. (1874, First Appointed)
- Diego B. Ferrer. (1875, First Appointed)
- Antonio Valverde. (1876, Second Appointed)
- Manuel Guzmán Álvarez. (1877, Constitucional President)
- Emilio Himiob. (1877, First Appointed)
- José Antonio Vázquez. (1878, Second Appointed)
- Jesús M. Vallenilla. (1878, President)
- Santos Carrera. (1879, Vicepresident)
- Venancio Simosa. (1880, Provisional President)
- Santos Carrera. (January to May 1881, Constitutional President)
- Fermín Carrera. (1881, Governor)
- Joaquín Díaz. (1881, Governor)
- Carrera. (1882, Governor)
Presidents of Monagas State. XXth Century
- J. V. Guevara. (1901)
- Pablo Giuseppi Monagas. (1910, Provisional President)
- Emilio Fernández (1911-13)
- José J. Aróstegui. (1914, Counsellor in charge of the Presidency)
- Manuel Ángeles. (1916)
- Emilio Pérez Hernández. (1918)
- Pedro Ducharme. (1922-24)
- Manuel Ledesma. (1925-28)
- Juan Pablo López Centeno. (1936-37)
- Andrés Rolando M. (1937)
- Alejandro Rascaniere. (1938-39)
- José María Isava Núñez. (1939-42)
- Francisco Conde García. (1942-45)
- Pablo II. Higuera. (1945)
- Rafael Rodríguez Méndez. (1946-48)
- Pablo Higuera. (1948)
- Ramón Rojas Guardia. (1949)
- Alirio Ugarte Pelayo. (1949-51)
- Horacio Guerrero Gori. (1952)
- Giliberti Gómez. (1953)
- Federico Scholoeter. (1953)
- Domingo Colmenares Vivas. (1954-57)
Governors of Monagas State since 1958
- Temístocles Núñez R. (1958-59)
- Jorge Yibirín Marún (1959-60)
- Luis Piñerúa Ordaz. (1960-61)
- Armando Sánchez Bueno. (1961-62)
- Darío Rodríguez Méndez. (1963-64)
- Noel Grisanti Luciani. (1964-65)
- Luis Alfaro Ucero. (1966-68)
- José Tomás Milano Parma. (1968-69)
- Humberto Anderson. (1969)
- Rafael Solórzano Bruce. (1969-73)
- Pedro Cardier Gago. (1973-74)
- Martín Márquez Añez. (1974-78)
- Manuel García B. (1978-79)
- Pablo Morillo Robles. (1979-83)
- Luis Guevara Manosalva. (1983-84)
- Pedro Cabello Poleo. (1984-86)
- Guillermo Call. (1986-87)
- Pedro Augusto Beauperthuy. (1987-89)
Governors chosen by Popular Election
- Guillermo Call. (1990-92); (1993-95) Acción Democrática
- Luis Eduardo Martínez Hidalgo. (1996-1998); (1999-2000) Acción Democrática
- Miguel Gómez. (2000) Movimiento Quinta República
- Guillermo Call. (2001-2004) Acción Democrática
- José Gregorio Briceño. (2004-) Migato, Movimiento Quinta República
[edit] Notable natives
From Amana of Tamarindo, town of Maturín municipality
- José Tadeo Monagas, general of the Venezuelan independence and president
From Barrancas
- Alarico Gómez, poet, novelist and journalist
From Caicara
- Manuel Núñez Tovar, doctor and entomologist
- Rafael Naranjo Ostty, abogado criminólogo
- Wilfrida Corvo de López, educadora
From Caripe
- Félix Antonio Calderón, poet
From Caripito
- Doris Wells, actress
- Juvenal Ravelo, artist
From Chaguaramal, town of Piar municipality
- Juana Ramírez (a.k.a. Juana la Avanzadora) heroine of the Venezuelan independence
- Leonardo Infante, general of the Venezuelan independence
From Guanaguana, town of Piar municipality
- Antonio Ciliberto Pérez, poet and novelist
From Maturín
- Andrés Rojas, general of the Venezuelan independence
- Carlos Möhle, musician, composer and dentist
- José Gabriel Núñez Romberg, musician
- José Antonio Núñez Romberg, mathematician, teacher and historian
- Félix Armando Núñez, poet, teacher und dean of Chile's university
- Idelfonso Núñez Mares, poet and teacher
- Eloy Palacios, sculptor
- José María Núñez, historian
- Benito Raúl Lozada, poet and writer
From Musipán, town of Ezequiel Zamora municipality
- Benjamín Rausseo (a.k.a. Er Conde del Guácharo), television comedian
From San Antonio
- Julián Padrón, writer, journalist and lawyer
- William H. Phelps, Jr., ornithologist and founder of RCTV
- Carlos Salazar Liccioni, poet, novelist
- Julio Gómez Peñalver, dentist, teacher and poet
From Uracoa
- Mateo Manaure, painter, artist
- Jesús Rafael Zambrano, journalist, lawyer, writer
[edit] Source
- González Oropeza, Hermann(1985): Historia del Estado Monagas. Ediciones Amon C.A., Caracas. (Biblioteca de Temas y Autores Monaguenses; Colección Guanipa; Ensayos e Investigaciónes)
[edit] See also
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