Maracaibo (English spelling)

Japanese: マラカイボ（英語表記）Maracaibo

The capital of Zulia State, in the northwestern tip of Venezuela. It is the second largest city in the country after the capital Caracas, and is located on the west bank of the waterway connecting Lake Maracaibo and the Gulf of Venezuela. It is located in the Maracaibo lowlands, surrounded by mountains, and the mountains block the trade winds, making it hot and humid all year round. The average annual temperature is 28°C. It was built in 1571. Until the beginning of the 20th century, it was just a small coffee shipping port for inland settlements, but after the development of oil fields around Lake Maracaibo began in 1917, it rapidly developed as an oil shipping port. Ten years later, it became the largest oil city not only in Venezuela but also in South America. At the end of the 1950s, the waterway connecting the lake and the Caribbean Sea was dredged, making it possible for ocean-going ships to navigate, further increasing its importance as a port city. Currently, a large industrial area has been formed in the southwest of the city, and in addition to the huge petrochemical industry, which continues to grow rapidly, there are industries such as food, soap, textiles, rope, beverages, and construction materials. As the city developed, it was rapidly modernized, but buildings and streets from the Spanish colonial period have been preserved. It is home to the University of Zulia (1946). A bridge about 8 km long connects the city to the east bank of the canal to the south, and a main road to Caracas runs through here. There is an international airport. Population 1,206,726 (1990).

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

ベネズエラ北西端部，スリア州の州都。首都カラカスに次ぐ同国第2の都市で，マラカイボ湖とベネズエラ湾を結ぶ水路の西岸に位置する。周辺を山地で囲まれたマラカイボ低地にあり，山地によって貿易風がさえぎられるため年中高温多湿。年平均気温 28℃。 1571年建設。 20世紀初めまでは内陸部の集落のための小さなコーヒー積出港にすぎなかったが，1917年マラカイボ湖周辺の油田開発が始められてから，石油積出港として急速に発展。 10年後にはベネズエラはもとより南アメリカでも最大の石油都市となった。 50年代末には湖とカリブ海を結ぶ水路が浚渫され，外洋船が航行できるようになり，港湾都市としての重要性がさらに高まった。現在市南西部には大工業地帯が形成されており，急成長を続ける巨大な石油化学工業のほか，食品，石鹸，繊維，ロープ，飲料，建設資材などの工業が立地。市の発展に伴って，市街も急速に近代化したが，スペイン植民地時代の建物や街路なども保存されている。スリア大学 (1946) 所在地。市の南で水路の東岸と長さ約 8kmの橋で結ばれ，ここを経てカラカス方面へ幹線道路が通じる。国際空港がある。人口 120万 6726 (1990) 。

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