Palo Negro is a Venezuelan city, the capital of Libertador Municipality in the state of Aragua. It lies about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) south of Maracay, on the shores of Lake Valencia, and forms part of the Maracay metropolitan area.[2] Its principal economic activity revolves around the industrial sector, with factories and small manufacturing companies. In 2023 it had a population of 123,706.[3][4]
Palo Negro | |
|---|---|
City | |
| Nickname(s): El Samán Quemado ("The Burned Saman"); Un Pueblito Agradable ("A Pleasant Little Town") | |
| Country | Venezuela |
| State | Aragua |
| Municipality | Libertador |
| Founded | 23 February 1936 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Chacho |
| Area | |
• Total | 52 km2 (20 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 435 m (1,427 ft) |
| Population (2023) | |
• Total | 123,706 |
| Demonym | Palonegrense |
| Time zone | UTC-4:00 (VET) |
| Postal codes | 2104, 2107, 2117[1] |
| Area code | 0243 |
History
editEtymology
editThe city takes its name from the burning of a saman tree at the Hacienda La Croquera at the entrance to the settlement. It was established as an ecclesiastical parish around 1781. In 1863 the first neighbourhood nucleus, La Atascosa, was founded. Over time pro-emancipation movements emerged that sought independence from the municipal council of Santiago Mariño; this was granted on 23 February 1936, creating the foreign municipality of Palo Negro.[5][6]
Foundation and development of neighbourhoods
editThe development of Palo Negro's various sectors has taken place over the following years:
- 1863 – La Atascosa
- 1939 – Ocumarito
- 1942 – Santa Ana
- 1961 – El Libertador
- 1965 – Diez de Diciembre
- 1973 – Primero de Mayo
- 1974 – La Arboleda
- 1979 – Lusan
- 1980 – El Orticeño
- 1981 – Los Naranjos
- 1983 – Urbanización Palo Negro
- 1984 – La Ovallera, Santa Rosalía and Ezequiel Zamora
- 1985 – Las Ánimas I
- 1986 – Las Ánimas II
- 1988 – Los Hornos
- 2000 – El Libertador Air Base (BAEL)
Geography
editLibertador Municipality borders Santiago Mariño Municipality, beginning at the nidito point and continuing along the Coropo back road bordering the El Libertador Air Base to Camburito, and then sinuously parallel to the Turmero River until the Lake Valencia. To the south it borders Zamora Municipality, separated by the Aparo Caño, between the Castillito hills, from Puerta Molinera to the Aparo outlet. To the east it borders José Ángel Lamas Municipality, separated by the Calle de Las Flores (the straight road to San Luis), from the nidito to Puerta Molinera. To the west, it borders Lake Valencia, from the mouth of the Turmero River in the north to the mouth of the Aparo Caño in the south.
Relief
editPalo Negro lies between the coastal range and the interior range of the Cordillera de la Costa, forming the Lake Valencia depression with lacustrine plains and low rounded hills suitable for agriculture, with crops such as bananas and sugarcane. Most land use within the municipality is residential urban use; other areas belong to the Ministry of Defense.
Vegetation
editAbout 50 per cent of the municipality's land is residential, extending from its western limit (Avenida Los Aviadores) and all areas north of the Turmero River. In the remaining eastern areas, the predominant use is commercial agriculture, with sugarcane, bananas and cassava among the main crops. The soils are of alluvial formation, with high moisture-retention capacity, restricted infiltration, very slow permeability, medium fertility and very fine textures.
Climate
editPalo Negro has a tropical climate. Due to the strength of solar radiation in the region, the maximum temperature recorded in recent years is 35 °C (95 °F) and the minimum is 15 °C (59 °F). The mean maximum temperature is 31 °C (88 °F) and the mean minimum is 22 °C (72 °F).
| Climate data for Palo Negro | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 26.4 (79.5) |
28.3 (82.9) |
31.8 (89.2) |
33.5 (92.3) |
28.0 (82.4) |
28.3 (82.9) |
30.0 (86.0) |
27.0 (80.6) |
29.4 (84.9) |
31.3 (88.3) |
32.0 (89.6) |
26.0 (78.8) |
28.0 (82.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 23.0 (73.4) |
27.0 (80.6) |
28.0 (82.4) |
30.0 (86.0) |
28.3 (82.9) |
25.4 (77.7) |
26.4 (79.5) |
24.0 (75.2) |
26.1 (79.0) |
27.1 (80.8) |
27.2 (81.0) |
23.0 (73.4) |
25.0 (77.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 14.8 (58.6) |
15.0 (59.0) |
19.0 (66.2) |
21.0 (69.8) |
19.6 (67.3) |
19.0 (66.2) |
19.0 (66.2) |
18.8 (65.8) |
19.0 (66.2) |
17.7 (63.9) |
20.0 (68.0) |
16.0 (60.8) |
17.2 (63.0) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 2 (0.1) |
1 (0.0) |
0 (0) |
12 (0.5) |
150 (5.9) |
185 (7.3) |
125 (4.9) |
310 (12.2) |
123 (4.8) |
110 (4.3) |
104 (4.1) |
60 (2.4) |
1,182 (46.5) |
| Average precipitation days | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 13 | 29 | 19 | 18 | 12 | 5 | 95 |
| Source: Weatherbase[7] | |||||||||||||
Notable weather events
edit- On 8 August 2015, severe electrical storms occurred over Libertador Municipality, producing winds of approximately 70 kilometres per hour (43 mph), prolonged rainfall and hail, causing damage to vegetation, flooding, the loss of roofing and underground damage in the locality.
- On 11, 12 and 16 January 2017, low temperatures were felt across the country, particularly in the Andean zones and the Cordillera de la Costa; in Palo Negro the minimum was 13 °C (55 °F) and the maximum 26 °C (79 °F), among the coldest days recorded for the town.
- On 16 August 2017, during the rainy season, Palo Negro recorded one of its lowest daytime temperatures, reaching 21 °C (70 °F) at noon, although temperatures rose to 23 °C (73 °F) at night.
- In April 2017, high temperatures reached 35 °C (95 °F) with a heat index of 40 °C (104 °F); April is the warmest month in Venezuela, as the sun reaches close to its zenith over the country.
Hydrography
editAragua River
editThe Aragua River is the main river of the valleys, rising in the highlands of Santiago Mariño Municipality and the Cordillera de la Costa. In the dry season its waters are scarce and highly contaminated.[8]
Canals
editTwo artificial streams with their secondary branches also flow through Libertador Municipality.
Aparo Caño
editThe Aparo Caño originates from seepage from the Taiguaiguai reservoir. Its course within the municipality measures 8,845 metres (29,019 ft).
Lake Valencia
editLake Valencia (also called Lake Tacarigua) forms the western boundary of the municipality and supports subsistence and recreational fishing.[9]
Economy
editThe evolution of economic activity in Palo Negro and Libertador Municipality can be divided into four periods:
- First period (1863–1910): Subsistence agriculture for local consumption. The name Palo Negro was consolidated as a geographical reference.
- Second period (1910–1936): Agriculture remained stable; cattle raising declined toward the end of the period. Commerce was limited, centred on handicraft products. Urban development began and the municipality's administrative bases were established.
- Third period (1936–1958): Public services were introduced and agriculture expanded; cattle raising adapted better to local conditions.
- Fourth period (1958–1990): Urban demographic growth had a negative effect on the agricultural sector. Incipient industrialisation began, while commerce and public-sector employment generated greater income for workers and local finances.
Sectors
editPrimary sector
editThis sector is represented mainly by agriculture and, to a lesser extent, livestock. Livestock production in the municipality has included two dairies, three cattle breeders, two poultry farms, three forage farms and a chicken processing plant.
Secondary sector
editIndustrial activity in the municipality has been limited. Despite its potential to generate employment and tax revenue, no zoning plan has been developed to sustain industrial growth.
Tertiary sector
editPrincipal services include transport, telephony and water supply. Public transport is operated by several cooperatives, including Unión Maracay, Unión Turmero, Unión Palo Negro, Unión Santa Rita and Unión Los Hornos. The commercial zone is centred around the Plaza Bolívar of Palo Negro, with bank branches including Banco de Venezuela and others.
Agricultural production (1989–1990)
edit- Banana: grown in sectors such as San Luis, Tacarigua, Mamón Macho and Las Vegas, with an estimated yield of 60,000 kg per hectare per year.
- Sugarcane: approximately 1,100 hectares cultivated, with a yield of 95 tonnes per hectare.
- Maize: in 1989 an estimated 2.5 million kg of selected seed was produced.
- Onion: production was considered limited by local farmers.
See also
editReferences
edit- ↑ "Códigos postales del estado Aragua" (in Spanish). TodoClon.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2010. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
- ↑ "Aragua". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
- ↑ "Municipio Libertador" (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 May 2025.
- ↑ "XIV Censo Nacional de Población y Vivienda – Resultados por entidad federal y municipio del Estado Aragua" (PDF) (in Spanish). Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Venezuela. 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
- ↑ "Municipio Libertador" (in Spanish). Gobierno Bolivariano de Aragua. Archived from the original on 3 August 2009. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
- ↑ Fundación Polar, ed. (1997). Diccionario de Historia de Venezuela (in Spanish) (2nd ed.). Caracas: Fundación Polar. ISBN 980-6397-37-1.
- ↑ "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Palo Negro, Venezuela". Weatherbase. 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
- ↑ "Lago de Valencia: una crisis crónica" (in Spanish). Observatorio de Ecología Política de Venezuela. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
- ↑ "Lake Valencia". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 31 May 2026.