Cabimas is a city on the Costa Oriental del Lago de Maracaibo in Zulia State in northwestern Venezuela. In 2005, its population was around 200,859.
Before 1900, Venezuela was known to possess commercial quantities of petroleum. One major find was the 'Zumaque I' well in 1914,:es:Municipio Baralt (Zulia, Venezuela) (Spanish) in the area of Mene Grande, about 50 miles (80 km) southeast of Cabimas. It was the blowout of the Barroso No. 2 well in Cabimas in 1922The Royal Dutch Shell Group of Companies in Venezuela, 1913-1922 that marked the beginning of Venezuela's modern history as a major producer.
Cabimas still plays an important role in production from the nation's largest oil fields, which are located around and beneath Lake Maracaibo. Other fields are increasing in importance, mainly in eastern Venezuela. Most refining in Venezuela takes place in refineries outside the Cabimas area.
Overview The city has an area of 604 km2, a population of 256,993 inhabitants and a population density of 425.5 hab/km2.
Its limits are: Lake Maracaibo to the west, the municipalities of Santa Rita and Miranda to the north, the state of Lara Estado Lara to the east and the municipalities of Simón Bolívar and Lagunillas to the south.
Neighbourhoods
Some neighbourhoods of Cabimas are:
26 de Julio 19 de Abril Ambrosio Amparito Amparo Bello Monte Buena Vista Campo Elias Campo Alegre Campo Blanco Campo Holliwood Campo Staff Campo Urdaneta Concordia Corito Curazaito Delicias Nuevas Delicias Viejas El Dividive El Golfito (1986) El Lucero El Solito Francisco de Miranda Gas Plant Guabina Jose Antonio PaezLa Mision (where Cabimas was founded) La Montañita La Rosa Las 25 Las 40's Las 50's Las Cabillas Las Cupulas Las Palmas (Antiguo Campo Staff) Los Laureles Los Medanos Los Postes Negros Los Pozones Miraflores Nueva Cabimas Nueva Rosa Punta Icotea Punto Fijo Punta Gorda San Benito Sucre Sucre II Sucre III Tierra Negra
Origin of the name "Cabima" is an aboriginal word of Carib origin; it is the name of a tree, also known as Copaiba or oil stick (Copaifera officialis), from whose trunk an oil with medicinal and artisanal properties is extracted.
History Cabimas was founded by a group of Cistercians monks in 1758 as the Mission of Saint Ambrosio of Punta de Piedra, located in the modern day "La Mision". Some archeological remains have been found, however not a single wall survives. The existence of Cabimas is stated in the chronicles of Venezuelan Archbishop Mariano Marti who visited the town in 1771. The town grew as a fishing village on Lake Maracaibo's coast until the discovery of oil by the Venezuelan Oil Concessions (VOC) with the well Santa Barbara (R2) in 1917. However, it was the well "Los Barrosos 2" (R4) (1922) whose 100,000 bpd blowout reached newspaper headlines around the world. Many oil companies and workers from other parts of Venezuela and abroad came to Cabimas, increasing its population. Most foreign personnel were of American or Dutch origin. La Rosa Oilfield was given in concession by Venezuela president Juan Vicente Gómez.
Population and infrastructure The development and transformation of the city followed the oil industry. The main avenues (F, G, H, J, K, L, 31,32,33, among others) were named following a coordinate system made by the oil company Shell to locate its wells.
Cabimas was populated by people from different regions of Venezuela, mostly people from the east, the Andes, and Falcon. Furthermore, a sector founded by Falconians was named "Corito" (in Spanish small Coro, Coro is the capital of Falcon state). Other sectors received names from nearby oil facilities like the streets R5 and R10 named after oil wells and Gasplant sector named after a natural gas facility.
The city was developed with oil field camps (Las 40's, Las 50's, Concordia, Hollywood, Campo Blanco, Campo Staff -modern day Las Palmas-, Las Cupulas), the newly arrived built their own houses around them, so the city development was not planned. It was also populated by Syrians, Lebanese, Chinese, Italians, Spanish, Portuguese, and Greeks, thus shaping the local markets.
Besides oil production, the most outstanding contribution of the city to the country's history was the founding of the first union of workers the Oil Workers and Employees Union (SOEP by its Spanish initials), which still operates in the same building since 1936.
Geography
Weather The weather is hot and humid with an average of over 30 °C year round. The oil well flares produce large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2), which produces greenhouse effects which make the place even hotter. Precipitation is low during most of the year but the rain is heavy during the wet season.
Relief The terrain is mainly flat with noticeable depressions which were former lagoons, dried to build houses, for instance, Guavina (alligator) a place in Guavina is still called "the swamp", and the "Bajaíta del Tuerto Teófilo" ("One eyed Teófilo's slope").
The soil is made of sand deposits and very few rocks. This, combined with aquifers, allows erosion during the rainy season making the streets collapse, producing notorious holes in the streets.
Economy The main activity is the oil industry, since the discovery of the well "Barroso 2" (R4) IN 1922. Currently the oil fields of La Rosa in land and La Salina in Maracaibo's lake. Those are mature fields producing medium/heavy oil from La Rosa formation of Miocene age. La Rosa field was given in concession to German oil company Preussag Energy from 1996 to 2001 when it passed to the Venezuelan Suelopetrol. Later on, it became associated with the Venezuelan State-owned oil company PDVSA in 2006 being 60% PDVSA and 40% Suelopetrol.
Cabimas doesn't have facilities for natural gas management, processing and transport, so while the gas produced has been flared for several decades, there is currently a project to build a cryogenic plant.
Markets are another income for Cabimas, with big stores founded and owned by immigrants from Mediterranean Europe, Middle East and Colombia. There is fishing activity, currently harassed by the growth of algae in the polluted Maracaibo lake, as well as by insecurity (piracy).
There are some factories like a plastic bag factory and others. There is a former industrial area which is no longer operational. In the countryside, especially in the Aristides Calvani parish, fruit trees are grown and cattle is raised. The Cattle Raisers Association of East Maracaibo Lake operates in Cabimas.
This municipality is also known for a large number of spare auto parts stores.
The Cabimas and Maracaibo areas are both widely known for international credit card fraud.
Transport
Cars and vans In Cabimas there are no public transport bus routes. Old cars and vans are the vehicles used for public transportation. Most vehicles are from the 70's and are typically not well-maintained. They are known locally as "carritos". From the terminal they go everywhere in Cabimas, which is an advantage over Maracaibo or Caracas, both of which lack a central transport station. Routes are identified with a name and a taxi cap of a particular color. Transport costs are artificially cheap since refined petroleum in Venezuela only costs the equivalent of US$0.05, and fares are around half a dollar, however, this is considered expensive by locals because the majority are poor.
Lines which arrive at the terminal are: Ambrosio (Blue cap with white letters) Bello Monte (Purple cap with white letters) Concordia (White cap with blue or black letters) Corito (Green cap with white letters) El Lucero (White cap with blue letters) Gasplant (Vans) (Blue cap with red letters) H y Cabillas (Red cap with white letters) H y Delicias (Whitte cap with red letters) Las 40's (Yellow cap with blue corners and blue letters) Nueva Cabimas (Orange cap with white letters) Punta Gorda (Blue cap with yellow letters)
There are other few lines which don't come to the terminal but which operates in the city: H5 32 (Yellow cap with blue letter and red corners. It depicts 2 pine trees the symbol of being a cooperative company)
Some lines have very long routes and offer alternate routes with the same lines: Ambrosio / Golfito-Amparo-Amparito (Identified with white letters in the windshield) Nueva Cabimas / Nueva Rosa
Ports / Docks The port of La Salina, with its artificial island, is one of the main oil tanker docks in Maracaibos' lake, from where the crude is shipped to the United States of America, Europe or Asia. There are also some small private docks of oil service companies such as the Halliburton dock in Las Palmas. The Fishing dock is at the Boulevart Costanero, and is for small out-bound vessels. There are no commercial or tourist docks.
Landmarks Oil Workers and Employees Union (SOEP by its Spanish initials) of Cabimas: El Rosario street, was the first Venezuelan workers union founded in 1936 by Jorge Hernández. El Barroso Square: Intercomunal Avenue, Santa Clara Sector between K and L roads. It was the well which shown the La Rosa oil field potential. It blew out in December 1922 with . It is currently dry and has an oil pump (Mechanical horse type) as a monument. The Monument was constructed through the offices and concern of Professor Orlando Mendez from Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV), who found the historical well abandoned inside a house and proceed to ask for a monument for it. Monument to the Oil Workers: Nuevo Juan highway, between J street, Miraflores street, Lagoven street and las Cabillas Street. It is a statue which depicts two oil workers tightening a valve, it was made by local sculptor Lucidio Gonzalez in 1995 and was commissioned by the City Council.
Christian churches
Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cabimas. Independencia Av with Miranda street. There is the image of Our Lady of the Rosary protector of Cabimas and Saint Benedict of Palermo as well. Our lady of the Rosary fair is each year in October. Saint Benedict day is celebrated each December 27 and January 6. The Cathedral is the site of the bishopric of Cabimas and is the oldest church in Cabimas.
Saint John the Baptist Church, Principal Av., La Rosa Vieja Sector. Founded in 1953 La Rosa Church. Principal Av La Rosa. Founded in 1965. Saint Martin of Porres Church. Andres Bello Av, Ambrosio sector. Saint Joseph church. Cumana Av Concordia Sector. Our Lady of the Valley Church Av 32nd Nueva Cabimas sector. Jesus Heart church. Intercomunal Av las Cabillas sector. Saint Peter church. Principal Av Las Delicias, with backstreet San Benito, Delicias Nuevas sector, founded in 2005. Saint Francis of Asis Church in Francisco de Miranda sector. Episcopal Charismatic Church of Venezuela (Bethabara Cathedral), Federacion street with 18 de Octubre, Tierra Negra sector. Christian Evangelic Church Savor Light, Principal Av Cabimas with Vereda del Lago street, next to Las Palmas camp, was the first Protestant church in Cabimas founded 70 years ago. Saint Francis of Asis church, located in the sector Francisco de Miranda, founded in 1988 by Father Angel Andueza. La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias
Parks, squares and museums Bolivar park. Independence Av in front of Our lady of the Rosary Cathedral. Its history begins in 1824 when is founded as the square of Our Lady of the Rosary Church (it became Cathedral in 1965). It is currently under mayor rebuilding. However, work has stopped for several months because of a lawsuit between the Zulia state government and the Historic Heritage Institute which is dependent on the national government. Both organizations are controlled by opposing political parties, so the suit is part of a political struggle.