Upata
Encyclopedia
Upata is a Venezuelan city inside the bulk of Guayana
at the north of the Bolívar State. It is the capital and most important town of Piar Municipality
. It is located between the basins of the rivers Orinoco
and Cuyuní. The name of Upata is an indigenous word, probably of the Kamaracoto ethnic group, means in Spanish “Rose of the mountain” name of an Indian's Thief daughter.
) , in honor to the Italian saint from Padua
: Saint Anthony of Padua, when the Capucin missionaries brought the Catholic faith to the region.
, France
, Portugal
and Spain
. By the years 1945 and 1970 about 1,750 Italians, 650 Portuguese, and many other from Spain. Upata's population comprises 48% Whites, 40% Mestizo
, 7% Blacks
and 5% of Amerindian descent. In recent times have joined small groups of Asian immigrants, (China
, Philippines
), dedicated to commercial affairs. Some others from Colombia
, Chile
, Ecuador
, Peru
, Bolivia
.
in the Bolívar
state. Upata is commonly known as a farming and livestock
town. The zones near Upata are suitable for raising ranch and the production of bovine meat. The economy of Upata also is sustained in the milk production and the elaboration of the typical cheese of the region "Queso de Mano"Spanish
Upata also stands out by its natural beauties, among them: The Stone of Santa Maria, El Toro
, and the Guacarapo Hills where it has built a giant concrete statue, symbolizing Our Lady of Peace
translated into Spanish as "Virgen de la Paz"
Upata has a Tropical savanna climate
. Upata is also intertropical, with precipitation that varies between 900 and 1,300 millimeters (35–51 in) (annual), in the city proper, and up to 2,000 millimeters (79 in) in some parts of the Mountain range.
Average annual temperatures are 26°C in most of the year. The rains usually begin in November, January and August. Average temperatures are of 19°C to 17°C. The warmest month is August with temperatures of 36°C Max, 26º Min.
Recently recorded temperatures of 38°C to 41°C. Also recently, there have been colder nights than normal and hail
showers with temperatures of 15°C to 12°C.
Guayana Region
The Guayana Region is an administrative region of Venezuela.The region has a population of 1,383,297 inhabitants and a territory of 458,344 km². It borders the independent nation of Guyana which forms part of The Guyanas...
at the north of the Bolívar State. It is the capital and most important town of Piar Municipality
Piar Municipality, Bolívar
The Piar Municipality is one of the 11 municipalities that makes up the Venezuelan state of Bolívar and, according to a 2007 population estimate by the National Institute of Statistics of Venezuela, the municipality has a population of 107,643...
. It is located between the basins of the rivers Orinoco
Orinoco
The Orinoco is one of the longest rivers in South America at . Its drainage basin, sometimes called the Orinoquia, covers , with 76.3% of it in Venezuela and the remainder in Colombia...
and Cuyuní. The name of Upata is an indigenous word, probably of the Kamaracoto ethnic group, means in Spanish “Rose of the mountain” name of an Indian's Thief daughter.
Foundation
It is widely known that the first attempts to form the town of Upata came towards 1739. Nevertheless, it was July 7th, 1972 when Fray Antonio de Cervera founded the city with the name of "Village Yocoima of Saint Anthony of Padua" (Villa del yocoima, de San Antonio de Padua)(SpanishSpanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
) , in honor to the Italian saint from Padua
Padua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
: Saint Anthony of Padua, when the Capucin missionaries brought the Catholic faith to the region.
Human Geography
Upata is one of Venezuela's cities which has a large population of Europeans, many of them from ItalyItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. By the years 1945 and 1970 about 1,750 Italians, 650 Portuguese, and many other from Spain. Upata's population comprises 48% Whites, 40% Mestizo
Mestizo
Mestizo is a term traditionally used in Latin America, Philippines and Spain for people of mixed European and Native American heritage or descent...
, 7% Blacks
Blacks
Blacks may refer to:* All Blacks, New Zealand rugby union team* Black people* Blacks Leisure Group, owner of Blacks and Millets in the United Kingdom* The Blacks , a play by Jean Genet* Zamora, California, formerly called Blacks...
and 5% of Amerindian descent. In recent times have joined small groups of Asian immigrants, (China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
), dedicated to commercial affairs. Some others from Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
.
Economy
Upata is capital of Piar MunicipalityPiar Municipality, Bolívar
The Piar Municipality is one of the 11 municipalities that makes up the Venezuelan state of Bolívar and, according to a 2007 population estimate by the National Institute of Statistics of Venezuela, the municipality has a population of 107,643...
in the Bolívar
Bolívar (state)
Bolívar State , is one of the 23 states into which Venezuela is divided. The state capital city is Ciudad Bolívar. Bolívar State covers a total surface area of 238,000 km² and in June 30, 2010 had an estimated population of 1,620,359....
state. Upata is commonly known as a farming and livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
town. The zones near Upata are suitable for raising ranch and the production of bovine meat. The economy of Upata also is sustained in the milk production and the elaboration of the typical cheese of the region "Queso de Mano"Spanish
Upata also stands out by its natural beauties, among them: The Stone of Santa Maria, El Toro
Cerro El Toro (Upata)
Cerro El Toro is a mountain in northwest side of Upata, Venezuela. It has a height of 425 metres....
, and the Guacarapo Hills where it has built a giant concrete statue, symbolizing Our Lady of Peace
Our Lady of Peace
Our Lady of Peace, Mother of Peace, Queen of Peace or Our Lady Queen of Peace is a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Roman Catholic Church. She is represented in art holding a dove and an olive branch, symbols of peace. Her official memorial feast is celebrated on January 24 each year in...
translated into Spanish as "Virgen de la Paz"
Climate
Under the Köppen climate classificationKöppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
Upata has a Tropical savanna climate
Tropical savanna climate
Tropical savanna climate or tropical wet and dry climate is a type of climate that corresponds to the Köppen climate classification categories "Aw" and '"As."...
. Upata is also intertropical, with precipitation that varies between 900 and 1,300 millimeters (35–51 in) (annual), in the city proper, and up to 2,000 millimeters (79 in) in some parts of the Mountain range.
Average annual temperatures are 26°C in most of the year. The rains usually begin in November, January and August. Average temperatures are of 19°C to 17°C. The warmest month is August with temperatures of 36°C Max, 26º Min.
Recently recorded temperatures of 38°C to 41°C. Also recently, there have been colder nights than normal and hail
Hail
Hail is a form of solid precipitation. It consists of balls or irregular lumps of ice, each of which is referred to as a hail stone. Hail stones on Earth consist mostly of water ice and measure between and in diameter, with the larger stones coming from severe thunderstorms...
showers with temperatures of 15°C to 12°C.