14 ALLAN HANCOCK ATLANTIC EXPEDITION REPORT 



from the lake proper is situated Maracaibo, second largest city in Vene- 

 zuela, with a population of 85,000. Vessels ply regularly between Mara- 

 caibo and both Aruba and Curagao, transporting crude petroleum to the 

 refineries. 



Wind with a force of from 5 to 7, Beaufort Scale, is regularly en- 

 countered in the Gulf of Venezuela region from December to March, as 

 at Cape la Vela. The entire region is arid and devoid of vegetation. It is 

 considered healthful except in summer months. 



From Cape San Roman the coast line turns southeastward for 19 

 miles to Pta. de Aricula, then due south another 15 miles to the constric- 

 tion formed by the Golfete de Coro, an eastern extension of the Gulf of 

 Venezuela, then southwest again for 18 miles along a narrow isthmus 

 connecting the Peninsula de Paraguana to the South American mainland 

 at Vela de Coro. For this entire distance of 52 miles the only prominence 

 offering aid to navigation is the Pan de Santa Ana, elevation 2,800 feet, 

 located in the south central portion of the peninsula and visible on clear 

 days for 60 miles. 



From Vela de Coro the coast line resumes its eastward trend for 42 

 miles to Pta. Zamuro, then turns southeastward 50 miles to Pta. Tucacas. 

 This combined stretch of 92 miles finds the coast increasingly hilly, with 

 numerous isolated peaks at greater or lesser distances inland. Among 

 these may be mentioned Cerro de la Teta, elevation 4,1 10 feet and located 

 20 miles southwest of Vela de Coro, Colina del Capadare, elevation 

 1,620 feet and located 10 miles west of Pta. San Juan, and Mt. Mission, 

 elevation 2,358 feet and situated 14 miles west of Tucacas on the Golfo 

 Triste. 



The Golfo- Triste is 26 miles wide between Pta. Tucacas on the 

 northwest and Puerto Cabello on the southeast, and indents to a depth 

 of 10 miles. The town of Tucacas, with a railroad connection to Barquis- 

 meto and the Aroa copper mines, is on a shallow lagoon about a mile long, 

 formed by Pta. Brava, a southerly extension of Pta. Tucacas, and the 

 mainland. Clearance must be had at Puerto Cabello. 



Puerto Cabello 



The city of Puerto Cabello is situated on a peninsula on the south- 

 eastern shore of the Golfo Triste. It has a population of 27,000 and is a 

 secondary port for Caracas, from which it may be reached by railroad. 

 The immediate inland city served by Puerto Cabello is Valencia, capital 



