Venezuela is a country on the northern coast of South America. The country comprises a continental mainland and numerous islands located off the Venezuelan coastline in the Caribbean Sea. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela possesses borders with Guyana to the east, Brazil to the south, and Colombia to the west. Its capital is Caracas. Falling within the tropics, Venezuela sits close to the equator, in the Northern Hemisphere.

Today, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is known for its petroleum industry, the environmental diversity of its territory, and its natural features. Venezuela is considered to be among the world's 17 most biodiverse countries.

Venezuela is among the most urbanized countries in Latin America; the vast majority of Venezuelans live in the cities of the north, especially in the capital Caracas which is also the largest city. Venezuela is also home to a diversity of wildlife in a variety of protected habitats.