Geographic map of the natural region of Lake Maracaibo Depression.
Floor elevation
−12–200 m (−39–656 ft)
Area
36,803 km2 (14,210 sq mi)
Geography
Country
Venezuela
States
Zulia
Mérida
Trujillo
Táchira
Coordinates
9°N71°W / 9°N 71°W / 9; -71
The Maracaibo Basin, also known as Lake Maracaibo natural region, Lake Maracaibo depression or Lake Maracaibo Lowlands, is a foreland basin and one of the eight natural regions of Venezuela, found in the northwestern corner of Venezuela in South America. Covering over 36,657 square km, it is a hydrocarbon-rich region that has produced over 30 billion bbl of oil with an estimated 44 billion bbl yet to be recovered.[1][2] The basin is characterized by a large shallow tidal estuary, Lake Maracaibo, located near its center. The Maracaibo basin has a complex tectonic history that dates back to the Jurassic period with multiple evolution stages. Despite its complexity, these major tectonic stages are well preserved within its stratigraphy. This makes The Maracaibo basin one of the most valuable basins for reconstructing South America's early tectonic history.
^Escalona, A.; Mann, P. (2006). "An overview of the Petroleum system of Maracaibo Basin". AAPG Bulletin. 90 (4): 657–678. doi:10.1306/10140505038.
^Guzman, J.; Fisher, W. (2006). "Early and middle Miocene depositional history of the Maracaibo Basin, western Venezuela". American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin. 90 (4): 625–655. doi:10.1306/10110505035.
The MaracaiboBasin, also known as Lake Maracaibo natural region, Lake Maracaibo depression or Lake Maracaibo Lowlands, is a foreland basin and one of...
Lake Maracaibo (Spanish: Lago de Maracaibo) is a brackish lake located in northwestern Venezuela, between the states of Zulia, Trujillo, and Mérida. Hydrologically...
whole. It is based on the western side of Lake Maracaibo, the dominant feature of the oil-rich MaracaiboBasin. Favored by prevailing winds and a protected...
forecast lightning in the Lake Maracaibobasin up to a few months in advance, based in the variability of the Lake Maracaibo Low-Level Jet and its interactions...
northwestern Venezuela, bordering Lake Maracaibo, the largest body of water of its kind in Latin America. Its basin covers one of the largest oil and gas...
prevalent rodents are carriers of particularly endemic diseases. The MaracaiboBasin spans northwestern Venezuela. There are two species of mammals that...
division in the U.S. Two blocks in the basin are to be offered in the 1995 exploration round. In summary, the Maracaibobasin oil fields played a major role in...
is an ecoregion in Venezuela and Colombia to the west and east of Lake Maracaibo. It includes four regions of moist forest on slightly higher ground than...
originates in Colombia and drains into the Maracaibo Lake basin. Among the rivers that reach the Maracaibo lake basin are the Chama, the Escalante, the Catatumbo...
Tupinambis zuliensis, the MaracaiboBasin tegu, is a species of lizard in the family Teiidae. It is endemic to Venezuela. "Appendices | CITES". cites...
44 billion bbl yet to be recovered. The basin is characterized by a large shallow tidal estuary, Lake Maracaibo, located near its center. Is fan-shaped...
Catatumbo) is a river rising in northern Colombia, flowing into Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela. The Catatumbo River is approximately 340 kilometres (210 mi)...
species is native to Colombia and Venezuela, where it occurs in the Lake Maracaibobasin, and reaches a length of 60.0 centimetres (23.6 in) TL. Perez, A. (2023)...
Scarthyla vigilans (MaracaiboBasin treefrog) is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. It is found in northern Colombia (Caribbean lowlands, Magdalena...
armored catfish endemic to Venezuela where it is found in the Lake Maracaibobasin. The species grows to a length of 16.9 centimetres (6.7 in) SL and...
Departments), mainly in the MaracaiboBasin. There is an introduced (and expanding) population in the Lake Valencia Basin in northern Venezuela. Adult...
areas below 300 m in sedimentary basins and lowlands such as the Llanos, Orinoco Delta, MaracaiboBasin, Orinoco Basin, and coastal plains and islands;...
Jowers, Lehtinen, Charles, Colli, Peres Jr., Hendry, & Pyron, 2016 – MaracaiboBasin tegu Mitochondrial DNA analysis indicates a deep divergence between...
Eigenmannia goajira is a species of glass knifefish found in the Lake Maracaibobasin in Colombia and Venezuela. Perez, A. (2023). "Eigenmannia goajira"...
in northwest Venezuela, north of the Mérida Andes and east of the MaracaiboBasin, extending north to the Caribbean coast. It consists mostly of east–west...
Hoplomyzon atrizona is a species of banjo catfish endemic to the Lake Maracaibobasin in Venezuela. It grows to a length of 2.7 cm. Froese, Rainer; Pauly...
Soleiman), Peru (1863, in Zorritos District), Venezuela (1914, in MaracaiboBasin), and Mexico, and were being developed at an industrial level. Austria-Hungary...
northwestern South America, restricted to the Atrato, Magdalena and Maracaibobasins. There are currently three described species in this genus. Gilbertolus...
Grande de Santa Marta (Colombia) Guajira Desert (Colombia, Venezuela) MaracaiboBasin (Venezuela) Páramos (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela) Peru High...
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