Maracaibo, situated in the northwestern part of…
1574 CE
Maracaibo, situated in the northwestern part of present Venezuela on a channel linking the Gulf of Venezuela with the western side of Lake Maracaibo, the dominant feature of the oil-rich Maracaibo Basin, had been first founded in 1529 by the German Ambrosio Alfinger, who named it Villa de Maracaibo.
The lack of activity in the zone made Nicolas de Federman evacuate the village in 1535 and move its population to Cabo de la Vela nearby Coro.
A second attempt by Captain Alonso Pacheco turned into failure.
The third and definite foundation of the city, occurs in 1574 when Captain Pedro Maldonado, under Governor Diego de Mazariego's command, establishes the village with the name of Nueva Zamora de Maracaibo to honor Mazariego's place of birth, Zamora in Spain.
From this foundation, the town will begin to develop as a whole.
Favored by prevailing winds and a protected harbor, the city is located on the shores of the lake where the narrows, which eventually lead to the Gulf of Venezuela, first become pronounced.
Maracaibo is today the second-largest city in the country after the national capital Caracas and the capital of Zulia state.