Baruta (pop. 317,288) is a municipality within the Metropolitan District of Caracas in Venezuela .
31-1009: Baruta is located geographically in the South-East section of the city. Its western limit is the Los Chaguaramos neighborhood (which belongs to the Libertador Bolivarian Municipality ) and limits to the east with the Colinas de Los Ruices neighborhood, in the Sucre Municipality . To the North, it borders with the Francisco Fajardo Highway and to the Southeast with the El Hatillo Municipality and to
62-674: A lack of signs, infrastructure and vigilance. Other threats include the presence of exotic plants, the Caracas Aerial Tramway , the Hotel Humboldt and poaching. El Ávila National Park is located along the central stretch of the Cordillera de la Costa, at 10° 32' latitude north and between 66° 12' and 67° 01' longitude west (see map). It covers the mountainous regions between the Caribbean Sea and
93-572: A mountain range 80 kilometers (50 mi) long and approximately 16 km wide. It contains over 81,800 hectares (202,000 acres), encompassing a wide variety of ecosystems that vary along the altitude gradient from 120 to 2,765 meters (394 to 9,072 ft) above sea level at Naiguatá peak. In the lower areas of the northern side, the vegetation is mainly xerophytes, represented by a variety of cacti, shrubs and spiny species. From 300 to 600 meters (980 to 1,970 ft), semi-deciduous forests dominate, whereas from 600 to 800 meters (2,000 to 2,600 ft)
124-647: A municipality, consisting of 22 parishes . In 2000, the Metropolitan District of Caracas was formed from Libertador and four other municipalities: Baruta , Chacao , El Hatillo , and Sucre . The Libertador Municipality is located in the mid-north of the country surrounded by the mountain El Ávila which is part of the Venezuelan central range . It borders by the north with the Vargas State, by
155-399: A newspaper, Ciudad CCS . The Libertador Municipality comprised 22 parishes out of the 32 that contains Caracas The Libertador Municipality represents only 0.22% of the countrywide territory but is home to more than 2 million people and represents half of the total population of Caracas and a density of 4,816.36/km2. On the other hand, the entire area is urbanized. As of 2006, Libertador
186-487: A recreational area and as a buffer to pollution and urban expansion. El Ávila has always been an important resource for the inhabitants of Caracas, who have used the area for a variety of activities, some of which have threatened its conservation. A hotel and a cable car, which climbs to the highest point at 2,135 meters (7,005 ft) above sea level and drops down the other side to the city of Macuto , were opened in 1956. After being out of service for 20 years, this cable car
217-540: A region in el Ávila close to the coast that tended to mark the border between the coast's chilly weather and that of the hot, dry weather of the rest of the country. El Galipán was home to some of the most beautiful, unique flowers in the country, and every December Pacheco would make the long trip down the mountain into the city to sell his harvest in the Plaza Bolivar in Caracas. His arrival was often accompanied by
248-463: Is a risk that the diverse threats it faces will increasingly erode its biodiversity unless in the near future constant monitoring occurs. The most immediate threats to the park, forest fires and illegal settlements, are located primarily near Caracas. However, the concentration of resources and vigilance in those areas closest to the city has resulted in more problems in the more isolated northern slope and eastern sector of El Ávila. These areas suffer from
279-573: Is currently located in the old Baruta town. In the Municipality diverse cultural manifestations are developed, some associates to popular celebrations, like: Los Chaguaramos The Libertador Bolivarian Municipality ( Spanish : Municipio Bolivariano Libertador ) is the only administrative division of the Capital District of Venezuela and along with the municipalities of Baruta , Chacao , El Hatillo and Sucre forms
310-525: Is known as "el pulmón de la ciudad", the lungs of the city, since it serves many different functions for residents of Caracas, the most basic of these being navigation: the peak of El Ávila marks the north of the city. It is home to the longest cable car ride in the world, as well as activities like running, biking, rock climbing, camping, and zip-lining. El Hotel Humboldt as well as many restaurants, including La Chivera, Casa Pakea, El Jardín de Luna, Le Galipanier, Granja Natalia and Tarahumara, are all nestled in
341-677: Is the largest in terms of population, with approximately 2.1 million inhabitants. In this municipality is home to the Miraflores presidential palace , the Federal Legislative Palace , the National Electoral Council , the main offices of PDVSA and CANTV , the Central Bank of Venezuela and the public ministry. It was first established in 1901 under the name of Libertador Department; with
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#1732773132568372-644: The Department of Vargas (now Vargas Municipality , it formed the Federal District of Venezuela . In 1986, its name was changed to Libertador District. Following the creation of the Vargas State in 1998, it became the sole administrative division of the Federal District. Under the 1999 constitution, the Federal District ceased to exist and the Capital District was created. Under the new terms of administrative divisions, Libertador became
403-912: The Greater Caracas are located in Las Mercedes district. Moreover, "Las Mercedes" hosts a number of small businesses, shopping malls, and restaurants that make the area commercially rich. The Baruta Zip Code is 1080 and the Area Code is 212, the same as the Greater Caracas area. Parishes Although some of the political functions overlap with the Greater Caracas Municipality, Baruta has its own Mayor, Darwin Gonzalez. The local government has its own police force, among other responsibilities. The City Hall
434-465: The Metropolitan District of Caracas . It is landlocked by Vargas State and also borders Miranda State on the east and south. The municipality is one of a number in Venezuela named " Libertador Municipality ", in honour of Venezuelan independence hero Simón Bolívar . Libertador is one of the smallest municipalities in Venezuela, with a total area of 438 square kilometres (169 sq mi). It
465-578: The Sapindaceae , Melastomataceae , Rubiaceae , Myrtaceae families and arborescent ferns and palms ( Ceroxylon ceriferum ) have been reported. These forests boast the only extant natural population of the critically endangered Venezuelan walnut tree ( Juglans venezuelensis ). Presents anthropogenic savannas where predominate species like melao capim ( Melinis minutiflora ), the bambusillo ( Arthrostylidium venezuelae ), yellow tara ( Oyedaea verbesinoides ) and incense ( Espeletia neriifolia ). In
496-745: The Southwest with the Hoyo de la Puerta neighborhood (Libertador Municipality). The main economic activity in Baruta is non-manufacturing business in the many office buildings within the Municipality. For example, the Procter & Gamble Latin American Headquarters are located there. Commerce is also a great source of revenue for the Baruteños , as some of the most attractive night spots in
527-534: The capital Caracas located in a narrow valley 950 meters (3,120 ft) above sea level and separates the city from the Caribbean Sea . The mountain is accessible by cable car ( teleferico ), by off-road vehicle, and on foot. In addition to the scenery, one may visit the hacienda, laboratory and mausoleum of Gottfried Knoche ; a German-born doctor who was notorious for his experiments in mummification . They are accessible only by footpath. The park follows
558-409: The cold December weather, and over time, the expression "Pacheco has arrived" came to mean that the weather is about to get colder. El Ávila was declared a park in 1958, fulfilling an interest in its protection that had been prevalent since the 19th century. With its creation came the protection of the forested mountains that surround Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. These mountains now serve as both
589-421: The lack of water at 2,200 meters (7,200 ft) and higher permits only sub-páramo vegetation. Beautiful forests grow along the numerous watercourses that flow on either side of the mountain. The temperatures vary widely on El Ávila, with an average temperature of 13 °C (55 °F) in the lower sections of Caracas valley and 10 °C (50 °F) on Naiguatá peak, where the lowest temperature ever recorded
620-598: The mayor, and legislative branches; governed by the municipal council comprising thirteen members, both offices are elected through universal and secret suffrage. The Libertador Municipality does not belong to any state therefore it doesn't have a governor but instead a Head of Government of the Capital District which is appointed by the President of the Republic. Since August 2009 the municipality publishes
651-400: The mountain's hills. Every December, the "Cruz de Navidad" is illuminated, a large crucifix high up in the mountain that faces the city and can be seen from very far distances. A common expression amongst Caracas city-dwellers to describe the change in seasons is "Pacheco has arrived," which is a reference to the legend of Pacheco the flower-picker. He was known to be a resident of el Galipán,
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#1732773132568682-476: The orientation of relief) is the xeric forest, where prevail species like cují ( Prosopis juliflora ). Between 800–1500 m ombrophile sub-evergreen forest is characterized by 2-3 arboreal strata and relatively dense undergrowth is located. Among the 1,200 - 3 tree storeys and undergrowth well developed - 2,200 masl ombrophile evergreen forest with 2 stands. In these forests species of the orchids , ferns , bromeliads , aroids families abound, and endemic species of
713-496: The population works for the public sector. It is also the most important commercial centre of the country since the Central Bank of Venezuela is located there. Tourism is the next largest economic activity in the municipality as the historical centre of the city is there. Informal commerce is also predominant in the area. The Venezuelan constitution specifies that the municipal governments are divided by executive ; governed by
744-411: The querrequerre ( Cyanocorax yncas ). In addition, more than 1,800 plant species from diverse taxonomic groups can be observed. Several of these plants are endemic to the Cordillera de la Costa mountain range with some endemic to the park itself. The vegetation is of mountain forest, with variations that is distributed according to the height. Between sea level and 200 or 300 meters (and even higher up in
775-486: The seasonal semi-deciduous forests are common. From 800 to 1,500 meters (2,600 to 4,900 ft) above sea level on the northern slope and from 1,200 to 1,600 meters (3,900 to 5,200 ft) on the southern slope, the forests are mainly sub-mountainous evergreen forests. Due to the constant condensation by the cooling of the air masses and the decrease of atmospheric pressure, cloud forest dominates between 1,500 and 2,200 meters (4,900 and 7,200 ft) above sea level. Finally,
806-682: The south and east with the Baruta Municipality of the Miranda State and by the west with the Aragua State . The Municipality includes the Los Chaguaramos neighborhood. The climate is characteristically tropical with the temperature varying according to the altitude with an annual temperature of 24 to 28 °C (75 to 82 °F) being the warmest of the five municipalities that forms Caracas. The vast majority of
837-559: The upper regions of the Silla of Caracas and the Pico Naiguatá is a characteristic vegetation of coastal bush subpáramo, consisting of open shrub of 1–3 m tall with a herbaceous relatively well developed, being the most characteristic species incense or frailejón tree ( Libanothamnus nerufolius ), Spanish flag ( Castilleja fissifolia ) and false frailejón ( Liabum megacephalum ). El Ávila can be classified as vulnerable because there
868-515: The valleys of Caracas, Guatire, Guarenas and Barlovento. The park contains part of the following states: Vargas (northern slope), Capital District (southern and western slope) and Miranda (eastern slope). The National Park is named for the Cerro El Ávila ( Mountain El Ávila ), usually just referred to as "El Ávila", which reaches 2,740 meters (8,990 ft) above sea level. This mountain rises north of
899-399: Was 2 °C (36 °F). The annual average rainfall fluctuates between 600 and 1,400 millimeters (24 and 55 in) and is influenced by orography, which explains why rain is more abundant on the northern slope where the mountain faces the trade winds. There are plenty of trails in El Ávila National Park for outdoor enthusiasts. From low-level routes to high technical complexity, there is
930-496: Was estimated to contain the world's second-largest mega- slum . Cerro El Avila The Ávila National Park , officially known as Waraira Repano National Park for its indigenous Cariban name, protects part of the Cordillera de la Costa Central mountain range, in the coastal region of central-northern Venezuela . The area's highest elevation is Pico Naiguatá , at 2,765 meters (9,072 ft) above sea level. El Ávila
961-456: Was reopened in February 2002. This park has a high diversity of fauna and flora. More than 100 butterfly species, approximately 120 mammal species, 20 amphibians, 30 reptiles and 500 bird species (36% of Venezuela avifauna) have been documented. Nine bird species are endemic to Venezuela and three threatened bird species live in this park; one of the most coloured bird specimen in this park is