Cabimas

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) which 100,000 bpd blow out reached the world newspaper's headlines. 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.

Geography

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. 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.

Most-observed species

• Carib Grackle

  Quiscalus lugubris Swainson, 1838 · Aves
  50
• Great Egret

  Ardea alba Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  50
• Snowy Egret

  Egretta thula (Molina, 1782) · Aves
  49
• Magnificent Frigatebird

  Fregata magnificens Mathews, 1914 · Aves
  44
• Scaled Dove

  Columbina squammata (R.Lesson, 1831) · Aves
  44
• Red-crowned Woodpecker

  Melanerpes rubricapillus (Cabanis, 1862) · Aves
  40
• Southern Lapwing

  Vanellus chilensis (Molina, 1782) · Aves
  37
• Tropical Kingbird

  Tyrannus melancholicus Vieillot, 1819 · Aves
  35

Most recent

• M 4.6 — 2026-01-01
  26 km NE of La Villa del Rosario, Venezuela
• M 4.6 — 2025-12-02
  16 km NE of Mene Grande, Venezuela
• M 4.5 — 2025-10-15
  19 km ENE of Mene Grande, Venezuela
• M 4.4 — 2025-10-15
  17 km E of Mene Grande, Venezuela
• M 4.5 — 2025-09-30
  6 km NW of Mene Grande, Venezuela
• M 4.5 — 2025-09-25
  19 km ENE of Mene Grande, Venezuela