Miranda (state)

Miranda State (, ) is one of the 23 states of Venezuela and the second most populous after Zulia State. The most recent population estimate was 3,194,390 in mid-2016.

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"

! Racial composition !! Population !! %

| Mestizo || || style="text-align:right;"|48.0

| White || style="text-align:right;"|1,387,265 || style="text-align:right;"|45.8

| Black || style="text-align:right;"|157,506 || style="text-align:right;"|5.2

| Other race || || style="text-align:right;"|1.0

Economy

thumb|Centro Empresarial Galipan, Chacao Municipality, Miranda State

The economic development of the state is based on the excellence of its soils, which has allowed the boom in agriculture. The region of the valleys of Tuy is characterized by the production of cocoa, sugar cane, and corn, among other crops. Barlovento also has great fertility of its lands, standing out the cultivation of cocoa and a great variety of fruits and vegetables. Likewise, Guatire and Guarenas have good lands for cultivation, with coffee being one of the main products of the area.

Among other economic activities is the industrial one, standing out the manufacturing one, which conforms together with that of the Federal District the first urban manufacturing set of the country.

thumb|Cattle in Chaguamaral, Miranda State

The tertiary sector is extremely important: financial, commercial and service activities are concentrated in the area of Miranda. During the last two decades the tourist activity has grown with the installation of a great hotel infrastructure in the coast of Barlovento.

Cereals are grown in the fertile valleys of Tuy, while the microclimates are used for horticultural and fruit activities whose products are processed in the agro-industries.

In suburban areas, poultry and pig farming are practiced, especially promoted by Portuguese, Spanish and Italian immigrants.

Coffee production has decreased; however, the expansion of sugar cane and cotton crops in the Tuy Valley continues. Since colonial times there have been cocoa plantations in Barlovento combined with cassava, yams, beans and bananas.

The industrialization process had an important economic impact, favored by its proximity to the city of Caracas, mainly in the cities of Petare, Guarenas and Guatire and in the valley of Tuy, where manufacturing centers of the metal-mechanical, chemical and food sectors were established. This led to a major urban boom, which caused a decrease in the amount of agricultural land.

Main Products

Agriculture: Cocoa, fruits, vegetables, coconut, yucca, cereals, flowers.
Breeding: Poultry, cattle and pigs.
Fishing: Tuna, mackerel, lebranche, mullet and bass (marimos). Shrimp and crab (crustaceans). Squid, chipichipi, guacuco, oyster and octopus (mollusks).
Industrial: Metalworking, chemical and food products, alcoholic and soft drinks, graphic arts, textiles, footwear.

Tourism

The state is well known for its green areas (including several national parks, haciendas and protected areas), for its highly urbanized cities that coexist with rural towns, for the coasts of the Caribbean Sea, a safe stop during vacation seasons, the Devils of Yare and the Tacarigua Lagoon.

It has large shopping centers, in the east of the metropolitan area of Caracas, for the enjoyment of the population, in the high mirandinos is La Cascada Commercial City, of large dimensions that has food fairs, cinemas, large stores, and all kinds of services and bank agencies. Additionally, in the professional center La Cascada is the high mirandine headquarters of the SENIAT, also near Los Teques is the town of San Pedro de Los Altos, an agricultural town, where vegetables and large areas of flower crops are grown, and several bottling plants for mineral water such as Minalba and Zenda where pure spring water is bottled.

It also highlights its architecture ranging from modern Chacao to the colonial architecture of many villages, highlighting in that aspect the many museums, cathedrals and historic churches it has. It also has a diversity of monuments, urban parks, viewpoints, theaters, among many other spaces for the enjoyment of visitors.

Natural Heritage

The state of Miranda has monuments and natural heritage because of its incredible beauty, some of these are

thumb|Caimán Beach, Miranda State

Birongo.
The El Jarillo Village.
Higuerote.
Alfredo Jahn Cave Natural Monument.
Pico Codazzi Natural Monument.
Indian Cave Park.
El Ávila National Park.
Guatopo National Park.
Laguna de Tacarigua National Park.
Macarao National Park.
Carenero Beach.
Chirimena Beach.
Barlovento Beach.
Beaches of Buche and Los Totumos.
French Port.

Built heritage

The state of Miranda has a varied architectural heritage:

thumb|St. Rosalia of Palermo Church, El Hatillo

Our Lady of Candelaria Chapel.
Arturo Michelena House.
Bolivar Museum House.
Cecilio Acosta Cultural Complex (includes the Los Teques Athenaeum, the Cecilio Acosta Central Library and the Emma Soler Amphitheatre).
Tito Salas Contemporary Art Gallery Foundation.
San Benito Cultural Diversity Center in Santa Lucía.
Make the rosary.
Hacienda El Volcán.
Mediagua Estate.
Augustin Codazzi Aquarium.

thumb|Cubo Negro, Miranda State

San Felipe Neri Cathedral Church.
Church of Carmen.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.
Santa Lucia del Tuy Parish Church.
St. Teresa of Jesus Parish Church.
Sweet Name of Jesus Parish Church.

thumb|Our Lady of Mercy Shrine - [[Río Chico, Venezuela|Rio Chico]]

Our Lady of Copacabana Parish Cathedral.
Our Lady of the Rosary Parish Church in Baruta.
Our Lady of the Rosary Parish Church of Cúa.
St. Rose of Lima Parish Church.
San Diego de Alcalá Church.
St. Joseph Church in Barlovento.
St. Joseph of Chacao Church.
Sanctuary of Betania.
Mirador the Butterfly.
Mirador San José de los Altos.
Lookout Down the Lighthouse El Cuji.
Drummonument.
Devil's Monument.
Monument Virgen del Carmen.
Monument of Saint Lucia, Virgin and Martyr.
Antonio María Piñate Museum.
Cristobal Rojas Museum.
Popular Art Museum of Petare.
White Linen Museum.
El Encanto Train.
Main Railway Station in Santa Teresa del Tuy.
Old Bridge of Santa Teresa del Tuy.
ICET Murano Art Factory.

thumb|[[Simón Bolívar University (Venezuela)|Simón Bolívar University, Baruta Municipality]]

Transport

Central Ezequiel Zamora Railway System (Caracas - Cúa Line) has 4 stations (Caracas, Charallave Norte, Charallave Sur, Cúa) and has a length of 41.4 km².

Subway system:

Los Teques Subway, inaugurated in 2006. It has 5 stations: Las Adjuntas (belonging to Metro de Caracas), Ayacucho, Ali Primera, Guaicaipuro and independencia.
Caracas Metro.
Surface roads: the most important are the Francisco Fajardo Highway, Prados del Este Highway and Boyacá Avenue (Cota mil). It also has roads that connect several towns within the state, as well as outside of it.

thumb|Petare II Station, [[Cabletren Bolivariano, Sucre Municipality]]

Education

Universities

Santa Maria University.
Simón Bolívar University.
Metropolitan University.
Nueva Esparta University.
Simón Rodíguez National Experimental University.
Andrés Bello Catholic University, Núcleo Los Teques.
National Experimental University of the Armed Forces.
Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research (IVIC).
PDVSA Intevep.
Villa del Cine.

Culture

Palmeros de Chacao

The tradition of the Palmeros de Chacao dates back to the Venezuelan colonial period in 1770, when the parish priest José Antonio Mohedano decided, in the form of a promise, to ask God for mercy due to an epidemic of yellow fever that existed in Caracas at the time. Coming from the haciendas near El Avila National Park, Mohedano sent a group of workers to bring down leaves from the Royal Palm to commemorate Jesus' entry into Jerusalem.

Nowadays, the Palmeros go up every Friday of the Council (the Friday before Palm Sunday) and come down the following Saturday with the palm leaves that will be blessed during the Sunday celebration. The palms are collected from a sector called Cueva de los Palmeros by the entrance of Sabas Nieves. Once blessed, the palms are distributed among the believers, who braid, crush and transform them into crosses that they keep in their homes as a sign of faith.

Diablos Danzantes de Yare

The Diablos Danzantes de Yare is a religious festival celebrated in San Francisco de Yare on Corpus Christi Day, carried out by the Sociedades del Santísimo Sacramento. The festival is a local version of the dancing devils of Corpus Christi.

Its origin dates back to the 18th century, being this the oldest brotherhood in the American continent and the largest in the world. The fraternity of devils is divided into a hierarchical order, represented in their masks.

Every Thursday of Corpus Christi (9 Thursdays after Holy Thursday) there is a ritual dance of the dancing devils, where they worship the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar and celebrate the triumph of good over evil.

Festival of San Juan de Curiepe

The Festival of San Juan de Curiepe is an Afro-descendant celebration held in the town of Curiepe. It commemorates the image of Saint John the Baptist, with a series of music and dance rituals that take place from midnight on June 23 to the evening of June 25th each year. San Juan is one of the festivities that gathers more devotees throughout the country, being the manifestation of Curiepe one of the best known in the nation.

Parranda of San Pedro

Parranda of San Pedro is a popular religious festivity that is celebrated every June 29 in the cities of Guatire and Guarenas. It has its origin in the Colonial Period. It consists of some parranderos, dressed in levita and pumpá (one of them carries the image of the saint, another carries a yellow and red flag) and accompanied by Cuatro and maracas. The percussion is achieved with some pieces of animal leather tied to the feet like sandals (called cotizas). They are also accompanied by two impoverished children, dressed in a red and yellow suit (similar to harlequins), who are known as tucusitos.

thumb|Sagrada Familia de Nazaret Church, Miranda State

Holy Cross of Pacairigua

The Holy Cross of Pacairigua is a religious image that is kept in the parish temple of the city of Guatire, that constitutes the religious patron of the city since the early seventeenth century. The cross, made of cedar wood, covered with white paint and gold edges, is two meters high. It is taken out in procession every year on May 3, the Day of the May Cross at the Catholic Santoral.

Media

thumb|Headquarters of the Television Channel Televen in the Municipality of Sucre

Television

Several channels are based in Miranda, including: Mira Tv, Telemir, Venezolana de Televisión (the main television channel of Venezuela), Televen, La Tele, Canal i, and Telesur (a Venezuelan government propaganda channel). Channels from other states or countries are also transmitted, such as Globovisión and Venevisión.

Radio

There are several radio stations, including Latina 98.7 FM (Tropical), La Cima 96.7 FM (Tropical), Miranda 100.1 FM (Tropical), Ciudad 106.1 FM (Tropical), Antena 103.7 (Anglo Hispano), Melao 104.1 FM (Tropical), Panamericana 90.7 (Popular), Frecuencia Feeling 97.1 (Adulto Contemporáneo) among others, but the main ones with more power are those of Caracas that in their majority have their transmitting plants in the Avila hill, and can be listened in great part of the state of Miranda.

Written press

Among the newspapers published in the area are the daily Avance de Los Teques, La Voz de Guarenas and La Región, which covers the Alto Mirandinos, the metropolitan area, Guarenas and Guatire, also in the Valles del Tuy circulates the daily Noticias del Tuy. Other regional newspapers include Avance and Ciudad Petare (in that Caracas parish). In this state is also the headquarters of El Nacional, one of the most important newspapers in the country.

Sports

thumb|Universidad Simón Bolívar's multipurpose stadium

Sports Clubs

20px Football: Petare Fútbol Club (Venezuelan First Division).
20px Football: Atlético Sucre Club de Fútbol (Third Division of Venezuela).
20px Indoor Football: Los Teques Futsal Club (Venezuelan Indoor Soccer League).
20px Volleyball: Vikings of Miranda (Venezuelan Volleyball League).
20px Basketball: Panteras de Miranda (Venezuelan Professional Basketball League).
20px Basketball: Industriales de Guarenas (National Basketball League).
20px Basketball: Bushido de Los Teques (National Basketball League).
20px Basketball: Barlovento (National Basketball League).
20px Basketball: Unión Ferrocarril del Tuy (National Basketball League).
20px Baseball: Cacaoteros de Miranda (Bolivarian National Baseball League).
20px Rugby: Universidad Metropolitana Rugby Club (Venezuelan Rugby Club Championship).
20px Rugby: Simón Bolívar University Rugby Club (Venezuelan Rugby Club Championship).

Sports Facilities

Arnaldo Arocha Sports Center Located in Los Teques. Capacity of 3,000 spectators.
José Joaquín Papá Carrillo Gymnasium Located in Los Dos Caminos. Capacity of 3,500 spectators.
Fray Luis de Leon Sports Complex.
Simón Bolívar University Football Stadium.