Caracas is the capital and largest city of Venezuela with a population of 2,097,350 as of 2009. It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range.

The city was founded by Captain Diego de Losada in 1567. The cultivation of cocoa under the Compañía Guipuzcoana de Caracas stimulated the development of the city, which in 1777 became the capital of the Captaincy General of Venezuela.

Caracas is the economic center of the country and businesses here include service companies, banks, and malls, among others. Most economic activity is in services, excepting some industries established in its metropolitan area. Caracas is also Venezuela's cultural capital, with many restaurants, theaters, museums, and shopping centers. The city has the reputation as being one of the most dangerous cities in the world.