The New International Encyclopædia/Falcón

FALCÓN, fȧl-kōn'. A maritime State of Venezuela, occupying the territory around Lake Maracaibo in the northwestern part of the Republic (Map: Venezuela, C 1). Including the former State of Zulia, annexed since 1881, Falcón covers an area of 36,212 square miles. It is traversed by a chain of low mountains, and the soil in the valleys is very fruitful, though the coast regions are dry and barren. The chief products are coffee, cacao, corn, cotton, sugar-cane, cocoanuts, fruits, and tobacco. Stock-raising is of importance, and the State has some mineral wealth. Population of Falcón, in 1894, 141,689. Maracaibo is the capital.