128 SELLING LATIN AMERICA 
the Coastal Range and the Parima Range, be 
tween which are many high plateaus. The 
mountain ranges reach an altitude of nearly 
10,000 feet, while the highest plateau is about 
6000 feet. 
Owing to the mountain systems, Venezuela 
is divided into three climatic zones: the 
tropical extending along the coast and up into 
the valley through the center of which flows 
the Orinoco River, the semi-tropical zone to 
be found in the llanos or broad plains or 
plateau between the mountain ranges, and the 
temperate zone along the sides of the moun 
tains on which is grown the famous coffee for 
which the country is noted. 
The United States of Venezuela is a federal 
union with a republican form of government, 
the States, of which there are 20, being en 
tirely autonomous in their internal affairs. 
The executive power is vested in a President 
and two Vice-Presidents, and the legislative 
in two houses—a Senate and a Chamber of 
Deputies. 
While the official estimate of the population