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San Cristobal, Tachira
San Cristobal, is the capital city of the Venezuelan state of Tachira it is located in a mountainous region of Western Venezuela. The city is situated 818 m/2,625 ft above sea level in the northern Andes overlooking the Torbes River, 56 km/35 mi from the Colombian border. San Cristobal was founded in 1561 by Juan de Maldonado. From its inception, the city evolved rapidly as one of the most progressive and important centers of commerce in the country, due primarily to its rich soil and its proximity to the border with Colombia.
The city was severely damaged by the Earthquake of Cucuta (also known as Earthquake of the Andes) in 1875. The city is located on the Pan-American Highway.
Education
San Cristobal has a large student poulation. There are many post-secondary school, both public and private, in San Cristobal.
They main ones are:
Universidad Nacional Experimental del Tachira (UNET): Engineering in Electronics, Mechanics, and Mecatronics, Agriculture, Architecture, Music, and Indrustrial Engineering.
Universidad de los Andes (ULA): Business and Administration, Journalism, Languages, Education, Medicine.
Universidad Catolica del Tachira (UCAT): Law, Criminology, Accounting, Human Resources, Marketing, Education, and Administration.
Universidad Nacional Experimental de las Fuerzas Amadas(UNEFA): Economics, Psychology, Urban Planning, Administrarion.
Universidad Nacional Abierta (UNA): Long Distance Education.
Instututo Universitario Politecnico Santiago Marino.
Instituto Universitario Antonio Jose de Sucre.
Instituto Universitario Monsenor Talavera.
Some colleges areN IUT, IUJEL, IUTI, IUTEPAL, IUFRONT, IUGC, INCE
Industry and Economy
San Cristobal is the third richest city of Venezuela, after Chacao and Baruta. As throughout the Andean states, the people of Tachira are characterized as hardworking, cordial, conservative, and devoted to their historical, religious, and folkloric traditions. The primary industries here are centered around agriculture, mainly the production of coffee, sugar, and vegetables. Other important industrial sectors which have helped fuel the economic engines of the region include meat production (cattle), manufacturing industries like shoe, basket, and ceramics production. A fact that perhaps is not widely known is that it was in Tachira, and not in Zulia, that the first oil wells were excavated in 1875(located in the Petrolea sector close to Rubio)-- a procedure done in those days by hand and with buckets. It is a commercial, transportation, and industrial center. Textiles, leather products, cement, and tobacco are produced, and coffee, sugar, pineapples, and corn are exported. The service sector is also strong. There are many branches of nationals banks located in the city. There are also two main local banks that are an important engine of the local economy, Sofitasa bank and Banfoandes. In the dairy industry, Leche Tachira is one of the most consolidated industries in the country; this company is based in San Cristobal.
Architecture
San Cristobal's architecture is rich and varied. The wedding cake and modernist architectural styles are particularly evident in the facades of the Universidad Abierta Nacional and La Casa Antigua, a Spanish style building with various ornaments and sculptures. Another example is La Entrada Central, the only facade that's left from the old Hospital Vargas. Among the most notable churches are La Iglesia El Angel, the Gothic styled church San Jose, and the Iglesia El Santuario.
Transportation
There are three airports that serve Tachira State and its capital San Cristobal. Aiport Juan Vicente Gomez of San Antonio, Airport Mayor Buenaventura Vivas of Santo Domingo del Tachira and International Airport of La Fria.
Main Avenues are:
Avenida 19 de Abril, Rotaria, Marginal del Tobes, Cuatricenteria, Libertador, Carabobo, Espana, Universidad, Los Agustinos, UNET, Lucio Oquendo, Ave. Principal de Pueblo Nuevo, Ave. Principal de Barrio Sucre, Ave. Principal de Quinimar and the main two avenues Isais Medina Angarita (7ma Avenida) and Francisco Garcia de Hevia (5ta Avenida)
Personalities
Isaias Medina Angarita: Militar and Ex-presiden of Venezuela and
Francisco Arias Cardenas: Governor of Zulia State, Presidential Candidate and Representat of Venezuela at the UN. and
F. Eliach Ramirez (El Chacal): International Terrorist.
Veruzka Ramirez: Top Model and Former Miss Venezuela.
Attractions & Surroundings
Like some of its sister cities and towns in the Andes, San Cristobal is blessed with beautiful surroundings and a unique natural setting. The picturesque scenery, the majesty of the mountains, the slow pace of life, and the welcoming nature of its people all combine to make this region one of the most important touristic attractions in Venezuela.
One of the most celebrated festivities which attracts visitors from all over is La Feria Internacional de San Sebastian held annually at Pueblo Nuevo next to Tachira state football club's grounds. This fair, which occurs at the end of January, combines bullfighting festivities with a myriad of sport activities such as the Vuelta al Tachira, a bicycle race, artistic festivals, agricultural fairs, and many other spectacles. Nearby small businesses, in particular eateries, restaurants and small independent retailers thrive of the activities in Pueblo nuevo.
Places to visit in and around San Cristobal include all the squares and parks around the city, the enchanting colonial town of San Pedro del Rio and Peribeca. During Christmas these towns are full of decorations and mangers of every shape and size. Near the border with Colombia is the town of San Antonio de Tachira, with its lively commercial beat. Other interesting towns are Palmira and Abejales, above the town of Tariba, famous for their sugar cane baskets, and the town of El Topon, a typical agricultural town. The water fall of Chorro el Indio is an entertaining place to visit and be surrounded by nature.
Plaza de los Mangos, in Barrio Obrero, is a popular youth hangout close to San Cristobal's city centre. A leafy square home to music shops, imported clothing retailers, Mini malls, nightclubs, eateries, ice-cream parlours, pool halls and small music venues, Plaza de los Mangos has become a busy hub for youth life. On a small off-shoot road on the Plaza's north-eastern corner a small Virgin Mary figure is housed under a protruding old tree branch, a branch once used for public hangings, the date of the last hanging varies with who you ask.
Distances
Distances are in Kilomers
Barinas 316 Km
Barquisimeto 574 Km
Caracas 841km
Cucuta (COLOMBIA) 57 km
Maracaibo 444 Km
Merida 257 km
Valencia 683 Km
Events
Feria Internacional de San Sebastian. the San Sebastian fair is the largest fair in the contry. It takes place at the end of each January. There is animal, agricultural, industrial and commercial trade. In addition there are many shows and entertaiment offers for the locals and the tourists.
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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article San Cristobal, Tachira
