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Puerto la Cruz is a port city located in Anzoategui state in Venezuela's capital Sotillo municipality. The city has road connections to the state capital, Barcelona, also to Dairy and turn to Guanta, and shaping the metropolitan area's largest and most important eastern Venezuela.
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Geography
Located on the shore of the Caribbean Sea.
The elevation of the city varies between 0 m and 64 m.
The city position is at Latitude 10° 13' N and Longitude 64° 37' W
Tipical temperatures vary between 25 °C and 28 °C.
Borders are represented by Mochima National Park, the North Eastern region, Coastal Mountains.
History
The history of this town begins with the arrival of the Spaniards in Venezuela.
In 1780, the Christian Mission of Pozuelos (Pozuelos = small wells) was founded, with local Indians as the majority population.
On 9 April 1862 a group of 26 families from Margarita Island decided to settle in Pozuelos Bay. The Virgen del Amparo (Virgin of Amparo) and the Santa Cruz (Holy Cross) were adopted as the main religious symbols of the town. Traditional dates for religious celebrations were set as 8 November for the Dia de la Virgen del Amparo (Day of the Virgin of Amparo), and 3 May for the Dia de la Santa Cruz (Day of the Holy Cross).
In 1868 the first church was built, and the name of the town was changed to Puerto de la Santa Cruz (Port of the Holy Cross). As time went by, the name was shortened to the current "Puerto la Cruz".
Economy
Puerto la Cruz is home to Puerto José, one of the largest oil refineries in the country, which, with its 200,000 barrels per day processing capacity, supplies the domestic market and exports to other Caribbean countries such as Cuba and the Antilles. The Puerto José refinery is one of the primary processing facilities of the largest Venezuelan oil company, PDVSA and is a major refining hub for the crude extracted in the states of Monagas and Anzoategui.
The city is one of the largest tourist attractions in Venezuela, being the gateway to a beautiful although seriously neglected and poorly maintained national park. The beaches of Mochima National Park surround the city. Places such as Isla de Plata, Playa Conoma, Isla Arapo and Playa Arapito are known for their great beauty. These locations are unfortunately disliked by the locals for the immense amount of pollution they harbor.
To the west of the city is the terminal of one of the main ferry lines linking Isla Margarita with the mainland, while to the east is a private marina that caters for tourists and visitors. Very affordable day trips are readily available to visit national park islands such as Playa El Faro, Los Chimanas, Cachicamo and Isla Borracha.
In addition to tourism, Puerto la Cruz is well positioned to become the largest city and commercial center in the region, as major international banks have established their regional headquarters there. A large number of commercial businesses, and large shopping centers are progessively being developed.
Main Transport Infrastructure
Large avenues cross the city from north to south and from east to west. Among them are:
- Av. Municipal, which is the main avenue of the city, with two main traffic lanes and 2 service lanes in each direction, and was the first to be paved.
- Av. 5 Julio is the most popular avenue for trade; most shops are owned by immigrants of Arab descent.
- Av. Paseo Colon; almost all of this avenue borders the Bay of Pozuelos, which is one of the largest bays in the world. It has a beautiful boulevard very famous because that is where is located the symbol of the city of Puerto la Cruz (the Holy Cross) which is the cross representing the same, as well as the famous statue of a pirate so striking that identifies the place. In addition here are established known hotels.
- Av. Bolivar, with a number of shops devoted to the sale of automotive spare parts, as well as car dealers. Paseo with Connects Miranda Av. Intercommunal Jorge Rodriguez (formerly Avenida Andres Bello), this avenue helps greatly to land transport.
- Prolongation Paseo Colon, is a branch of Av. Paseo Colon, starts from the sector Espigón The (razil front of the Hotel), passes through the Sector El Paraiso and stay on the Ave. Americo Vespusio Dairy.
Ports and Airport
Puerto la Cruz has several ports from which many destinations, attractions and shopping facilities can be reached. Margarita Island can be reached through the transport service operated by the companies Conferry and Great Chieftain Express (which resumed its activities in December 2006). The beaches located on the islands of Mochima National Park may also be reached from Dairy.
In the area of Guaraguao of Puerto La Cruz there is also an terminal for the export/import of crude oil processed at the refinery in the city.
As Puerto la Cruz does not have its own airport, it uses for air transportation the International Airport General Jose Antonio Anzoategui located in the nearby city of Barcelona.
Mass Transport System
According to various sources, local authorities are awaiting the signature of President Hugo Chávez after negotiating an agreement between the mayors of Puerto La Cruz (Sotillo Municipality) and Barcelona (Bolivar Municipality) and the Chinese company Transtech Engineering Corporation for the construction of a network of modern mass transportation. The target date for the launch of this initiative was August 2007, but since the announcement in March of that year has not been re-appointed over the project.
The first phase of construction of the Metro urban network is expected to last approximately two years to complete. According to various estimates, this would reduce by 50% the volume of traffic that is logged daily in this metropolitan area. This ambitious project involves an air transport infrastructure, with additional sections on land.
Places of Interest
- Paseo Colon
- Andres Eloy Blanco Park
- La Toma, San Diego Sector
- The Laguna Natural Maguey
- Club Terminal Guaraguao
Education
In the city there are various universities, institutes and colleges, among which are the following:
Universities
- UDO Universidad de Oriente, Nucleus Anzoategui Av. Argimiro Gabaldon. Barcelona (Public)
- UGMA University Grand Marshal of Ayacucho. Barcelona (Headquarters)
- UNIMET Metropolitan University (Graduate Studies)
- IUPSM Polytechnic Institute "Santiago Mariño." Barcelona (Headquarters)
- USM University of Santa Maria (Nucleus East). Barcelona
Institutes
- Institute of Technology Jose Antonio Anzoategui. (Public).
- University Institute of Technology (IUTA) with 2 locations: Barcelona and Puerto La Cruz. (Private).
- Institute Monsignor Arias Blanco. (Private).
- Instituto Universitario Pedro Maria Freites. (Private).
- University Institute of Technology "Antonio José de Sucre" (Private)
- University Institute of Technology "Rodolfo Loera Arismendi" (Private).
Schools and Colleges
- College Juan Crisostomo Falcon
- Carmen Mary College
- College Miguel Otero Silva
- Salesian College Pius XII
- Basic School Great Liberator
- L.B Mercedes de Pérez Freites
- U.E Angel Mottola
- U.E.C Antonio Maria Claret
- U.E. Dr. Cristobal Mendoza
- U.E General Isaias Medina Angarita
- U.E College Laura Vicuna
- U.E Strings Down
- U.E Alcazar's Neveri
- U.E Bolivarian Guaraguao
- U.E College Italo Venezolano, Angelo Marta
- U.E Colegio Santa Teresita.
- U.E From Jean-Jacques Rousseau Integral Support
- Dr U.E. Raúl Leoni
- U.E Eloy Guillermo Gonzalez
- U.E Eloy Palacios
- U.E Gual and Spain
- U.E Iberoamericana
- Experimental Institute U.E
- U.E Jacinto Benavente
- U.E Juan Antonio Sotillo
- U.E Lights and Virtues
- U.E Mother Maria de San Jose
- U.E Manuel Placido Maneiro
- U.E Maria Montesorri
- U.E Minerva
- U.E Our Lady of Fatima
- U.E Our Lady of Lourdes
- U.E Our Lady of Lourdes II
- U.E Romulo Gallegos
- U.E San Celestino
- U.E Liberator Simón Bolívar
- U.E Simon Rodriguez
- U.E Tomás Alfaro Calatrava
- U.E Virgen del Carmen
Spanish Language Schools
- Jakera Spanish School Playa Colorada [1]
Sports
Despite the importance of the city also has a good efficient sports infrastructure, however are being carried out work in the local sports complex for its full restoration and turn it into a real sports town because in these years have grown the Eastern fans of the sport.
Baseball
The city is the home of the baseball team Caribes de Anzoategui (formerly known as East Caribbean). The team plays at the Estadio Alfonso Chico Carrasquel, which has a capacity of 18,000 spectators.
Basketball
The city is also home to the professional basketball team Marinos of Anzoategui (formerly known as Marinos de Oriente), which plays in the Polideportivo Simón Bolívar (formerly known as Michigan Luis Ramos), better known today as the Caldera del Diablo.
Football
The city has 2 football stadiums.
The Jose Antonio Anzoategui stadium, with a capacity of 40,000 spectators, hosted some of the America's Cup 2007 matches among teams from Brazil, Mexico, Chile and Ecuador. The stadium is the home ground of the football team Deportivo Anzoategui, which plays in the First Division of Venezuela.
The other stadium, the Salvador de la Plaza stadium, hosts the football team Inter Anzoategui, which plays in the Third Division.
Sports clubs
- Baseball: Caribes of Anzoategui.
- Basketball: Marinos of Anzoategui.
- Football: Deportivo Anzoategui and Inter Anzoategui
Sister Cities
Media
TV
- Televisora de Oriente "TVO"
- Puerto TV
- Anzoategui TV
- OrbitAaTV
- Telecaribe
Radio
- La Mega de Puerto la Cruz 100.9
- Éxitos de Puerto La Cruz
- Ultra Estéreo de Puerto la Cruz
- CNB de Puerto La Cruz 93.7
- Vértice de Puerto La Cruz
- Plaza
- Exitosa
- Actualidad 640 AM
- Lasser 97.7
- Caribe 102.7
- Marina 103.7
- Cielo
- News
- Rumbera 94.5
- Turística FM
- Radio Puerto La Cruz (760 am)
- Orbita 107.5 FM
Periodicals
- El Tiempo: Leading daily Anzoategui State
It has two editions for Anzoategui (North and Central-South) and one for the state of Sucre.
- El Norte
- La Nueva Prensa de Oriente
References
- Retrieved from "http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_La_Cruz"
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