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Home > Travel South America > South America Destinations > Merida
Merida
South America is the fourth largest continent of the Western Hemisphere. It is divided politically into 12 independent countries namely Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela and the overseas department of French Guiana. The continent extends to 7,640 kilometers from Punta Gallinas, Colombia, in the north to Cape Horn, Chile, in the south.
South America is connected to North America by the Isthmus of Panama. It is washed on the north by the Caribbean Sea, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean. Topographically the continent is divided into three sections namely the South American cordillera, the interior lowlands, and the continental shield. Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion and Portuguese and Spanish are the primary languages of the continent.
Also known as La Ciudad de los Caballeros meaning the city of gentlemen, Merida is considered as one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Venezuela. The city is located in the valley formed between the Sierra Nevada de Merida and the Sierra La Culata, between the rivers Chama and Albarregas. Tienditas del Chama is a small town that borders the skirts of the Merida mesa, in the Chama river basin, hence its name. It is connected to Merida by a series of winding roads on the side of the mountain.
Historically, Merida emerged on October 9, 1558 by the Spanish captain Juan Rodriguez Suarez with a group of 59 to 70 soldiers in the town of San Juan de Lagunillas, although a year later it was moved to its modern location some kilometers further in the Chama river valley by Juan de Maldonado acting under the authority of the Audiencia de Santa Fe.
According to the 2001 census, Merida listed a population of 204,879 inhabitants. The city is filled with highly active cultural life and the climate along with natural scenery of the city are one of its well known attributes. Although at a tropical latitude, its climate is relatively mild.
Presently, Merida de Patagones experiences a sharp social, economic and population growth derivative of the strategic position of the locality and the high level of well-being and quality of life that is enjoyed with respect to other places of South America. This fact has consolidated along with other adjacent municipalities, as a great alternative for residence.
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