Venezuela sits prominently along the Atlantic and Caribbean coasts of northern South America. Colombia is to the west, Brazil to the south, and Guyana to the east. Venezuela's total area, which is medium-sized by South American standards, is roughly the combined size of Texas and Oklahoma. It is about one-tenth the size of Brazil (South Americas largest country) but ten times larger than French Guiana (the continent's smallest country). Venezuela stretches from 1° to 12° north latitude. Close to the equator, it is a tropical country.Tucked inside Venezuela's boundaries are some of the most diverse natural landscapes of South America. During a short drive south from the hot Caribbean shoreline to nearby mountain crests, the traveler sees a kaleidoscope of plants, from cacti to pine trees and from rain forests to alpine grasses...