San Cristóbal
Venezuela · Americas
About San Cristóbal
San Cristóbal is the capital city of the Venezuelan state of Táchira. It is located in a mountainous region of Western Venezuela. The city is situated 818 metres (2,684 ft) above sea level in the northern Andes overlooking the Torbes River, 56 kilometres (35 mi) from the Colombian border. San Cristóbal was founded on 31 March 1561, by Juan de Maldonado. From its inception, the city evolved rapidly as one of the most progressive and important centers of commerce in the country and the region, due primarily to its rich soil and its proximity to the border with Colombia.
The city was severely damaged by the Earthquake of Cúcuta (also known as Earthquake of the Andes) in 1875.
San Cristobal has a large student population. There are many post-secondary schools, both public and private, in San Cristobal.
The main higher education facilities are:
Universidad Nacional Experimental del Táchira (UNET)
Universidad Nacional Experimental de las Fuerzas Amadas (UNEFA)
Instituto Universitario de Tecnología Agro Industrial (IUTAI)
Overview adapted from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA. Photography via Wikimedia Commons.