ARAGUA

aragua, one of the smaller states of venezuela under the redivision of 1904, lying principally within the parallel ranges of the venezuelan cordillera, and comprising some of the most fertile and healthful valleys of the republic. it is bounded e. by the federal district and maturin, s. by guarico and w. by zamora and carabobo. pop. (1905, est.) 152,364. aragua has a short coast-line on the caribbean west of the federal district, but has no port of consequence. cattle, swine and goats are raised, and the state produces coffee, sugar, cacao, beans, cereals and cheese. the climate of the higher valleys is subtropical, the mean annual temperature ranging from 74 deg. to 80 deg. f. the capital, la victoria (pop. 7800), is situated in the fertile aragua valley, 1558 ft. above sea-level and 36 m. south-west of caracas. other important towns are barbacoas (pop. 13,109) on the left bank of the guarico in a highly fertile region, ciudad de cura and maracay (pop. 7500), 56 m. west-south-west of caracas near the north-east shore of lake valencia. the last two towns are on the railway between caracas and valencia.