San Cristóbal

Founded on 31 March 1561 by Juan de Maldonado, San Cristóbal is the capital of Venezuela's Táchira state, set in the northern Andes above the Torbes River with a walkable centre full of cafés and restaurants. The city developed early as a significant commercial hub, aided by its proximity to the Colombian border, and was heavily damaged by the 1875 Earthquake of Cúcuta. It sits close to the Colombian frontier and within reach of Andean mountain terrain.

• Population289,852
• Nearest water from center0.6 km
• Nearest mountain from center3.2 km