Palo Negro, Aragua

Palo Negro is a Venezuelan city, the capital of Libertador Municipality in the state of Aragua. It lies about south of Maracay, on the shores of Lake Valencia, and forms part of the Maracay metropolitan area. Its principal economic activity revolves around the industrial sector, with factories and small manufacturing companies. In 2023 it had a population of 123,706.

History

Etymology

The city takes its name from the burning of a saman tree at the Hacienda La Croquera at the entrance to the settlement. It was established as an ecclesiastical parish around 1781. In 1863 the first neighbourhood nucleus, La Atascosa, was founded. Over time pro-emancipation movements emerged that sought independence from the municipal council of Santiago Mariño; this was granted on 23 February 1936, creating the foreign municipality of Palo Negro.

Foundation and development of neighbourhoods

The development of Palo Negro's various sectors has taken place over the following years:

  • 1863 – La Atascosa
  • 1939 – Ocumarito
  • 1942 – Santa Ana
  • 1961 – El Libertador
  • 1965 – Diez de Diciembre
  • 1973 – Primero de Mayo
  • 1974 – La Arboleda
  • 1979 – Lusan
  • 1980 – El Orticeño
  • 1981 – Los Naranjos
  • 1983 – Urbanización Palo Negro
  • 1984 – La Ovallera, Santa Rosalía and Ezequiel Zamora
  • 1985 – Las Ánimas I
  • 1986 – Las Ánimas II
  • 1988 – Los Hornos
  • 2000 – El Libertador Air Base (BAEL)

Geography

Libertador Municipality borders Santiago Mariño Municipality, beginning at the nidito point and continuing along the Coropo back road bordering the El Libertador Air Base to Camburito, and then sinuously parallel to the Turmero River until the Lake Valencia. To the south it borders Zamora Municipality, separated by the Aparo Caño, between the Castillito hills, from Puerta Molinera to the Aparo outlet. To the east it borders José Ángel Lamas Municipality, separated by the Calle de Las Flores (the straight road to San Luis), from the nidito to Puerta Molinera. To the west, it borders Lake Valencia, from the mouth of the Turmero River in the north to the mouth of the Aparo Caño in the south.

Relief

Palo Negro lies between the coastal range and the interior range of the Cordillera de la Costa, forming the Lake Valencia depression with lacustrine plains and low rounded hills suitable for agriculture, with crops such as bananas and sugarcane. Most land use within the municipality is residential urban use; other areas belong to the Ministry of Defense.

Vegetation

About 50 per cent of the municipality's land is residential, extending from its western limit (Avenida Los Aviadores) and all areas north of the Turmero River. In the remaining eastern areas, the predominant use is commercial agriculture, with sugarcane, bananas and cassava among the main crops. The soils are of alluvial formation, with high moisture-retention capacity, restricted infiltration, very slow permeability, medium fertility and very fine textures.

Climate

Palo Negro has a tropical climate. Due to the strength of solar radiation in the region, the maximum temperature recorded in recent years is and the minimum is . The mean maximum temperature is and the mean minimum is .

Notable weather events

  • On 8 August 2015, severe electrical storms occurred over Libertador Municipality, producing winds of approximately , prolonged rainfall and hail, causing damage to vegetation, flooding, the loss of roofing and underground damage in the locality.
  • On 11, 12 and 16 January 2017, low temperatures were felt across the country, particularly in the Andean zones and the Cordillera de la Costa; in Palo Negro the minimum was and the maximum , among the coldest days recorded for the town.
  • On 16 August 2017, during the rainy season, Palo Negro recorded one of its lowest daytime temperatures, reaching at noon, although temperatures rose to at night.
  • In April 2017, high temperatures reached with a heat index of ; April is the warmest month in Venezuela, as the sun reaches close to its zenith over the country.

Hydrography

Aragua River

The Aragua River is the main river of the valleys, rising in the highlands of Santiago Mariño Municipality and the Cordillera de la Costa. In the dry season its waters are scarce and highly contaminated.

Canals

Two artificial streams with their secondary branches also flow through Libertador Municipality.

Aparo Caño

The Aparo Caño originates from seepage from the Taiguaiguai reservoir. Its course within the municipality measures .

Lake Valencia

Lake Valencia (also called Lake Tacarigua) forms the western boundary of the municipality and supports subsistence and recreational fishing.

Economy

The evolution of economic activity in Palo Negro and Libertador Municipality can be divided into four periods:

  • First period (1863–1910): Subsistence agriculture for local consumption. The name Palo Negro was consolidated as a geographical reference.
  • Second period (1910–1936): Agriculture remained stable; cattle raising declined toward the end of the period. Commerce was limited, centred on handicraft products. Urban development began and the municipality's administrative bases were established.
  • Third period (1936–1958): Public services were introduced and agriculture expanded; cattle raising adapted better to local conditions.
  • Fourth period (1958–1990): Urban demographic growth had a negative effect on the agricultural sector. Incipient industrialisation began, while commerce and public-sector employment generated greater income for workers and local finances.

Sectors

Primary sector

This sector is represented mainly by agriculture and, to a lesser extent, livestock. Livestock production in the municipality has included two dairies, three cattle breeders, two poultry farms, three forage farms and a chicken processing plant.

Secondary sector

Industrial activity in the municipality has been limited. Despite its potential to generate employment and tax revenue, no zoning plan has been developed to sustain industrial growth.

Tertiary sector

Principal services include transport, telephony and water supply. Public transport is operated by several cooperatives, including Unión Maracay, Unión Turmero, Unión Palo Negro, Unión Santa Rita and Unión Los Hornos. The commercial zone is centred around the Plaza Bolívar of Palo Negro, with bank branches including Banco de Venezuela and others.

Agricultural production (1989–1990)

  • Banana: grown in sectors such as San Luis, Tacarigua, Mamón Macho and Las Vegas, with an estimated yield of 60,000 kg per hectare per year.
  • Sugarcane: approximately 1,100 hectares cultivated, with a yield of 95 tonnes per hectare.
  • Maize: in 1989 an estimated 2.5 million kg of selected seed was produced.
  • Onion: production was considered limited by local farmers.

See also

  • Libertador Municipality, Aragua
  • Maracay
  • Lake Valencia (Venezuela)