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Maracay
Maracay
	Top:Maracay Municipal Garden and Las Delicias area, Second:Sindoni Tower, Los Tamarindo residential area and overview to Maracay, Third:Maestranza Cesar Giron Bullring Stadium, Girardot Square and Maracay Assumption Cathedral, Bottom:Night view of downtown Base Aragua area (all item of left to right)
	Flag Seal
	Nickname(s): "Ciudad Jardín"; (English: Garden City)
	Maracay
	Coordinates: 10°14′49″N 67°35′46″W / 10.24694°N 67.59611°W
Country	Venezuela
State	Aragua
Municipality	Girardot
Founded	March 5, 1701
Government
• Mayor	Rafael Morales
Area
• Total	911.57 km2 (351.96 sq mi)
Elevation	436 m (1,430 ft)
Population (2020)
• Total	1,302,000
• Density	1.439/km2 (3.73/sq mi)
• Demonym	Maracayero(a)
Time zone	UTC−4 (VET)
Postal codes	2101, 2102, 2103, 2104
Area code	0243
Climate	Aw
Website	Alcaldía de Maracay (in Spanish)
	The area and population figures are for the municipality

Maracay (Spanish pronunciation: [maɾaˈkaj]) is a city in north-central Venezuela, near the Caribbean coast, and is the capital and most important city of the state of Aragua. Most of it falls under the jurisdiction of Girardot Municipality. The population of Maracay and its surroundings in the 2011 census was 955,362. In Venezuela, Maracay is known as "Ciudad Jardín" ("Garden City").^[2]

History

Officially established on March 5, 1701 by Bishop Diego de Baños y Sotomayor in the valleys of Tocopio and Tapatapa (what is known today as the central valley of Aragua) in northern Venezuela.

According to the most accepted explanation, it was named after a local indigenous chief, and refers to the "Maracayo" (Felis mitis), a small tiger. Alternative etymologies cite a local aromatic tree called Mara.

Maracay experienced rapid growth during Juan Vicente Gómez's dictatorship (1908–1935). Gómez saw Maracay as a suitable place to make his residence during his rule, and ordered the construction of an Arc of Triumph, a bull plaza (a near replica of the one in Seville, Spain), an Ópera house, a Zoo, and, most notably, the Hotel Jardín (Garden Hotel), a majestic, tourist attraction with very large gardens. The city is home to the Mausoleo de Gómez (Gómez's mausoleum), where the dictator is buried.

Economy and transport

One of the most important cities in Venezuela, Maracay is primarily an industrial and commercial center, the city produces paper, textiles, chemicals, tobacco, cement, cattle, processed foods, soap and perfumes.

The areas around Maracay are agricultural: sugarcane, tobacco, coffee and cocoa stand out as the main products. There are also cattle-herding and timber-cutting activities. Activity by the Venezuelan Military also adds a great deal to Maracay's economy .^{[citation needed]}.

Maracay has good transportation facilities and infrastructure ^{[citation needed]}. The city is linked to most other important localities by the Autopista Regional del Centro (Central Regional Highway). It also has good access to Venezuela's small national railway system^{[citation needed]}. The city boasts the national hydroplane airport, located on the shore of the Lago de Valencia (Lake of Valencia). The city does not have a subway system, but one is in the planning stages.

Maracay has two airports. The Airport Mariscal Sucre (IATA MYC ICAO SVBS) and the military Air Base El Libertador (ICAO SVBL)

Climate

Climate data for Maracay (1991–2020, extremes 1961–2020)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	36.7 (98.1)	37.5 (99.5)	38.5 (101.3)	37.8 (100.0)	38.5 (101.3)	36.1 (97.0)	39.4 (102.9)	35.0 (95.0)	34.8 (94.6)	35.4 (95.7)	35.1 (95.2)	35.4 (95.7)	39.4 (102.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	32.1 (89.8)	32.8 (91.0)	33.7 (92.7)	33.5 (92.3)	33.1 (91.6)	32.1 (89.8)	31.6 (88.9)	31.4 (88.5)	32.0 (89.6)	32.2 (90.0)	32.0 (89.6)	32.0 (89.6)	32.4 (90.3)
Daily mean °C (°F)	24.7 (76.5)	25.2 (77.4)	26.3 (79.3)	27.0 (80.6)	27.1 (80.8)	26.2 (79.2)	25.6 (78.1)	25.5 (77.9)	26.1 (79.0)	26.0 (78.8)	25.7 (78.3)	25.1 (77.2)	25.9 (78.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	18.9 (66.0)	19.3 (66.7)	20.5 (68.9)	21.9 (71.4)	22.8 (73.0)	22.1 (71.8)	21.5 (70.7)	21.8 (71.2)	22.2 (72.0)	22.2 (72.0)	21.6 (70.9)	20.0 (68.0)	21.2 (70.2)
Record low °C (°F)	12.2 (54.0)	12.0 (53.6)	13.3 (55.9)	13.9 (57.0)	17.0 (62.6)	16.6 (61.9)	14.6 (58.3)	15.3 (59.5)	17.3 (63.1)	14.5 (58.1)	15.3 (59.5)	8.5 (47.3)	8.5 (47.3)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	49.9 (1.96)	28.4 (1.12)	15.8 (0.62)	59.6 (2.35)	89.6 (3.53)	124.6 (4.91)	171.3 (6.74)	194.0 (7.64)	168.7 (6.64)	181.0 (7.13)	129.0 (5.08)	88.1 (3.47)	1,300 (51.18)
Average rainy days (≥ 1.0 mm)	2.0	1.2	1.2	4.1	7.2	10.1	12.4	13.6	10.5	10.6	6.8	4.1	83.8
Average relative humidity (%)	71	68	66	68	74	78	80	81	80	80	78	74	75
Mean monthly sunshine hours	285.2	268.8	288.3	225.0	207.7	201.0	220.1	229.4	228.0	235.6	246.0	269.7	2,904.8
Mean daily sunshine hours	9.2	9.6	9.3	7.5	6.7	6.7	7.1	7.4	7.6	7.6	8.2	8.7	8.0
Source: NOAA (sun 1961–1990)^[3]^[4]

Military

Maracay is a city heavily influenced by the military^{[citation needed]}. Maracay is the cradle of Venezuelan aviation, and it is home to the two largest Air Force bases in the country. The Venezuelan F-16 fighter planes are stationed here, as well as the new Sukhoi-30MKEs acquired by the Venezuelan Government.

Other military facilities include the Fourth Armored Division of the Army and the airborne training center and barracks of the 42nd Airborne Brigade.

It is also home to the government-owned ammunition and weapons factory (CAVIM) that produces the Venezuelan version of the FN FAL (Fusil Automatique Leger - Light Automatic Rifle) rifle and the AK-103s; as well as the ammunition for both models.

Natural reserves

The mountains on the north side of Maracay, that separate it from the coast, make up the Henri Pittier National Park, named after the Swiss naturalist that studied them. The park is a lush rainforest, noted for its variety of ferns^{[citation needed]}. Two very winding roads cut through the park over the mountains to the coast. One, beginning at the North-Central part of the city known as Urbanización El Castaño, goes to the beach town of Choroní. The other, beginning at the North-Western part at the city of El Limón, goes to Ocumare de la Costa and the beaches of Cata and Cuyagua^{[relevant? – discuss]}.

Higher educational institutions and cultural venues

Maracay houses the Faculty of Veterinarians and Agronomy of the Universidad Central de Venezuela, and an extension of the Universidad de Carabobo.

The main Campus of the UNEFA (a military university open to civilians) is located here. Career choices include electronics, aeronautical and civil engineering, and avionics^{[relevant? – discuss]}.

Museums

The main museums are:

The Anthropological Museum.
The Aviation Museum.
The Museum of Modern Arts "Mario Abreu".
The Opera House.

Religion

The Patron Saint is Saint Joseph.

The San Sebastian's Walk is a religious catholic event with ecological and sport characteristics, which takes place the 20th of January of each year in the outskirts of the city of Maracay.

Maracay has a Serbian community and Serbian Orthodox church^{[citation needed]} ^[relevant?].

The city of Maracay has no synagogue. However, nine indigenous inhabitants converted to Conservative Judaism in Valencia in 2014 after a three-year study course^{[relevant? – discuss]}.^[5] In 2016, they were denied the right to emigrate to Israel by the Israeli Ministry of Interior, under the assumption that they failed to "belong to a Jewish community" in Maracay.^[5]

Sports

Maracay is the home of the local baseball team Tigres de Aragua.

The city's Bullfight arena is the only bullfighting school in the country. It is called "Maestranza Cesar Girón"

Gallery Images

Statue of a bull in Las Delicias avenue
Bolívar Square
Universidad Avenue
Henri Pittier National Park
Arnoldo Gabaldón Institute
Las Delicias Sports Center

Mass media

TV Stations: TVS, TVR (Orbivisión), Color TV, TIC TV (Televisión Informativa del Centro), Novavisión TV, Aragua TV.
Newspapers: El Aragüeño, El Periodiquito, El Siglo, El Impreso
Maracay in the web: maracaycity.net, MaracayUp, Maracay Extrema, En Aragua, Ciudad Maracay

Notable people

Bobby Abreu, baseball player
Jesús Aguilar, baseball player
Juan Arango, soccer player
Jose Altuve, baseball player
Elvis Andrus, baseball player
La Divaza, YouTuber and singer
Juan-Carlos Bianchi, tennis player
Miguel Cabrera, baseball player
Alberto Callaspo, baseball player
David Concepción, baseball player
Canserbero, rapper
Kervin Castro, baseball player
Yonathan Daza, baseball player
Gaby Espino, actress, model and TV presenter
César Girón [es], bullfighter
Samin Gómez, racing driver
Carlos Guillén, baseball player
Gabriela Isler, Miss Universe 2013
Luis Laguna, musician and songwriter
Pilín León, Miss World 1981
Alicia Machado, Miss Universe 1996
Manuel Maldonado, racing driver
Pastor Maldonado, Formula One driver
Omar Narváez, baseball player
Martín Prado, baseball player
Sebastian Rivero, baseball player
Maira Alexandra Rodriguez, Miss Earth Water 2014
Aníbal Sánchez, baseball player
Yolmer Sánchez, baseball player
Jorge Valdivia, soccer player

References

^ "Divulgaciones".
^ "Maracay, la eterna Ciudad Jardín de Venezuela". www.el-carabobeno.com. March 5, 2018.
^ "Maracay Climate Normals 1991–2020". World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
^ "Maracay Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
^ ^a ^b Maltz, Judy (January 2, 2017). "Venezuelan Jews Barred From Immigrating to Israel Because 'They Don't Belong to a Jewish Community'". Haaretz. Retrieved January 3, 2017.