Punta de Mata

Punta de Mata as the second capital of the Monagas state and capital of the Ezequiel Zamora municipality, of the same State. The city was created from oil exploitation in the area, and currently that is the basis of its economy. In the last ten years it has suffered a demographic explosion due to this industry, and the Ezequiel Zamora municipality has gone from having 50,000 inhabitants in 2000 to 100,000 in 2010 and in 2020 it was estimated to have 200,000 inhabitants. It is the second most populated center after Maturín.

Geography

Location

The Ezequiel Zamora Municipality of the Monagas State is located in the extreme northwest of the Monagas State.

To the north: with the Cedeño Municipality in a straight line from the corner of Santa Rita to Cruz de Rangel.

To the east: With the Cedeño Municipality in a straight line from the Cruz de Rangel to the head of the Arapia ravine, from there with the Maturín Municipality along the Arapia ravine from its source to its mouth in the Amana River; It continues along this river downstream to the mouth of the Masaquita ravine, from there in a straight line to the ejidos of the Santa Bárbara municipality at the UTM coordinate point (N -1,066,620 and E – 428,420) it continues in a straight line, passes through the Queregua River, the Cañaotes ravine, the Sunsunes ravine, the Mapirito River to the UTM Coordinate point (N – 1,050,600 and E – 425,400) on the Tonoro River.

To the south: It borders the Aguasay Municipality and from the UTM coordinate point (N – 1,050,600 and E – 428,400), on the Tonoro River, continue upstream to the mouths of Tácata.

To the west: With the Cedeño Municipality, from Bocas de Tácata to Rincón de Santa Rita, Punta de Partida.

Climate

This area has a warm climate. The average annual temperature is 30 °C with minimums of 20 °C and absolute maximums of 37 °C and 39 °C for the months of March and April respectively. It has a dry season that runs from January to April and a rainy season centered on the months of June and September. Rainfall varies between 120 mm and 160 mm. The climate is influenced by the north-east trade winds with low average speed and a predominant direction from northeast to southwest.

Vegetation

It is a tropical dry forest, dominated by the open savannah plant formation, which is interrupted by morichales or gallery forests. Characteristics of the formation of the open savannah are the moldy, the guatacare, the hairy, the punteral, the burro fruit, the yaque and the mastranto.

History

November 15, 1940 is the date of its population beginning. On December 28 of that same year, the first oil well was drilled in that area. The origin of the name “Punta de Mata” is due to a fig tree that was located nearby. It was taller than normal and its tip could be seen from very far away. The first settlers in the area used it as a reference point, since there were no others such as streets or houses. They said: "we will meet under the big tree, where you can see its crown, where you can see the big Punta de la Mata, we will see each other there..." hence the name “Punta de Mata”.

Communication

Punta de Mata is connected to the west with the city of Puerto La Cruz and to the east with Maturín. Punta de Mata also has a land transportation terminal and airport.

Population

Punta de Mata has more than 150,000 inhabitants divided into the different sectors of the town, and maintains a population growth rate of 15.0% annually, which is the highest in the state and one of the 9 highest in the state. Venezuela, this can be easily appreciated since it is a young city that, having been founded only 82 years ago, has become one of the most important towns in the Northeastern Region.

Education

Primary education

• Juan Josè Landaeta School
• Bolivarian Doña Menca School of Leoni
• Bolivarian School 19 April
• Bolivarian Alberto Ravell
• Bolivarian Virgin of the Valley
• Bolivarian School The Plots
• Centurion Bolivarian School
• Francisco de Miranda Bolivarina School
• Potrero Bolivarian School
• Bolivarian School Rafael Villavicencio
• Our Lady of Lourdes Private School
• Private School Children
• Nicolas Aranguren Basic School
• Bolivarian Basic School "ILAPECA"
• Private Basic School "Concepción Mariño"
• Private Educational Unit "Cayetano Farías"

Secondary education

• Liceo Nacional José Gregorio Monagas
• Liceo Nacional Ezequiel Zamora
• Liceo Nacional Rafael Urdaneta
• Liceo Privado Santa Patrona
• Liceo Nacional Virgen del Valle
• Liceo Privado Jesus of Nazareth
• Private Liceo Punta de Mata
• Education Unit "General Diego Ibarra"

Higher education

• Open National University (UNA)
• Universidad Politécnica Territorial del Norte de Monagas "Ludovico Silva"
• Instituto Militar Universitario de Tecnología de la Guardia Nacional (IMUGNPM).
• Sucre Mission

Special School

• E.B.D.F.I. Josefa Camejo

Economy

Oil activity stands out. It is mainly located in the South, East, and West sectors of the Municipality. Likewise, semi-intensive livestock farming activities with mechanized annual crop agriculture (cereals, legumes and oilseeds) are very important, however this activity is currently being diminished by the impact of oil exploitation.

In the last decade of the XX century Punta de Mata attracted significant foreign migration, mostly from Asia, Latin America and Europe.. Specifically from countries such as: China, Colombia, Turkey, Lebanon, Italy, Portugal and Saudi Arabia.

In the city center, 79% of the shops and establishments in general are owned by foreign merchants, which maintains the dynamic growth of the city's economy.

The city's economy is based mainly on oil, the commercial and industrial area.

Shopping Centers

Currently it has the following:

• C.C. Jupiter
• C.C. San Miguel
• C.C. Revolution (c. for the old buhoneros who worked in the city center)
• C.C. Lanya

Shops

• Glanobishop.
• El Teide Naturist Shop.
• Servitech Cabrices C.A
• Blue Diamond Accessories.
• Blumer Shop.
• Raquel Group.
• The Blue Shark.
• Haidar Motor, C.A. (bike spare parts store).
• Distributor and Orpic Investments. C.A. (agribusiness shop).
• Distributor Serviplatinium 17 C.A.
• Laundry and J Express Ink (wear shop).
• The Computer Machine, C.A. (Computer Shop).
• Cyber CompuCell (Internet related articles store).
• Cyberia (Internet-related articles store).
• RABER, C.A. (home articles store)
• The Cyclone (Departmental Tent; Home, Clothing, lingerie, Toys).

Tourism

It offers landscapes of great scenic value for recreational and tourist use such as: Las Garzas Park, the Caño Amarillo Spas, Queregua, Laguna de Musipán, Morichal de Campo Ajuro. It also has historical-artistic-cultural heritage such as the Augusto Camino cultural center and the House of Culture.

Hotels

Punta de Mata, since it is only a commercial city and very little touristy, has a reduced hotel capacity, the best known are:

• 292 Suites Hotel Residencia
• Montana Suites
• Hotel Virgen del Valle
• Hotel Royal Suite
• Hotel Cómplice
• Posadas Jireh
• Hotel Sol y Luna
• Hotel La Fortaleza I and II
• hotel tornero

Places of interest

• Monument to the Virgin of the Valley.

  

• Bolivar Square.

  

• Plaza Miranda.
• Student Square.
• Bazaar of the Revolution.
• Las Garzas Park.
• Canaima Park, Canaima sector
• Spring "The Chorrito"
• Masonic Temple of Respect. Logia Harmony 110.
• Manga de Coleo.
• Fair Park.
• House of Culture.
• dominga population (the same way of the airport).
• PDVSA airfield (also located here 524 Comprehensive Defense Area "Chaima").
• Apostle Church "Piedra Viva".
• Christian Church Freedom House
• Church "Ark of Salvation".
• Tourist Center "La Vaca Mariposa".
• Parroquial Church "Santisima Trinidad and Virgen Del Valle".
• Pentecostal Church "Bet-El".
• Church "Paz de Gloria Internacional".
• "Red Camp" football stadium.
• Baseball Stadium "Adanilda Martínez".
• First Baptist Church of Punta de Mata.
• Church of the Saints of the Last Days (Mormon Temple).
• Guaicaipuro Altar (spiritist center).
• Municipal Library.
• Hall of the Kingdom of Jehovah’s Witnesses

Festivities

• They celebrate the carnival in a parade through the Bolivar Avenue of the town, where they present colorful costumes, cloaks and floats.
• Feast in honor of the Virgin of the Valley: it is celebrated in the month of September. Heiress of the tradition of the first settlers, mostly from the state of Nueva Esparta.
• Feast of the founding of Punta de Mata: it is held on November 15, according to decree issued by the Municipal Council and according to investigations carried out by the Cronist Diffon of the City Nicolás Aranguren.
• There are also various activities on the eve of Easter, such as viacrucis by various sectors of the locality.

Radio Stations

• Jeomar 105.1 FM
• Santa Barbara Stereo 101.1 FM
• Arca 93.3 FM
• Real Stereo 92.9 FM
• Peregrina Radio 93.9 FM
• Luminares 103.5 FM
• Shirichu 98.5 FM
• O Stereo 99.7 FM
• Fimar Stereo 90.5 FM
• La Tejereña 104.1 FM

Television channels

• Peregrina TV channel 4 multichannel
• Punta de Mata Televisión. Vía Youtube

Mayors since 1989