FALCON  , the most

northern state of Venezuela, with an extensive coast line on the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Venezuela . Pop . (1905 est.) 173,968 . It lies between the Caribbean on the N. and the state of Lara on the S., with Zulia and the Gulf of Venezuela on the W . Its surface is much broken by irregular ranges of low mountains, and extensive areas on the coast are sandy plains and tropical swamps . The climate is, hot, but, being tempered by the trade winds, is not considered unhealthy except in the swampy districts . The state is sparsely settled and has no large towns, its capital, Coro, being important chiefly because of its history, and as the entrep6t for an extensive inland district . The only port in the state is La Vela de Coro, on a small bay of the same name, 7 M . E. of the capital, with which it is connected by railway .