Editing Venezuela (section)

=== Relief ===
The Venezuelan natural [[landscape]]<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|last1=Cárdenas|first1=Antonio Luis|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nOgRAQAAIAAJ&q=relieve+de+venezuela+placas+tectonicas|title=Geografía de Venezuela|last2=Castillo|first2=Rubén Carpio|date=2000|publisher=Fondo Editorial de la Universidad Pedagógica Experimental Libertador|language=es|access-date=14 August 2021|archive-date=29 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129032404/https://books.google.com/books?id=nOgRAQAAIAAJ&q=relieve+de+venezuela+placas+tectonicas|url-status=live}}</ref> is the product of the interaction of [[tectonic plates]]<ref name=":3" /> that since the [[Paleozoic]] have contributed to its current appearance. On the formed structures, seven physical-natural units have been modeled, differentiated in their relief and in their [[natural resources]].
[[File:Flores_para_la_Nieve.JPG|thumb|[[Bolívar Peak]], the highest mountain in Venezuela, in [[Sierra Nevada National Park (Venezuela)|Sierra Nevada de Mérida]]]]
The relief of Venezuela has the following characteristics: [[coastline]] with several peninsulas<ref>{{Cite book|last=Figueroa|first=Rosa|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xo3eGMm-JdQC&pg=PA24|title=Agenda Geografica Venezuela|date=1995|publisher=Editorial Alfa|isbn=978-980-354-005-0|language=es|access-date=6 November 2022|archive-date=6 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221106044531/https://books.google.com/books?id=Xo3eGMm-JdQC&pg=PA24|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[islands]], adenas of the Andes mountain range (north and northwest), Lake Maracaibo (between the chains, on the coast);<ref name=":4" /> [[Orinoco river]] delta,<ref name=":5" /> region of [[peneplain]]s and plateaus (tepui, east of the Orinoco) that together form the Guyanas massif (plateaus, southeast of the country).

The oldest rock formations in South America are found in the complex basement of the Guyanas highlands<ref name=":6" /> and in the crystalline line of the Maritime and Cordillera massifs in Venezuela. The Venezuelan part of the Guyanas [[Altiplano]] consists of a large granite block of [[gneiss]] and other crystalline [[Archean]] rocks, with underlying layers of sandstone and shale clay.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Sojo|first1=Raúl|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rWcsAQAAIAAJ|title=Venezuela al natural|last2=Castillo|first2=Horacio Biord|date=2009|publisher=Editorial Arte|isbn=978-980-6476-26-4|language=en|access-date=14 August 2021|archive-date=6 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221106044321/https://books.google.com/books?id=rWcsAQAAIAAJ|url-status=live}}</ref>

The core of [[granite]] and [[cordillera]] is, to a large extent, flanked by sedimentary layers from the [[Cretaceous]],<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BM4UAAAAIAAJ|title=Las Microfacies Del Cretaceo de Venezuela Occidental|publisher=Brill Archive|language=es|access-date=14 June 2021|archive-date=6 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221106044320/https://books.google.com/books?id=BM4UAAAAIAAJ|url-status=live}}</ref> folded in an [[anticline]] structure. Between these orographic systems there are plains covered with tertiary and quaternary layers of gravel, sands and clayey [[marl]]s. The depression contains lagoons and lakes, among which is that of [[Maracaibo]], and presents, on the surface, [[alluvium|alluvial]] deposits from the [[Quaternary]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Socorro|first=Orangel Antonio Aguilera|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kIBdAAAAMAAJ|title=Tesoros paleontológicos de Venezuela: el cuaternario del Estado Falcón|date=2006|publisher=Ministerio de la Cultura|isbn=978-980-12-1379-6|language=es|access-date=14 June 2021|archive-date=6 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221106044325/https://books.google.com/books?id=kIBdAAAAMAAJ|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Venezuelan Coastal Range|Coastal Mountain Range]]
Also known as the Cordillera de la Costa, stretches along Venezuela's northern coast. This region is known for its lush tropical rainforests, stunning coastal views, and a rich variety of flora and fauna. The intermountain depressions, or valleys, between the mountain ranges are often home to fertile agricultural land and vibrant communities. These valleys offer a stark contrast to the rugged mountains that rise dramatically from the coast.
*[[Coro region|Lara-Falcón Highlands]]
[[File:La vegetación más abundante señala el canal de los ríos.jpg|thumb|Los Llanos, [[Apure state]]]]
Situated in northwestern Venezuela, the Lara-Falcón Highlands exhibit a terrain defined by plateaus and rolling hills. These highlands provide a significant contrast to the surrounding lowlands and coastal areas. The relief is characterized by gently sloping plateaus that support agriculture, including coffee and cacao cultivation. This region's semi-arid climate and picturesque landscapes make it an important agricultural and tourism center.
*[[Maracaibo Basin|Lake Maracaibo Lowlands]]
Encompass the basin of [[Lake Maracaibo]] and the plains surrounding the [[Gulf of Venezuela]]. This region offers two distinct plains—the northern one is relatively dry, while the southern one is humid and dotted with swamps. The relief here is primarily characterized by flat terrain, with the exception of some elevated areas near the lake. Lake Maracaibo itself sits in a depression, surrounded by oil-rich lands and productive agricultural areas.<ref name=":4">{{cite web|title = The Water Balance of the Lake Maracaibo Basin|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=0p5AAQAAIAAJ|access-date = 25 December 2020|last1 = Carter|first1 = Douglas Broadmore|year = 1946|archive-date = 6 November 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221106044326/https://books.google.com/books?id=0p5AAQAAIAAJ|url-status = live}}</ref>
*[[Venezuelan Andes|The Andes]]
The Venezuelan Andes, part of the broader [[Andes]] mountain range, offer a striking relief with towering peaks, deep valleys, and fertile intermontane basins. Dominated by these corpulent mountain ranges, including Venezuela's highest peak, [[Bolívar Peak]], the region's rugged and picturesque landscapes are defined by its high-altitude terrain. 
[[File:Playa Grande in Choroni.jpg|thumb|247x247px|Coastal Mountain Range (''Cordillera de la Costa'') in Venezuela]]
The unique relief of this area finds its origins in the [[Last Glacial Period]], where the interplay of repeated glacier advances and retreats sculpted the landscape, shaped by the cold, high-altitude climate. This glacial heritage has left a lasting imprint, with glaciers carving deep valleys and polishing rugged peaks, while sheltered intramontane valleys offer fertile soils and temperate microclimates, creating ideal conditions for agriculture and human settlement.
*[[Venezuelan Llanos|Los Llanos]]
Los Llanos, or "the plains", are expansive sedimentary basins characterized by predominantly flat relief.<ref>{{cite web|title = Wild Scenes in South America|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=hnAvAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA310|access-date = 25 December 2020|last1 = Páez|first1 = Ramón|year = 1863|archive-date = 6 November 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221106044322/https://books.google.com/books?id=hnAvAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA310|url-status = live}}</ref> However, the eastern Llanos feature low-plateaus and the Unare depression, created through mesa erosion, adding diversity to the terrain. This region is subject to seasonal flooding, transforming the flat plains into a vast wetland during the rainy season. The relief here influences the region's unique ecosystems, including extensive grasslands and abundant wildlife.
*[[File:Vuelo Santa Elena-Canaima (2004) 23.jpg|thumb|261x261px|Guayana natural region in Venezuela]] [[Guayana natural region|Guiana Shield]]
The Guiana Shield boasts a varied relief shaped by geological processes over millions of years. This region encompasses peneplains, rugged mountain ranges, foothills, and the iconic [[tepuis]], or table-top mountains. The tepuis stand as isolated, flat-topped plateaus that rise dramatically from the surrounding terrain. This unique relief contributes to the region's remarkable biodiversity and scientific significance.<ref name=":6">{{cite book|title = Tropical Forests of the Guiana Shield|isbn = 978-1-84593-092-9|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=mE88S0O6RbsC&q=Guiana+Shield+venezuela&pg=PA46|access-date = 25 December 2020|last1 = Hammond|first1 = D. S.|year = 2005|archive-date = 29 November 2023|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231129032523/https://books.google.com/books?id=mE88S0O6RbsC&q=Guiana+Shield+venezuela&pg=PA46#v=snippet&q=Guiana%20Shield%20venezuela&f=false|url-status = live}}</ref>
*[[Orinoco Delta]]
The Orinoco Delta's relief is characterized by a complex system of lands and waters. It consists of numerous channels, islands, and shifting sedimentary deposits. While the relief may appear relatively uniform, it conceals a dynamic environment influenced by seasonal flooding and sediment deposition. This complex deltaic relief supports diverse aquatic life and the livelihoods of Indigenous communities adapted to its ever-changing landscapes.<ref name=":5">{{cite web|title = Organic Geochemistry of the Orinoco Delta, Venezuela|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=YPrkAAAAMAAJ|access-date = 25 December 2020|last1 = Nwachukwu|first1 = Joseph Iheanacho|year = 1981|archive-date = 6 November 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221106044324/https://books.google.com/books?id=YPrkAAAAMAAJ|url-status = live}}</ref>