Caracas

Caracas, or Caraccas, a city of South America, capital of the United States of Venezuela, is situated at an altitude of nearly 3,000 feet above sea-level in lat. 10° 31' N., and long. 67° 5' W. It is regularly built, with well-paved and spacious streets; and among its chief edifices are the cathedral, university, federal palaces, and other official buildings. In the cathedral is the tomb of Bolivar. Public parks and gardens are numerous, and it is well provided with educational and charitable institutions. It is subject to earthquakes, and in 1812 as many as 12,000 people are said to have perished in this way, while a great part of the city was destroyed.