El Tigre

This commercial hub sits in Anzoátegui, eastern Venezuela, founded on the Guanipa Mesa with open views over surrounding plains. The Tigre River divides the urban area and connects residential neighborhoods with industrial zones at the edges.

The Mene Grande company found light crude in the area in 1933 and quickly built extraction facilities and worker camps. Over the following decades the settlement grew into a supply base for surrounding fields and developed its own infrastructure.

The name comes from the river that runs through the area and served as a landmark long before oil extraction began. Today the townscape is shaped by fuel stations and supply businesses serving the petroleum industry, which define daily routines for residents.

Roads link the town with Puerto La Cruz and Barcelona on the coast, while pipelines supply northern refineries. Temperatures remain high throughout the year, so light clothing and sun protection are recommended.

Peanuts, tomatoes, cashews, corn, potatoes, and sorghum are grown in the surrounding area and sold at local markets. This mix of agriculture and petroleum industry is uncommon for a town so closely tied to the energy sector.

Location: Municipio Simón Rodríguez

Inception: February 23, 1933

Elevation above the sea: 265 m

Website: http://eltigre.gob.ve

GPS coordinates: 8.88583,-64.26111

Latest update: December 5, 2025 16:30