Monagas: Difference between revisions

| population_total = 1,460,000<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://venezuela.justia.com/estados/monagas/|title=Sub-national population - Area Database - Global Data Lab|website=https://venezuela.justia.com/estados/monagas/ |access-date=2021-07-31}}</ref>

The state has many plateaus and savannas located in the southwest. In the northeast and the southeast there are [[deltaic]] savannas in which rivers such as the [[San Juan River (Venezuela)|San Juan]], [[Guanipa River|Guanipa]], [[Caño Manamo|Caño Mánamo]], and [[Tigre River (Venezuela)|Tigre]] flow into. In the northwest is a group of mountains belonging to the eastern mountain range. This mountain range is divided into two [[Massif|massifsmassif]]s: the massif of el Turimiquire (in which the town of San Antonio is located) and the massif of Caripe (in which the town of Caripe is located). Cerro Negro (2000 m.) is the highest mountain of Monagas State. The mountain landscape features geological material from the [[Cretaceous]], constituted exclusively by sedimentary rocks, predominantly sandstone, shale and limestone, with the main geological formations being El Cantil, Barranquín, Guayuta and Querecual; it has elevations between {{Convert|400 and 2300|m|abbr=on}} above sea level, with valleys and depressions.

It has an extensive [[Hydrography|hydrographic]] network with a fairly uniform geographical distribution, with the Guarapiche River standing out in the area of the tables.{{Clarify|reason=Cuenta con una extensa red hidrográfica con una distribución geográfica bastante uniforme, destacando el río Guarapiche en el sector de las mesas.|date=September 2022}} The rivers are numerous and of little depth, marking the end of the piedmont in which three river basins with a north-southnorth–south course are located: those of the rivers Amana-Areo, Guarapiche, and Púnceres-[[Aragua River|Aragua]]. From west to east the Tácata, Tonoro, Caris, Guanipa and Tigre rivers cross the state. Monagas State has a great number of moderate rivers and streams; among the main ones are:

The area's vegetation is intertropical and is adapted to the different altitudes, climates, and kinds of soil in the state. <!-- Typical trees are el araguaney, ceiba, el jobo, el aceituno, la vera, la palma de moriche and el mangle. --> The State of Monagas has aan extensive biodiversity compared to other Venezuelan states. More than 2000 species of vascular flora have been catalogued within the Monagas territory.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}} The most symbolic tree in the state is the [[moriche]] (''Mauritia flexuosa'') along the Morichal Largo River. The dominant vegetation type in the north of Monagas State is rainforest, such as that found in the mountainous area of the San Juan River valley and the municipalities of Acosta and Caripe. In these cold areas, it is possible to grow temperate plants such as strawberries and roses. However, in the flat regions, towards the south-east of the state, intertropical savanna vegetation dominates, such as thorny scrub, grasses, cujíes and other varieties that have adapted to the conditions of the state such as ''[[Ceiba]]'', {{Lang|es|jobo}}, [[Caribbean pine]], [[jabillo]] and [[carob tree]]. Another variation of the vegetation present in Monagas State can be found along the banks of the main rivers, where extensive forests of mangroves, palms and morichals have formed.

Monagas state has a culture very similar to other eastern states of Venezuela. Natives of Monagas share with the population of the eastern states the quick manner of speaking the Spanish language, food, some musical rhythms as the [[galerón]] or [[joropo]], typical clothing such as the [[liqui liqui]] of the [[Llanos]], and veneration of the [[Virgin of El Valle]].{{cncitation needed|date=December 2022}}

The Maturín Carnival is highlighted by the parade in the center of the city, with floats and parades made by communities, educational institutions, public agencies and private companies. After the parade, musical shows are held at the local sports complex, in addition to the ceremony of electing the Carnival Queen.{{cncitation needed|date=December 2022}}

The Saint Simon ({{Lang|es|San Simón}}) Fair is held to celebrate the anniversary of the city's foundation. It takes place in the first week of December. Shows such as dances, food exhibitions, horse shows, ''[[coleo]]'', musical group presentations, agricultural and handicraft exhibitions are held. It takes place in the Chucho Palacios Fair Complex. It is named after Saint Simon in honour of [[Simon the Zealot]], the patron saint of Maturín.{{cncitation needed|date=December 2022}}

The Snake of Ipure ({{Lang|es|culebra de Ipure}}) is a typical dance in San Antonio de Capayacuar and widespread in the State of Monagas, where girls or women dressed usually in yellow and black dance in the form of the movement of a snake.{{cncitation needed|date=December 2022}}

The Dance of the Trembler was first performed on 15 November 1989. It consists of dancing with a {{Lang|es|temblador}} (a fish, the [[electric eel]], found in the rivers closest to the town) made of cardboard and cloth. Three people go inside the {{Lang|es|temblador}} and three pairs go around it. The instruments used for this dance are a {{Lang|es|bandolín}}, ''[[Cuatro (Venezuela)|cuatro]]'', a drum and maracas.{{cncitation needed|date=December 2022}}

This art consists of carefully weaving the fiber of the moriche palm. Once it is {{Lang|es|salcochada}}{{Clarify|date=September 2022}} and spun, this fiber is tied to special sticks and woven between them, giving it the shape of a sheet; when loops are made at the ends, it takes the form of a hammock.{{cncitation needed|date=December 2022}}

The name {{Lang|es|sangrito}} is due to the fact that the raw material used for this handicraft is extracted from the roots of a tree that bears its name because when it is cut, its roots tend to bleed; it is easy to mould as it is a very soft and light wood. The Warao Indians use this material to mold figures of animals that live in the forests and rivers that they frequent.{{cncitation needed|date=December 2022}}

Typical dishes of Monagas state are ''[[arepa]]'' (a kind of bread made of maize), ''[[cachapa]]'' (an omelette made of maize), ''[[casabe]]'', ''[[empanada]]'', ''[[mondongo]]'' (a kind of soup), ''[[queso de mano]]'' (a kind of cheese), {{Lang|es|jalea de guayaba}} (guava jelly), and {{Lang|es|carne en vara}} (meat grilled on a stick). Fish is a very important food in the state's native cuisine. In Christmas is traditional to eat ''[[Hallaca|hallacashallaca]]s'', ''[[pan de jamón]]'' (ham bread), ''[[Tortita negra|torta negra]]'' (black cake), {{Lang|es|ensalada de gallina}} (chicken salad), and ''{{Ill|Dulce de lechoza|lt=dulce de lechoza|es}}'' (preserved papaya). During Holy Week, {{Lang|es|cuajado de morrocoy}} (a dish made from [[red-footed tortoise]]) is common due to the belief that it is profane to eat meat at this time. Also during Holy Week, {{Lang|es|cuajado de cazon}} made from the [[school shark]] is common in the area of the eastern coast.[[File:Fachada Catedral Nuestra Señora del Carmen.jpg|thumb|Façade of the Cathedral of Maturín, Monagas]]

The predominant religion in the state is Christianity. Catholicism is the Christian branch which has the largest number of followers, as a consequence of the evangelization carried out by Catholic missionaries, such as the Franciscans, in the 17th and 18th centuries. The capital, Maturín, has been the seat of a [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Maturín|Catholic diocese]] since 1958.{{cncitation needed|date=December 2022}}

[[Islam]] is practiced by some immigrants from Arabic countries, although they do not have a mosque in the state. It is also possible to find in Maturín followers of [[Buddhism]], [[Hinduism]], [[metaphysics]], and other faiths.{{cncitation needed|date=December 2022}}

* Maturín’sMaturín's Foundation Day: 7 December.